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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Attch 2 Applicant's Written Statement RECEIVED APR 18 20113 DUBLIN PLANNING Creative Autism solutions Team CAST CUP Application "Written Statement" A. What type of business, activity or use are you proposing? CAST will be creating a desperately needed after-school program for children and young adults with autism, ages 6-12 and 13-24, called"Here We Grow. There is a great deficit in available effective programs for ASD children during the hours of 1:00-6:OOpm, and in fact, this is creating hardships for families as it prevents both parents from securing meaningful employment. Physical and Occupational therapy, art, yoga, gross motor exercise, social skills, balance board classes, 1:1 attention in special playrooms and a sensory"chill-out" room will be available to participants of Here We Grow-all under one roof! An anomaly in the world of autism today! B. How many employees will you have or propose to have? Our goal is to have each ASD child have their own"buddy"at Here We Grow. The buddy may be a paid staff member, volunteer or"Team Teen"trained peer playmate. Maximum number of student is 50, and the maximum number of staff is 25. C. What are the proposed hours and days of operation? M-F 1:00-6:OOpm "Here We Grow" Program Saturday 10:00am-2:OOpm OR 5:00-9:OOpm Respite hours D. Will your business, activity or use target a specific segment of the community? Yes...children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Ages 6-24. Also, we'll be recruiting their neuro-typical peers as"buddies"and playmates. E. In what ways will your business, activity or use benefit the community? I founded CAST in 2010 and we received our 501C3 tax exempt status from the IRS in September of 2012 (#45- 1877605). The creation of CAST came out of the experience I have had personally with my son and the challenges my husband and I have faced struggling to attain services which could help him. We drive all over the Bay Area to various therapists, putting hundreds of miles on our car and taking precious time out of our son's day traveling instead of playing with him and working on his autistic challenges. Those of us who have jobs end up paying someone else to do this and the"money-pit"grows deeper. Our story echoes that of thousands of parents all over the world as the"epidemic of autism" has dramatically increased in the recent years. I have been truly inspired by my son, his strength and his ability to see joy in the smallest detail of his everyday life. I am in awe of his courage as he works so hard to accomplish that which is not challenging for most of us. But conversely, I have also been inspired by constantly hearing the following phrases from entities which exist to help parents like me: "We don't do it that way...we don't have a program like ATTACHMENT 2 that...would you like to be added to our waiting list?...that will cost $150/hour...we don't think that's"right"for your child...he's doing really well (for a child with autism)," and the list goes on... Our Mission has attracted a creative group of knowledgeable parents and professionals who have been touched in some way by an Autism Spectrum Disorder. With 1 in 78 (1 in 54 boys) being diagnosed with an ASD, it is time to"think outside the box and create some innovative solutions to the challenges families face every day as they assist their loved one in overcoming the challenges of autism. So, here we are, the"Creative Autism Solutions Team", "Embracing the Possibilities"...enhancing the lives of children and families with autism and other neurological challenges. How will be specifically benefit the community? 1. Save families time and stress driving all over the Bay area to get services and care for their child on the autism spectrum by providing a local after-school program and therapies under one roof. 2. Offer AFFORDABLE, loving care for the ASD child. 3. Provide a safe, comfortable and sensory-friendly environment for ASD children. 4. Provide a"TeamTeen"training program for neuro-typical peers. This will train compassionate peers in how to relate to and involve ASD people in typical social interactions. We are hopeful that the understanding of autism and its challenges, the enriching training and accepting attitude nourished at"Here We Grow"will be carried back into the public school system in which these trained peers attend. We hope to see a reduction of the"bullying"and ostracizing that is so prevalent in public schools today. 5. Provide the young adults, ages 22-24, a place to go for fun, effective and therapeutic social play. This demographic is especially in dire need of a program in which to participate. At age 22, these young people"age out"of their state sponsored day programs. This often creates stress, panic, sadness and desperation in the parents of these young people. Some of these ASD young people are non-verbal and still not toilet-trained. There are VERY FEW programs which are accepting of people with such challenges. We must provide an option in our community which can directly serve this population. 6. Offer much needed respite times for parents of ASD children. F. Are there any ways in which your business, activity or use may disrupt the peace of the surrounding residents or businesses? No. G. Will your business create any negative effects on the health or safety of people residing or working in the vicinity? No. H. Will your business create any negative impacts on property, transportation systems, or existing improvements in the neighborhood? No. I. Is the proposed project located on a hazardous waste and substances site? No.