Autistic Eagle Scout dreams of independence.
Austin started as a Cub Scout in 1st grade which served as an ideal place for him to make friends as well as learn new things. Austin continued on into Boy Scouts where he received his Eagle Scout rank in 2020. Austin graduated from high school in 2020. He has completed his vocational training in the Custodial Trade at Michigan Career and Technical Institute. Austin looks forward to securing a custodial job with Peckham, a Michigan-based company that employs persons with special needs.
Some of the challenges Austin faces as a person living with autism are; difficulties in managing finances, difficulties in sharing details of being autistic with others, and he is at a high risk of being used by malicious people. Even though the lessons learned in Scouting made him a little more independent, and gave him his place, as parents, we still feel insecure when he is out there away from our watch as potentially malicious people might take advantage of his overly trusting and innocent nature.
Austin wants to live an independent life. Amazingly, on the 10th of August, Austin, with the help of his grandmother was fortunate enough to buy a home IN THE PERFECT LOCATION!! Exactly one street away from where we live. The location of the house is PERFECT as OUR BACK YARDS ACTUALLY BACK RIGHT UP TO ONE ANOTHER!!! As you can imagine, we are over the moon excited for Austin. Having a lifetime of navigating the many obstacles that Autism presents and handling them LIKE A CHAMP. To be given this opportunity is a blessing we can’t even begin to describe. To be able to live independently, but, with the safety net of his mom and I LITERALLY in his back yard!! I tear up every time I talk about it. Austin’s eagerness to begin adult life is immeasurable.
However, the house is in a state of abandonment. It is in no condition you would want a loved one living. It needs a ton of work before it is even livable. When you see the pictures, you’ll see what I mean. The most pressing needs include new electrical panel and wiring throughout, refinishing the gross wood floor, grading around the house’s perimeter to channel away groundwater. scrubbing, and painting for the wholehouse. The kitchen requires counters and sink at minimum just for health concerns. The house is in desperate need of new windows and the bathroom needs to be demolished and constructed anew. If this house was not RIGHT IN OURBACK YARD we would have taken a hard pass on it. This is not a project we are remotely ready to tackle. But for a once in a lifetime opportunity for Austin, it is worth ANY amount of effort and sacrifice to make his dream of independance a reality.
Austin’s grandma, mom and I are stretched to the limit between the down payment, themortgage, utilities and other related costs. Austin will be securing a job that will enable him to take over the monthly bills. But, as a new graduate, he has no savings with which to make these critical repairs to make the home livable. Will you please consider assisting this incredibly loving, warm-hearted autistic young man begin his adult life by donating whatever you can. The complete list of what needs to be done is attached. Austin, his grandma and I would be happy for donated materials, labor and monetary contributions. Thank you for taking the time to hear about a most joyous time in our family!