The first residential community of its kind on the East Coast — The Faison Residence for
young adults with autism and developmental disabilities, will break ground Thursday, September 26
RICHMOND, VA: The Faison Centers of Excellence will break ground on The Faison Residence, a new state-of the-art residential community tailored to meet the challenges of young adults with Autism, on Thursday, September 26th at 4:00 pm. The Faison Residence at the corner of West Broad Street and Byrd Avenue, is the first residential community of its kind on the eastern seaboard.
This revolutionary “living learning environment” is designed to give young adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to model and practice positive life skills.
“The organization’s scientific methods provide the crucial information about what creates a happy and productive world for adults with disabilities. This approach can advance what is possible, not only for the people that need special support but also as a model for humankind,” said R. Douglas Greer, Ph.D. of Teacher’s College at Columbia University, New York, NY.
The $15 million Faison Residence, designed by Baskervill architects of Richmond, VA, will have 45 apartments. Approximately one-third of the one, two and three bedroom units will house a diverse population of young adults with developmental disabilities, while the remaining apartments will be interspersed among a group of teachers, nursing assistants and other compassionate professionals. The program consists of family teaching services, advanced technological security support using HomeLink, day support and vocational programs as well as recreational and social opportunities.
“We believe The Faison Residence has the potential to be a model living environment that is safe, comfortable and promotes the greatest independence possible,” said Louis Hagopian, Ph.D., and Michael F. Cataldo, Ph.D., of the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
The Faison Residence was developed in collaboration with partners at the Department of Behavioral Psychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; and the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; with assistance from other organizations and autism advocacy groups from across North America. The Faison Residence will be a leading model in providing special needs care and treatment for the worlds’ burgeoning Autism population.
The Faison Centers of Excellence educational program, The Faison School for Autism, was established in 1998 and serves students from 28 independent cities and counties throughout Virginia. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) licensed as a day school by the Virginia Department of Education, The Faison School provides services on-site from early intervention through school age and intensive programming for children and young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In addition, the school offers a variety of consultative services, including home-program support, school consultation, after-care and summer programs and community workshops.
For more information about the groundbreaking for The Faison Residence on Thursday, September 26th or The Faison Residence, please visit www.thefaisonschool.org.
