Autism Life and Living, Inc. (ALL), a start-up nonprofit organization located in Phoenix, raised more than $17,000 dollars during Brunch on the Green 2022. The inaugural event brought together donors, volunteers and members of the community to spread awareness about housing insecurity among Valley adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

Lisa Masters, the founder and chief executive officer of ALL who established the organization after researching housing options in Arizona for her two young adult sons with ASD, says she was overcome with happiness at the support shown at the event.

“Seeing how many people were there to help further our mission was like a dream,” Masters says. “Watching everyone come together to support friends and family members was beautiful. We are lucky to have such an amazing community.”

The event included a silent auction and live entertainment from Bill Dutcher, an ALL board member and a modern acoustic guitarist bringing music to the Valley since 2005.

“We got to hear many perspectives and stories throughout the day,” says Masters. “One man, a member of my advisory committee, shared his story about how he still lives at home at 32. Though he loves his parents, he expressed that he would like nothing more than to be able to live on his own. Unfortunately, he’s faced many barriers in doing so.”

Founded in 2021, ALL continues to build their community resources and programs to better serve adults throughout the Valley with ASD or intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). The current support services program acts as a liaison between clients over the age of 18 and community organizations that can help while the social circle program coordinates monthly social outings.

There are approximately 7.3 million individuals in the United States with an ASD or IDD diagnosis and roughly 6.14 million of them do not receive publicly funded residential supports. Many of them live with aging or ailing parents, while others have become homeless without vital social safety nets.

The organization is seeking corporate and event sponsors to further their mission and reach more communities with events in 2022. Learn more at http://www.autismlifeandliving.org/ways-to-help.