A Place To Call Home: World Autism Acceptance Week 2024 and Empowering Autistic People through Supported Housing
Autism, estimated to affect around 700,000 people in the UK, is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people can communicate and interact with the world. It’s one of the more widely recognised types of neurodiversity with 99% of people having heard of autism. However, only 16% of autistic people feel the public actually understand them (National Autistic Society).
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What is Autism Acceptance Week?
This disconnect in awareness of autism versus actually understanding and accepting the condition is one of the reasons why World Autism Acceptance Week is so integral. The aim of the week is to advocate for the acceptance of autism in society, and work towards building a more inclusive world that empowers autistic people to live with dignity, opportunity and independence.
Autism Acceptance in Relation to Supported Housing
At Zetetick, we believe that providing independence for people with autism starts from their home life. A safe place to call home is the foundation to just about everything we do in our lives, so it’s important to create supportive, accommodating environments for people with autism regardless of their backgrounds or life stages. Unfortunately, a person with autism can face a number of challenges when it comes to securing and maintaining supported housing:
- Limited availability of housing options that cater to specific needs.
- Inaccessible layouts and lack of sensory-friendly features.
- Discrimination and stigma from landlords and property managers.
- Financial barriers including high rental costs and additional expenses.
- Lack of tailored support services and accommodations.
- Challenges transitioning to independent living.
- Housing instability due to discrimination and financial hardship.
How Can I Help Advocate for Supported Housing Solutions?
People with autism face a number of barriers when applying for a home, but there are ways that you can help. By reading this blog, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction!
Amplify Autistic Voices
Understand their priorities and values. The National Autistic Society do a great job of this with their Moonshot Vision report – which lays out the conditions and milestones that autistic people rightly expect to support them day-to-day such as affordable and specialised housing, tailored to their specific needs.
Volunteer
Get involved in autism advocacy initiatives. Attend events, volunteer your time, and support fundraising efforts to help advance the cause of autism acceptance and inclusion within housing.
Share the Zetetick Mission!
You have the power to make a difference! Whether through word of mouth or on socials, you can utilise your platform to amplify our message. Start a conversation with us on X (Twitter), share our posts on Linkedin, your support will enable us to reach even more individuals who are in need of quality, supported housing. Together, we can help to ensure that people on the autism spectrum are understood, and work towards creating a more supportive and inclusive society for them to thrive in.
Zetetick: Beyond Autism Acceptance Week and Our Mission to Enable Inclusion and Quality Living
Empowering people with learning disabilities and autism to live as valued members within specialised, quality homes is at the forefront of our values at Zetetick.
We specialise in providing housing solutions that are tailored to accommodate the individual preferences and needs of our tenants. Whether it’s adapting a property for wheelchair use, selecting housing in a specific location, or ensuring that there’s easily accessible outdoor garden spaces, we’ll always try to secure a property that meets the tenants’ needs as closely as possible, all with the end goal of setting them up in a place that they genuinely feel they can call home!
By promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and advocating for policy changes, we can create a more inclusive and supported housing environment for autistic individuals, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to find a place they can call home.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming one of our tenants, you can make a referral. Join us in our mission to provide inclusive and quality housing for those who need it most.
Further Information, Resources and Support for Autism Acceptance Week
National Autistic Society | World Autism Acceptance Week 2024
Sussex Partnership NHS | Housing – everyone’s business
GOV.UK | Housing Benefit guidance for supported housing claims
Autismwales | Autism: A Guide for Practitioners within Housing and Homelessness Services
