You're Invited: $9 Million Autism Facility Breaks Ground in Sonoma

A Sept. 10 groundbreaking ceremony will mark the beginning of construction on an innovative $9 million facility for young adults with autism.

Sweetwater Spectrum, a non-profit organization, was founded by Bay Area families with children with autism and has been hailed as innovative and pioneering new model for residential living.

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life and affects the brain's development of communication and social skills. It is the nation’s fastest-growing developmental disorder.

The Sweetwater Spectrum model responds to the extraordinary unmet need for appropriate housing for young adults with autism. It is designed as a pilot community that is intended to be replicated nationally.

The project will create a 2.8-acre residential setting designed for the unique everyday living needs of young adults with autism. At the same time, Sweetwater will encourage ways for them to participate in the larger community through jobs or day programs. The concept reinforces Sweetwater Spectrum’s mission of helping adults with autism live a “life with purpose,” both at home and in their communities.

Deirdre Sheerin, a Sonoma resident with a history of accomplishment in both non-profit leadership and work with children with autism, has been hired as CEO/executive director of Sweetwater Spectrum. She will provide onsite direction for turning the Sweetwater concept into reality.

The residential community will be constructed on a site four blocks west of the city’s historic downtown plaza. It will include four 4-bedroom homes for sixteen residents, with the ability to expand in the future.

A single-level, 2,350-square-foot community center will include a teaching kitchen, an exercise studio, a media room and an art/music room. A 1,440 square-foot-welcome center will house a reception area, administration offices and a studio apartment for a land steward.

A gardening program will include a 1.25-acre organic garden, fruit orchards and energy-efficient production greenhouses to provide opportunities for physical skill development and healthy eating. Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects has designed the development specifically for the needs of adults across the entire autism spectrum, ensuring safety and accounting for considerations such as sensitivity to light, sound and movement.

To date, Sweetwater Spectrum has raised about 75 percent of the project’s cost through donations, pledges and a modest construction loan from a local bank. The remaining funds are expected to come from additional capital gifts from individuals and foundations in the coming years.

Sweetwater Spectrum bought the property from the City of Sonoma in December 2009. It was selected from among six bidders for the five contiguous parcels that include frontage at 19347 Fifth Street West and 726 West Spain.

Sonoma Mayor Laurie Gallian said she believed the Sweetwater project would be a tremendous asset to the Sonoma community. “This is another important way the city can move forward with its commitment to supporting diversity in housing, whether it is affordable housing, senior housing, sweat-equity housing and now an appropriate living opportunity for adults with autism," she said.

Construction is expected to take about a year. Its first residents will be selected from the full spectrum of autism and with participation encouraged from individuals and families regardless of their financial capacity. By providing a network of family, friends and neighbors, it is intended to provide a lifetime home and a sense of belonging for its residents.

For the founding families of Sweetwater Spectrum, such a community is a far cry from what they were finding as they first looked into existing options for their children. Board chairman Jackson said when his son turned 18 two years ago, “his caseworker politely said there was no appropriate residential placement for him in Northern California. The other families have similar stories. That really lit the fire under us to create Sweetwater.”

In their travels to look at available models, the founding families came to the conclusion that community integration was critical, said Carolyn Klebanoff, whose 18-year-old daughter has autism. “So we decided we wanted a site within walking distance of grocery stores, movies, cafes. And we wanted to create a community of peers larger than what one would see in individual homes, to maximize opportunity for social interaction.”

Now, said Jackson, the families can see a future in which their adult children are part of a “happy, engaged group of residents who are truly part of their local community.”

That, Jackson said, is what he envisions success looking like at Sweetwater. But that’s only part of it. “Success also means helping the many other parents facing these same challenges across the country in pursuing their dreams for a life with purpose for their children.”

Sweetwater Spectrum will be located at the intersection of 19347 Fifth Street West and 726 West Spain. The groundbreaking ceremony lasts from 10am-noon; continental breakfast will be provided.