Autism Labs

Where can my profoundly autistic adult child get respite, and could a ranch community be a future home? Host Mike Carr speaks with Barry Hamilton, executive director of Down Home Ranch in central Texas, about its camp, its residential program for 50 people, and how peer support helps people with high support needs try new things.

Questions this episode answers
How to get a caregiver break for my severely autistic adult child in Texas?
Is a ranch community an option for my profoundly autistic adult child?
How will a camp supervise my nonverbal adult child?
Can peers help my high support needs adult try new things?

Key takeaways
- Barry explains the ranch's residential program serves 50 people through two Medicaid programs and a private-pay supported living option.
- Barry says camp is their respite niche: adults around 35 to 40, living at home with aging parents.
- Barry describes camp nursing staff and a one-to-four staff ratio with constant supervision for teens 13 to 17.
- Barry says families may be able to use state, local, or insurance respite funding for camp.
- Barry shares how seeing peers take part lowers the threshold: "I can't" becomes "I'm next in line."
- Mike shares that pairing his nonverbal son, Michael, with a lower-support peer has worked amazingly well.

Guest
Barry Hamilton, executive director, Down Home Ranch. Barry first volunteered in the ranch greenhouse in 2002 with an A&M service fraternity, left banking to work there, then studied social work at UT.

This is Part 1 of Autism Adult Living Options: Inside Down Home Ranch with Barry Hamilton. Stay tune for Part 2.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/CYbITMRTXQA?si=zakzRumBADML9k1-

Autism Labs links
Autism Labs: https://www.autismlabs.com
Email Mike: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismLabsAustin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/102500470/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismlabs/
Podcast site: https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/

Planning and paying for residential care for a profoundly autistic adult is one of the hardest jobs parents face. In Part 2, host Mike Carr speaks with Debra Caudy, founder of 29 Acres in Denton, Texas, about setting realistic expectations, tracking behavior data, what high-support residential care may cost, the long HCS (Home and Community-based Services, a Texas Medicaid waiver) wait list, and carved-out jobs at a new ice cream shop.

Questions this episode answers

• How can parents plan and afford residential care for adults with profound autism?
• How much does residential care cost for a profoundly autistic adult in Texas?
• How to set realistic expectations when my severely autistic adult child moves into residential?
• Can I set up a home for my profoundly autistic adult child myself?
• What kind of job can my profoundly autistic adult child do?

Key takeaways

• Debra says she first set expectations too high; now she aims for what’s attainable, done well.
• Debra explains 29 Acres is founded in ABA (applied behavior analysis), applied in the natural environment, with data on behavior plans.
• Debra shares she and her husband planned for $100,000 a year for their son, and says it may cost more.
• Debra says 29 Acres has no openings and an HCS wait list of about 100; she suggests touring first.
• Debra says the brick and mortar is the easy part; she would put effort into support services that understand profound autism.
• Debra describes carved-out jobs at a new Howdy Homemade location, like opening tasks, stickering cups, and stocking.

Guest
 Debra Caudy, founder of 29 Acres in Denton, Texas. The mother of a profoundly autistic son supported at 29 Acres, Debra built its support services because they didn’t exist.

Series
 This is Part 2 of 2 Parts with Debra Caudy. Start with Part 1: A Future for Adults With Profound Autism: Inside 29 Acres with Debra Caudy -  https://youtu.be/NjDtbVsZqyk?si=zwj3pGWFUOBBqLDk 

Watch the full episode
 https://youtu.be/EIlihgN6c8M?si=RQdy0GXtj3B5liU5

Resources

• 29 Acres (Denton, Texas): Debra’s residential community, transition academy and supported apartments for autistic adults; tours are available. https://29acres.org/
• Email 29 Acres: [email protected] 
• Email Debra Caudy: [email protected] 
• Howdy Homemade by 29 Acres: Mission-based homemade ice cream Tom Landis opened in Dallas, built on carved-out jobs; partnering with 29 Acres on a new location. https://www.howdyby29.com/
• HCS waiver (Texas): Home and Community-based Services, a Texas Medicaid waiver that may help pay for residential support; wait lists are long. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/providers/long-term-care/hcs/what-is-hcs.pdf
• Passage Health: The EHR system 29 Acres just adopted to enter behavior data and graph progress. https://www.passagehealth.com/blog/ehr-integration
• Motivity: A data-tracking app Mike’s team has tried for behavior data. https://www.motivity.net/
• Texas Woman’s University: University partner sending OT, speech and adaptive PE interns to 29 Acres’ transition program. https://twu.edu/
• University of North Texas (UNT): University where 29 Acres is building more internship partnerships. https://www.unt.edu/index.html
• Autism Labs blog post: https://www.autismlabs.com/residential-care-homes-for-autistic-adults-what-it-costs/

