FIRST PLACE AZ
717 EAST MARYLAND AVE NO 110, PHOENIX, AZ 85014 www.firstplace.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: SETS THE STANDARD FOR DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES THAT INTEGRATE ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND SPECIAL ABILITIES INTO THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY THROUGH HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS, & CULTURE.

FIRST PLACE APARTMENTS COMPRISE 47 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS IN OUR FIRST PLACE-PHOENIX PROPERTY FOR RESIDENTS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER NEURODIVERSITIES. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE PHOENIX URBAN AREA, THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS DESIGNED TO BE COMMUNITY CONNECTED AND TRANSIT ORIENTED, WITH A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND AMENITIES. THE ENVIRONMENT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO REDUCE DISTRACTIONS AND PROMOTE SECURITY. TRAINED SUPPORT STAFF IS ON-SITE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS RANGING FROM LIFE SKILLS AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE TO COMMUNITY LIFE AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION. LIFE SKILLS TRAINING INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION ACCESS/NAVIGATION, BUDGETING, MEAL PLANNING, SHOPPING, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

FIRST PLACE TRANSITION ACADEMY INCLUDES 32 UNITS IN OUR FIRST PLACE-PHOENIX PROPERTY, 16 OF WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE, AND IS A STRUCTURED, TWO-YEAR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TO HELP ADULTS WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER BUILD CRUCIAL INDEPENDENT LIVING AND CAREER-READINESS SKILLS. PARTICIPANTS CAN MAXIMIZE THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH LEARN4INDEPENDENCE, A COMPREHENSIVE TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM OF 32 SEMESTER-LENGTH COURSES OF 17 WEEKS EACH. COURSES RANGE IN TOPIC FROM WORK, FINANCES AND NUTRITION TO HEALTH, SAFETY AND RELATIONSHIPS. THE PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY FIRST PLACE'S SISTER NONPROFIT, THE SOUTHWEST AUTISM RESEARCH & RESOURCE CENTER, OR SARRC. IN YEAR ONE, PARTICIPANTS LIVE IN THEIR OWN PRIVATE BEDROOM, ALSO KNOWN AS THEIR 'INDEPENDENT LIVING CLASSROOM', IN ONE OF THE FOUR FOUR-BEDROOM UNITS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF FIRST PLACE PHOENIX. THEY COMPLETE THE FIRST 16 COURSES AS THEY EXPERIENCE VARIOUS WORK ENVIRONMENTS RANGING FROM COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER SITES AND INTERNSHIPS TO EMPLOYMENT. IN YEAR TWO, PARTICIPANTS RELOCATE ON-SITE WITH A ROOMMATE TO A TWO-BEDROOM/TWO-BATHROOM AS A NEXT STEP TOWARD GREATER INDEPENDENCE. PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE 16 ADDITIONAL COURSES, CONTINUE TRANSITION/EMPLOYMENT PLANNING AND RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE IN LIFE SKILLS AT COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.

FIRST PLACE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOUSING OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER NEURODIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS TO DEVELOP LEADERS ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES. DEVELOPED BY DISTINGUISHED THOUGHT LEADERS AND EXPERTS IN THIS HIGHLY SPECIALIZED FIELD, THE WORK OF THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON ACCESSIBILITY TO MORE COMMUNITY, HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OPTIONS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS. THE INSTITUTE IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY AND RESEARCH, AND HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR THOSE SEEKING SUPPORT-STAFF CAREERS WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE FIRST PLACE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COLLABORATES WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS THROUGH ITS FIVE CENTERS: MARICOPA COUNTY IDA CENTER FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT; CENTER FOR REAL ESTATE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; COLONEL HARLAND SANDERS CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH; MULZET CENTER FOR EXPRESSION/COMMUNICATION; AND THE DANIEL JORDAN FIDDLE FOUNDATION CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY.

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