Welcome to Accessible Housing Matters!

In today’s episode, I welcome Denise Resnik

Denise is the founder and president/CEO of First Place® AZ (established in 2012), co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC, established in 1997), and founder and CEO of DRA Collective, a marketing/communications firm (established in 1986) that serves clients in a variety of fields, including real estate, economic development, healthcare, education, and hospitality. Her adult son Matt, who has autism, and others with different abilities inspire her work.

Backed by more than 20 years of research, support from the Urban Land Institute, and more than 100 collaborators from the public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors, First Place AZ is positioned for transformational impact on how society approaches housing and community development for individuals with autism and other neurodiversities.

Denise’s leadership has also driven the development of two major studies:

• A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities, offering the universal language for a guiding narrative to research, develop and achieve supportive housing solutions.
• Opening Doors: A Discussion of Residential Options for Adults Living with Autism and Related Disorders, the first-ever study to focus on the housing challenges of adults with autism and other neurodiversities.

Listen to find out more about:

[00:01 - 06:05] Opening Segment

• I welcome Denise Resnik to the Show
• • Bio
• An introduction to the study “A Place in the World”
• • Watch the full video in the link below!

[06:06 - 13:37] Opening Doors

• More than a million of adult children with autism and other intellectual developmental disabilities live with their parents aged 60 and older
• What do we mean by autism and neurodiversity?
• Lousy Returns on Investments
• Best Innovations at First Place
• • Taking a more innovative approach to gain more successful outcomes
  • “Where we start with this innovation isn't where we end.”

[13:38 - 31:26] A Place in the World

• The Market Place is a Big Place
• Denise talks about the impact of the 2009 report in changing views on housing and development
• Out of the Bubble: Getting beyond the autism and disability housing marketplace
• Inclusivity, Services and Housing Support
• Lots of love for Amazon Web Services
• The Crisis of Aging Caregivers
• Why and How Denise has become a leading advocate
• A Need to Leap Forward Together

[31:27 - 32:36] Closing Segment

• See links below to know more about Denise Resnik
• Final word

Resources Mentioned:

• A Place in the World – Short Video
• A Place in the World – Complete Report
• Home Matters to Arizona

Tweetable Quote/s:

“When we talk about people who are in need of housing, who have not only the physical support of housing and four walls, they also have the community support, and they also have supports in their homes because of some of the challenges that they face.” - Denise Resnik

“It's expensive to make sure that we provide the adequate supports people need to live their fullest and most independent life possible.” - Denise Resnik

“My being an almost senior doesn't tell you what I need in my housing. Autism doesn't tell you what you need either. But we need to leap forward.” - Denise Resnik

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Accessible Housing Matters is dedicated to raising awareness about important issues around accessibility and housing, and getting conversations going. I'd love to learn more about what's on your mind, and get your feedback about the show. Contact me directly at stephen@accessiblehousingmatters.com to share your thoughts or arrange a call.