CONNECT WITH AUTISM LABS

• Website: https://www.autismlabs.com

• Email Mike: [email protected]

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismLabsAustin

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/102500470/

• Podpage: https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/

Where will my profoundly autistic adult child live when school ends and nothing nearby fits? Host Mike Carr speaks with Debra Caudy, founder of 29 Acres, an intentional community just north of Dallas-Fort Worth where about a third of clients have high support needs. They talk about mixing support levels, Texas waiver funding, staffing and training, and giving a nonverbal adult real choices.

Questions this episode answers

• Where will my profoundly autistic adult child live?
• How to find residential care for profound autism that really fits?
• Can I use Texas waiver dollars for my autistic adult in an intentional community?
• How to give my nonverbal adult child choices without skipping chores?
• Why are there so few programs for profoundly autistic adults?

Key takeaways

• Debra says mixing high, middle and low support needs works at 29 Acres, with about a third in each.
• Debra explains Texas intentional communities may be able to use HCBS waiver funding after passing heightened scrutiny.
• Debra says Texas reimbursement rates don’t cover the cost of supporting profound autism, so 29 Acres fundraises.
• Debra calls staffing the hardest part and says training and staff appreciation matter, not just pay.
• Debra describes a long intake: a trial at 29 Acres, plus staff visits to home, school and day program.
• Mike and Debra share how they offer choices while chores, meal cleanup and doctor visits still happen.

 Guest
Debra Caudy, Founder and Chairman of the Board, 29 Acres
Mom to Jon, a 29-year-old with profound autism, Debra helped build 29 Acres after finding almost no programs or housing that fit him. 

 This is Part 1 of 29 Acres Residential Program.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/NjDtbVsZqyk?si=HAwOxjC2MxamZCUm

Listen here: https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/debra-caudy/

RESOURCES
• 29 Acres: https://29acres.org/
• Texas HCS waiver: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/providers/long-term-care/hcs/what-is-hcs.pdf
• CLASS waiver: https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en/insurance-financial-help/community-living-assistance-and-support-services-class

CONNECT WITH AUTISM LABS
• Website: https://www.autismlabs.com
• Email Mike: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismLabsAustin
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/102500470/ 

Emily Ricketson is the first and current executive director of AIM. She earned a BS in neuroscience from UT Austin in 2024, where she researched autism spectrum disorder in the Pierce Lab and got involved with Lifelong Learning with Friends. She worked weekends as a PRN residential caregiver at Marbridge. In 2025 she was accepted to medical school, then chose AIM instead so she could work with the IDD community now rather than in eight years.

Key takeaways

• Independence doesn't require a campus for lower support folks. AIM’ers lease apartments in an ordinary complex anyone can rent in, and AIM isn't party to the lease.
• Real jobs anchor the model. Nearly every AIM’er works, and wages plus SSI or SSDI often cover most of the rent.
• Community is the quiet benefit. AIM’ers plan their own nights over Slack, so friends are a few doors down, not just seen at scheduled programs.
• Fit matters, and "not yet" is okay. AIM has no onsite staff, so participants need to largely manage their own medications and can't have aggressive behaviors.
• Families stay involved. Families are expected to volunteer 72 hours a year and fundraise for their $3,000 Give/Get donation, and many parents find a support network of their own.
• AIM stops at the front door. Each family sets its own apartment rules, from curfews to cameras to wearables.
• Start early. Joining takes at least 12 months of socials, meeting families and finding a roommate.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/NjDtbVsZqyk?si=0G9DtpL0ACV12RAc

Listen here: https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/emily-ricketson/

Resources :

• Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/Cdjh8CQjtm8?si=96civLCJ7bj3__-I
• AIM — Adults, Independent and Motivated (use the Contact us button)
• AIM: how to join / prospective AIM’ers interest form (process takes at least 12 months) https://www.aimtx.org/
• AIM volunteer sign-up: https://www.aimtx.org/volunteer-opportunities
• AIM cooking classes and independent living skills workshops (open to the community): https://www.facebook.com/AIMATX/photos/1065370449093558/
• AIM on Amplify Austin: https://www.amplifyatx.org/
• AIM Fun Run registration and sponsorship: https://www.aimtx.org/events-funrun
• Kansas City Mission Project: https://themissionproject.org/
• Marbridge: https://www.marbridge.org/
• Lifelong Learning with Friends, UT Austin: https://www.lifelonglearningwithfriends.org/
• Dr. Jon Pierce, UT Austin: https://www.lifelonglearningwithfriends.org/our-story
• Hill Country Indoor: https://www.hillcountryindoor.com/
• Special Olympics Texas: https://www.sotx.org/
• Rotary Club of Lakeway–Lake Travis: https://www.laketravisrotary.org/

