The descriptions of the farm I am referring to are included in the book I have already mentioned by Norman and Jane J.Giddan, and also in the paper of Jane J.Giddan, presented at the Fifth Congress Autism-Europe in Barcelona in May 1996, entitled "Farm Communities for Autism: International Update". The author of the latter, a psychiatry Professor from the U.S.A , became interested in European farms in 1992, during the Fourth Congress on Autism-Europe in the Hague, where, after meeting people representing this type of rural communes she discovered, to her amazement, that all of them were developed in similar ways and for similar reasons, and their creators, in most cases, did not know one another. Her research covered seven European farms, namely: Somerset Court in England, Dunfirth Community in Ireland , Ny Allerødgård in Denmark, Dr Leo Kannerhuis, Wolfheze in Holland, La Pradelle in France, Hof Meyerwiede in Germany and La Garriga in Spain.

In describing these farms the following categories were considered: the year of establishment, the question of succession of management, the duration of stay, the size, the number of residents, daily cost, the sources of financing, the professional training of the personnel, hiring of specialized personnel and consultants, rehabilitation programs in the area of speech and language, teaching methods, systematic evaluation of programs used, the possibilities of work outside the farm for the residents, the possibility of earning money from the sale of farm products, the role of the parents, research and future plans - altogether 20 categories.

In a list below one can notice both the similarities and differences between the farms. The authors think that the similarities result from the knowledge of the nature of autism, and of the needs of grownup people with autism. The needs are as follows:

• the need for a structured residence, with a high degree of cohesiveness and safety.
  
• the need for caretakers, who, knowing the residents' special needs can assist them in learning new ideas and skills
  
• the need for work suitable for the residents, which would provide them personal satisfaction
  
• the need for organized leisure time.

Since a full summary of the data from the table is beyond the scope of this paper, I shall cite only the most pertinent information. The earliest date men-tioned is the year 1974, when Somerset Court was founded in England. The remaining six farms were created between 1982 and 1988. Their size varies from 0.8 acres in Wolfheze, Holland, to 6O acres in LA Pradelle, France. The number of residents varies from 11 (in Germany), to 47 (in France). The age span is from 16 to 46 years. The table has been enclosed in the annex.

La Pradelle

This center was founded in 1987. The society Federation Sesame-Autism played a role in its creation, and the local Sesame Autism Languedoc-Rousillon, headed by Mrs.Francoise Gremy. Her statement of the philosophy employed by the Associa-tion members collaborating with the project reads: " . . .to provide to autistic and psychotic grown-up persons a chance for as interesting a life as possible, resembling the life of any (normal) person. We treat them rather as persons with different possibilities than as people with different mind disturbances."

According to the La Pradelle philosophy, "life in the commune and com-munal team work may break down the residents's isolation. Through work, active leisure time, communication, changes occur both inside and outside the Center. . . ."

1. C.A.T. (Centre d'aide par le travail) , or Center for Assisted Work, serves 32 people between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Center contains a restaurant, a small hotel and a workshop.

2. Group houses for the 32 above mentioned workers are situated several miles away from the C.A.T.

3. "A residence house for 12 persons with more serious problems provides care around the clock. The residents frequently participate in C.A.T. activities.

La Pradelle is supported both by state (C.A.T.) and local funds. The budget is supplemented by the income from the sale of vegetables, fruit, bread, cakes, and cured meats, as well as from renting guest rooms and from the income of the restaurant. The residents's salaries are also included in the budget.

La Pradelle community is organized around work. Work is the foundation of social contacts, the development of communication, and of social principles.

The daily schedule depends on the kind of work performed. The persons who bake bread start work at 2:00 a.m. and work almost till noon. The people operating the restaurant (dinner time), end their work before midnight. Five or six people work in the bakery and in the butchery, three in the restaurant, and two in the little hotel. The rest participate in soil cultivation under the super-vision of a trained gardener. The inhabitants of residence houses mainly work in the vegetable garden and raise poultry.

Daily schedule:

7:30 a.m. Reveille -- breakfast, getting dressed
9:00 a.m. Departure from the houses for work ( by a microbus)
12:00 a.m. Return home for lunch at the C.A.T.
2:00 p.m. Return to work
5:00 p.m. Return home, shopping with the "family" from the group home, preparation and eating of evening meal, discussion of evening activities.

There is a great demand for La Pradelle products among the neighboring population. They are supplied to the local groceries (baked goods, cookies, cured meats). Once a week the products are sold at the market, and also locally at the C.A.T.

Behavior modification methods are preferred, aversion techniques are not used. Drugs are rarely used and their use is always discussed with the patient. The leisure time activities are varied. The patients may go to the movies or to a restaurant, cultivate sports such as riding, biking, water sports, hiking, and travel. Summer is the busiest time. During vacation time the residents may go visiting their families, or they may join a La Pradelle group in camping, or simply stay home, at the seaside. They often spend their vacation in Spain, usually in a group of 6 to 7 residents, accompanied by two (trained) personnel.

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