Vine Village Featured At National Autism Summit Held at Johns Hopkins University

Saanen Kerson, associate director of Vine Village, was a featured speaker on May 1 at the “Spectrum of Possibilities: Decreasing Barriers – Increasing Options” conference at Johns Hopkins University Summit in Rockville, MD, organized by the Madison House Autism Foundation in partnership with Purple Cherry Architects. Kerson served as opening speaker for the Summit, which brought together service providers, national foundations, national news media and family members with the goals of 1) ensuring greater availability of successful housing options for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, and 2) developing action points to address issues and impact policy at the state and federal levels. Kerson presented insight into how Vine Village has grown and evolved over its 40-year history, which makes it one of the longest-running community-based residential programs for people with developmental disabilities in the US. Recognized by US Representative Mike Thompson Vine Village was invited to present after being referenced in a letter from US House of Representatives member Mike Thompson to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on pending legislation that could deny funding for housing communities that serve people with intellectual and development disabilities. He offered Napa’s own Vine Village as an example of a successful and innovative program that would be severely affected by the proposed legislation. “In the next few years, 500,000 individuals with autism will turn 21, and there are currently 1,000,000 people with developmental disabilities living with parents over the age of 60 in the US, so housing is an issue that needs to be addressed now. We thank Congressman Mike Thompson for taking a stand on this issue, and opening this opportunity for us to share our program with other providers and policy makers across the US.” Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Vine Village is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing people with developmental disabilities the quality of life that should be the birthright of every person. Located on a beautiful 25-acre ranch in Napa Valley, its residential and day programs are designed to meet each individual’s needs for personal development, social interaction, independence and the security of knowing he or she is accepted and valued. For more information, visit www.vinevillage.org.