Connect with Autism Labs

• Website: https://www.autismlabs.com
• Email Mike: [email protected]
• YouTube · Facebook · LinkedIn

Many parents of an adult with autism believe their son or daughter could never live away from home. In Part 2 of this conversation, host Mike Carr speaks with Nathan Bryant, executive director at High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas, about using respite weekends as a stepping stone to moving out. Nathan explains High Point's first residential homes, the supportive roommate model, and how High Point is thinking about costs and waivers.

Questions this episode answers

• How do we move from respite stays to full residential living?
• What should be in place before an adult with autism moves out?
• How to get my adult child with autism ready to move out of our home?
• What is a supportive roommate for an adult with autism?
• Can a Texas Medicaid waiver help pay for my adult child's housing?

Key takeaways

• Nathan explains High Point is building four homes: one for staff, one for respite, one for men, one for women.
• Nathan describes the supportive roommate: reminders and nudges, not care such as medication or getting dressed.
• Nathan sees respite weekends as the first step to moving out, and will probably require a few first.
• Mike shares his program's path: day program house first, then weekend respite there, then longer stays.
• Mike says programs need a backup for the backup, so staffing ratios hold when someone calls in sick.
• Nathan says residential services at some organizations he mentioned run $4,500–$5,000 a month (as of Sept. 28, 2026).

Guest: Nathan Bryant, executive director, High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas

This is Part 2 of 2 with Nathan Bryant. Start with Part 1: What Happens After 22? High Point’s Plan for Autistic Adults with Nathan Bryant https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/what-happens-after-22-high-points-plan-for-autistic-adults-with-nathan-bryant/

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/K4_ay3pH6F8?si=F3IWz2d5Ed0tyV_V

Resources

• High Point Village: highpointvillage.org
• High Point Village residential interest form: https://highpointvillage.org/contact/
• Natalie Hendrix, social services director, High Point Village: [email protected]
• Nathan Bryant's email: [email protected]

Guest: Nathan Bryant, Executive director, High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas

This is Part 2 of 2 with Nathan Bryant. Start with Part 1: What Happens After 22? High Point Village Plan for Autistic Adults with Nathan Bryant https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/what-happens-after-22-high-points-plan-for-autistic-adults-with-nathan-bryant/

When your autistic child ages out of school at 22, few programs are ready for adults with high support needs. In Part 1, host Mike Carr speaks with Nathan Bryant, executive director of High Point Village in Lubbock, Texas, whose son has autism. Nathan explains High Point's two day programs, including one for villagers with more profound needs, and what villagers do each week, from life skills to job partnerships.

Questions this episode answers

• What happens after my autistic child turns 22?
• What does a program built for adults with autism actually offer?
• Can a day program support my profoundly autistic adult who needs one-to-one?
• How to help my autistic adult learn life and job skills after 22?

Key takeaways

• Nathan explains High Point runs two day programs: Reach High, and Dream Big for villagers with more profound needs.
• Nathan says Dream Big has two coordinators for eight villagers; villagers who need one-to-one have come with an attendant.
• Asked about taking a profoundly autistic adult, Nathan says, "If we have space, I say bring them on."
• Nathan shares High Point began with parents at a bowling league asking what their kids would do after high school.
• Nathan describes days of life skills, like doing laundry, plus outings for Meals on Wheels, bowling, and Habitat for Humanity.
• Nathan explains new job partnerships, including Mighty Wash car washes, H-E-B curbside groceries, and an Old Navy visit.

Guest

Nathan Bryant, Executive director, High Point Village, Lubbock, Texas

Series

This is Part 1 of 2 with Nathan Bryant. Continue with Part 2: From Respite to Residential: Preparing Adults with Autism with Nathan Bryant https://www.podpage.com/autism-labs-1/from-respite-to-residential-preparing-adults-with-autism-with-nathan-bryant/

Watch the full episode

https://youtu.be/_veSdwbpmQQ?si=kRaLYp9NZXb1HW-j

Resources

• High Point Village: https://highpointvillage.org/ 
• john13.org (as said on air by Mike) [CHECK: confirm link] - confirm (john13.org or j13.org)  

When a profoundly autistic son or daughter suddenly freezes, stops communicating, or starts acting out, it can put a program spot at risk. In this solo episode, host Mike Carr walks through the Autism Science Foundation's two-page guide to Catatonia, "a serious but treatable condition that affects movement, speech, behavior, and automatic functioning." He covers the signs to watch for, why a change from your child's baseline matters, and what to bring to your physician.

