A Retrospective on our Original
In today’s world, the transition from childhood to adulthood for individuals with autism often presents significant challenges. While children with autism receive substantial support from various government and non-profit programs, this support tends to diminish as they grow older, leaving families to shoulder the burden. This reality has prompted the exploration of innovative solutions to ensure that adults with autism can live fulfilling lives. In 2016 we proposed an approach that leverages the hospitality industry, proposing a model where hotel properties are converted into residential communities designed specifically for adults with autism.
The Concept: Hotels as Residential Communities
Hotels, by design, are ecosystems focused on providing comfort, safety, and a positive experience for guests. This concept can be adapted to serve adults with autism by converting hotel properties into residential communities. These properties, with their existing infrastructure, compliance with safety and disability regulations, and built-in service roles, offer a unique opportunity to create a supportive living environment.
Supporting Life Goals Through Hospitality
The proposed model is centered around four fundamental life goals: freedom, passion, purpose, and orderly living. For adults with autism, these goals can be challenging to achieve due to the pervasive nature of the condition, which often disrupts daily life and limits opportunities. However, by repurposing hotels as residential communities, these life goals can be supported in the following ways:
Freedom: Hotel properties offer autonomy and privacy for residents while ensuring safety through design and monitoring systems.
Passion: With access to communal spaces and activities, residents can pursue hobbies and build meaningful relationships.
Purpose: The integrated business model provides vocational training and employment opportunities, allowing residents to contribute to the community.
Orderly Living: The structured environment of a hotel, with its consistent housekeeping and food services, supports a stable and organized life for residents.
The Funded and Converted Hotel Suite as a Residential Autism Community
This model envisions a hotel property where suites are converted into residential units tailored to the needs of adults with autism. Each suite could be adapted based on the resident's level of independence, with adjoining rooms for caregivers to provide 24/7 support when necessary. The property would continue to operate as a business, generating revenue through off-premise ventures or leasing parts of the hotel, ensuring sustainability.
Sample Community Operations Cash Flow
Life Enablement Scenario: 24/7 Support
The model also accounts for varying levels of support. Some adults may require continuous care, while others may need only occasional assistance. The hotel’s infrastructure allows for this flexibility, ensuring that each resident's needs are met without disrupting the property’s potential future use as a hotel.
Original 24/7 Support Floor Plan Example Submitted in 2016.
The Lifecycle of the Hotel as an Autism Residence
The model is designed with sustainability in mind. The property can begin as a traditional hotel, gradually transitioning into a residential community as funding and demand increase. Should the community decide to relocate or disband in the future, the hotel can be restored to its original function, preserving its value as a real estate asset.
Conclusion
This innovative model proposes a practical and sustainable solution to the challenges faced by adults with autism and their families. By repurposing hotel properties into residential communities, we can create environments that support freedom, passion, purpose, and orderly living for adults with autism, all while ensuring financial viability. As we move forward with this vision, collaboration with the nonprofit community will be crucial in refining and implementing this model.
This article in based on a transformative approach to residential care for adults with autism, merging the hospitality industry with social care. This idea was submitted in a competition sponsored by Autism Speaks, https://www.herox.com/HouseToHomePrize/teams. It lays the groundwork for a discussion with experts in the Atlanta nonprofit community and invites further exploration and collaboration.
Read the original proposal and join the conversation: https://github.com/bravok/hospitality-autism-model/tree/master
