Autistic Services & Coldwell Banker Chubb Realty
partner to bring Autism Awareness into WNY Homes

The need for Autism Awareness exists not only in our communities at large, but also in our homes. As the incidence of Autism continues to rise, (going from 1 in every 150th person to 1 in every 100th), more families are faced with the challenge of finding the right home and community for their child. To help families face this challenge, and as part of our effort to expand on Autism awareness, Autistic Services has partnered with Coldwell Banker Chubb Real Estate to evaluate homes being considered by families who have a child on the Autism spectrum.




This partnership was launched when the principals and agents of Coldwell Banker Chubb visited ASI’s Main Office in Williamsville for an Autism orientation and training. A dozen attendees participated in the session. “Our world was not made with Autism in mind, and yet there is so much sensory input that comes from the environment that affects the behavior of a    child with Autism. Offering Autism families environmental consultation while they’re considering home ownership is a big part of acclimating our communities for Autism.” says Veronica Federiconi, the Executive Director of Autistic Services.

Discussion points for the training session included understanding the communication and sensory challenges faced by a person on the spectrum, as well as the unique talents that are often identified with Autism. Current theories about the causes of Autism were also part of the group’s discussion. Most importantly, the training session addressed the issue of hypersensitivity to various environmental stimuli. “The idea is to have someone from Autistic Services present at the early stages of showing a home. Of course, we also want our agents to know as much as possible so that they know what homes are the best recommendations for the families. Plus it’s very important that we can be a part of the conversation,” said Barry Chubb, President of Coldwell Banker Chubb Real Estate.

For parents, this equates to a broader understanding of the many indoor and outdoor environmental subtleties that may not have otherwise been taken into consideration. Accessibility to medical facilities, minimal traffic locations, as well as close proximity to convenient transportation routes for schools, shopping centers and recreational outlets are among the outdoor details that are especially important if a child has Autism. Inside the home,  adequate space and pathways, sound-proof walls, neutral colors, window guards and carpeting must also be top of mind when creating a space for a body that is highly sensitive to or demands sensory stimulation.

“As far as any of us know, this is the first time that anything like this has been done, so it’s an exciting moment for everyone who is involved.” Barry said.

The Sensory Smart Environment project and seal was finalized just in time for this years Autism Awarness Month. “It’s the perfect time to let people know what we’re doing,” said Veronica. “This is an important part of applying what we know about Autism to the real world.”

April 2nd WNED Horizons Gallery Exhibit, featuring works created by Artists with Autism. Opening Reception is from 6-8pm No Words Spoken performing at 6:30pm
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April 5th @ 9:30 pm & April 6th @ 2:30 am WNED will be airing Autism: A Self Portrait on ThinkBright & Well (Time Warner Channel 21 and digital Channel 17.3)

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April 10th The Clinical Department will be holding a Sibling Education Program. This event is for kids ages 7-12 and will help them understand their siblings’Autism diagnosis. The workshop takes place at at our main location at 4444 Bryant Stratton Way, from 11am - 1pm.

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April 17th “Autism and Environmental Vulnerability: Whole Body, Whole Planet.” This half-day workshop features speaker Dr. Martha Herbert, M.D., Ph.D who will discuss the increase in Autism over the last 15 years, possible causes and how the brains and bodies are affected, and what we can do to build resiliency and restore health.
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April 29th Annual Spaghetti Dinner The event takes place at Ellicott Creek Fire Hall @ 45 South Ellicott Creek Road in Amherst. Tickets are $7 for Adults and Seniors, $5 for kids ages 4 thru 10. Kids under the age of three get in free.

You may not know it when you look at him, but the young man in the above photo is actually smiling. Take a moment to look again, and maybe you can see it. Maybe not. Autism is like that. It’s discreet and few things can be taken for granted. Here we have a young man, Jerome, who is smiling, even when it doesn’t appear right away that this is what he is doing. There are those who are the exact opposite – a smile is an indication that they are frustrated. Clearly, there is a lot to learn about Autism and even more to learn about each person who is on the Autism spectrum. It takes getting to know Jerome to know that he raises his eyebrows to smile. Actually, his whole face is smiling but his eyes and brows do most of the work.

I always enjoy sharing these kinds of personal anecdotes with people. Not only does it bring a smile to my face, but it gives me a chance to demonstrate the diversity of what you can encounter with this population. We’ve all heard the cliché that each person is unique, but with Autism this truism takes on new meaning. Personalities are truly singular.

This is what Autism Awareness is about. Knowing about the spectrum is great. Knowing the people who are on the spectrum is even better. That is what happens when we become a visible part of our community as performers and artists: we interact with others and give others an opportunity to get to know us as well. Simply by being seen and known in the community, we make small steps toward accomplishing our primary mission of raising awareness.

During Autism Awareness Month we also celebrate the Community Partnerships that are so important to us throughout the year. We invite you to become involved. Let us all share in what people with Autism bring to our collective culture.

We have five important dates for Autism Awareness Month, so please take a look at our calendar and find one or two events that you can attend. And please remember that Autism Awareness doesn’t end on April 30th. It is a year long and life-long aspiration. Even after April has passed, we hope that you will continue to be involved with us and our great folks.

Veronica Federiconi,

Veronica Federiconi,
Executive Director