Questions this episode answers

• Why did my autistic child suddenly stop moving, speaking, or responding?
• What is autism Catatonia, and how is it treated?
• What are the signs of Catatonia in a profoundly autistic adult?
• How to show my doctor Catatonia signs in my severely autistic child?

Key takeaways

• Mike explains that what to look for is a sudden change from your child's baseline, not long-standing behavior.
• Mike reads the guide's Hypokinetic signs: staring, stuck at doorways, less communication, freezing, lost self-care skills, new or worsening incontinence.
• He also covers hyperkinetic signs: echoing words or movements, more repetitive movements, unusual posture and self-injury.
• Mike says the Autism Science Foundation suggests videoing the behavior over a few days to show your physician.
• Mike says Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, has been known to be effective for Catatonia; his family hasn't tried it.
• Mike also describes lowering stress: less prompting, fewer demands and familiar, structured activities, as on a bad day.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/hJHkQS8t2Rw?si=hvcUAUPT0JAlKxz7

Resources

• Autism Science Foundation two-page PDF on Catatonia (free download): https://drive.google.com/u/0/uc?id=1feCGxDCJN2RqRD4a-UOFyJcs_DqByyll&export=download

Sleep challenges in autism aren’t just difficult, they can be life-altering.

In Part 2 of this Autism Labs conversation, Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a neuroradiologist and father of a profoundly autistic son, shares the real-world impact of severe sleep disruption on behavior, caregiving, and overall quality of life.

From melatonin and pharmacological interventions to the emotional toll of chronic sleep deprivation, this episode explores how families navigate one of the most common and least understood challenges in autism.

The conversation also highlights the transition into adulthood, including gaps in services, long waiver waitlists and the financial realities many families face.

Key topics include:

• Autism sleep disorders and melatonin pathways
• Behavior changes linked to sleep deprivation
• Medication vs quality of life decisions
• Caregiver burnout and sustainability
• Adult autism services and system gaps
• Building community and support networks

This episode is essential listening for parents, caregivers and professionals supporting individuals with profound autism.

If you’re in this journey, you’re not alone.

👉 Learn more about Dr. Shafi’s nonprofit (Dar-us-Sakina):
https://www.dushouston.org/

This program pairs autistic teens & adults with a friend and offers real community support.

⚠️ Haven’t watched Part 1 yet? Start here first:
https://youtu.be/xlHc947wU0k?si=S3G65aTF5RCj6z4g

Part 1 gives the full backstory and context that makes this episode hit even harder.

In this powerful episode of Autism Labs, host Mike Carr speaks with Dr. Muzammil Shafi, a board-certified radiologist and neuroradiologist and a father of a profoundly autistic son.

Dr. Shafi shares both his medical expertise and lived experience navigating autism diagnosis, sudden developmental regression and the long-term realities of caregiving for a nonverbal child.

The conversation explores early autism signs, loss of speech after initial progress, medical uncertainty, gut-brain connections, dietary interventions and what current neuroscience suggests about brain plasticity and future treatments.

This episode is especially valuable for parents and caregivers navigating profound autism, autism regression and long-term support planning.

🎧 Topics include autism regression, speech loss, gut-brain connection, autism behavior changes and caregiving challenges from both a clinical and parental perspective.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/xlHc947wU0k?si=JS7lsmiXQsSME0uL

What actually happens when your autistic child turns 18?

For many families, this transition brings overwhelming questions about guardianship, SSI, financial planning and long-term independence. But what most parents don’t realize is that guardianship is not always required and in some cases, it may not be the best option.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Mike Carr speaks with special needs planning attorney Melissa Donovan to break down the real decisions families face as their child approaches adulthood.

Melissa explains how SSI eligibility works, why guardianship and benefits are not directly tied together, and what alternatives families should consider before making permanent legal decisions. She also shares why it’s never too early to begin financial and estate planning and how most plans can evolve over time as your child’s needs change.

This episode is especially valuable for parents of children with moderate to profound autism who are beginning to think about long-term care, independence and financial security.

Key topics include guardianship vs supported decision-making, special needs trusts, SSI eligibility, Medicaid considerations and how changing laws may impact future planning.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the transition to adulthood, this conversation will give you clarity, direction, and practical next steps.