RECENT CHANGES

The program managers, who have been at Bittersweet for many years, describe their views of the changes that have taken place over the last several years, and concerns about the impact of those changes on the program as a whole.

Over the past decade, Bittersweet Farms has had to adjust to new participants in the vocational program and to those in supported living. Some of the additions have brought with them very challenging behaviors that require extra creativity in management. Consequently, Bittersweet has had to develop specialized activity groups that address some unique needs.

They have had to offer more individualized therapeutic activities; not just farm activities. For example, they've developed a group called Nature's Hands where the focus is on sensory activities. Nature's Hands may select structured physical activity around the obstacle course, rather than productive vocational work. They may engage in more therapeutic activities, rather than typical farm tasks, because the needs of these individuals are so great.

It would not have been feasible to try to integrate them into the horticulture program, for example. But some other useful activities have been identified for this group. They might recycle, which is helpful to the farm. Their sensory needs can be incorporated into projects like feeding the birds. The bird feeders are up high, so they have to reach up and then bend back down, providing vestibular stimulation.

Bittersweet Farms is actually a wonderful setting for the creation of such adapted activities. The philosophy of meaningful activities hasn't been lost, but the view has been broadened. Activities have become more prescriptive for each individual, rather than a general prescription for all. Programming in these areas has been developed through the combined efforts of therapy and professional staff, along with graduate students in occupational therapy.

Special considerations have to be made for certain behavioral challenges that are faced in this group. Although Bittersweet has a general staff ratio of one-to-two workers, sometimes they must assign sign one-on-one to help a new person get over the hump of adjustment to this new setting. They make such modifications as well, with someone who might just be on the farm for the summer program. They might need that direct guidance throughout the entire three months that they are there.

Much can be learned from this individualized process. Organized efforts must be continuous to assure not only that personal needs are addressed, but also that positive and therapeutic community elements, always characteristic of the farmstead, remain strong.

Behavioral Management Team

The behavioral management team now meets every other week. During those meetings, the team reviews each participant, briefly, and then concentrates on those who currently have the most significant behavioral challenges. The consulting psychologist attends the team meetings. The pediatric neurologist attends occasionally, and is otherwise available for telephone consultation.

The Aging of the Population

The next issue for the professional and behavior management team to deal with will be the aging of this population. They will need to consider whether different behaviors should be expected as those with autism age, and whether needs for medication will change. Will behaviors be different; less severe?

The age of the participants might have an impact on the intensity of activities on the farm. All will have to be prepared for that, so that the model can adapt to the needs of the people being served, and still perhaps, allow for high level of activities for others who might join the group. Staff continue to believe that involvement in physical activity will remain the best deterrent for the stress related behaviors of those with autism.

Role of Parents

Today, more than in the early years, parents of day participants are much more involved, want to have strong influence in programming, and request more unique services for their adult children. This has required staff to develop individualized programs similar to those created for the residents.

Some of this newer parental attitude stems from the personal futures approach that has empowered families to plan and pursue what is important for their family's needs. When they choose an available option, they feel they have a role in its management. The process has stimulated new requests of Bittersweet Farms to provide unique services for specific individuals.

Some families come to Bittersweet Farms interested in the farmstead model. Once they are involved, they try to extend the program, re-write it a bit, to make it become more of what they had imagined. Others are less interested in the farmstead concept, but like the fact that Bittersweet Farms focuses on autism. They want certain things they feel are necessary with regard to autism issues. For example, they're interested in having certain computer skills, certain language skills, having certain training and academic opportunities available. Some want their child taken out to lunch once a week. They have images of programming more typical of academic settings, and less typical of farmstead offerings.

Bittersweet staff have to be mindful of farm's overriding philosophy as they individualize services. They have to be sure they are still meeting everybody's needs. The mediation mentioned above extends to the parents and families as well; more than ever before. The families of the day people are primarily interested in Bittersweet as an autism service.

The staff at Bittersweet still believes the farmstead is the ideal model for making meaningful connections for persons with autism. They readily recognize the value of the farmstead for its many vocational options, its outdoor benefits and its holistic sense of purpose. It is very important that a balance be maintained that assures individual matching of services to need, along with the preservation of the community benefits and social integration that are inherent in the farmstead model.

Next Section