Unless you are close to someone with autism, or have it yourself, chances are you’re not aware that it’s a lifelong condition, one with varying degrees of severity. This month is Autism Awareness Month, which helps to increase both the understanding of the condition, and also highlights the need for continued research for treatment and therapies that will improve the lives of those with autism.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 36 eight-year-old children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism and it’s even higher in California with one in 22 eight-year-old children being diagnosed with autism. A major issue with autism and other developmental disabilities is connecting with resources — particularly in the realms of employment and housing.
Sweetwater Spectrum is a nonprofit organization located nearby downtown Sonoma, whose mission is to provide adults with autism, or similar intellectual and developmental disabilities, community-based, long-term housing. In addition to long-term housing, Sweetwater Spectrum also helps each of their tenants reach their highest potential by encouraging resident involvement in their household, neighborhood and surrounding communities.
In honor of Autism Awareness month this April, the Sonoma restaurant and tasting room community has teamed up to help spread awareness of autism, the need for continued research, and the extreme need for housing options for adults on the spectrum, such as those offered at Sweetwater.
“The residents really are culinary aficionados and love experiencing the diverse restaurant offerings of Sonoma. Going out to eat is a favorite pastime of many Sweetwater residents,” says Olivia Vain, Executive Director for Sweetwater Spectrum. “The fact that local restaurants have partnered to highlight our message of autism awareness is very special to us given the hospitality industry is so important to our residents.”
“We have had so much support from the local businesses in town and the fact that Sonoma Plaza is so close to the property is a benefit for our residents to feel a part of the community,” she continues. “They are always welcomed and have a great experience when they walk into the local shops and restaurants. The community knows our residents and we could not be prouder that Sweetwater has become a part of the fabric of Sonoma.”
This collaborative project with local Sonoma Valley business owners includes restaurants and tasting rooms in Sonoma such as The Red Grape, a downtown pizzeria; Cochon Tasting Bar, that serves wines by the glass, cheese and charcuterie; Corner 103, that offers elevated wine and food pairings; MacArthur Place Resort & Spa; family owned and operated Jacob’s Restaurant; and Glen Ellen Star, a Michelin Star Bib Gourmand restaurant. These places are featuring beverage napkins that spotlight Autism Awareness and Sweetwater Spectrum — a simple activation that goes a long way.
“Autism awareness is something that we are very proud and honored to support,” said Lloyd Davis, owner of Corner 103 tasting room in Sonoma. “We love doing things to support the community and we love working with Sweetwater here in Sonoma and supporting all they do to help people with autism lead a productive and normal life.”
“We are so happy to support Sweetwater Spectrum and the awareness of autism this month by having these napkins be part of our restaurant,” continued Megan Moll, owner of The Red Grape. “We love to support all things in our community of Sonoma.”
One of the specific ways that Sweetwater Spectrum encourages active resident involvement in Sonoma is through its one-acre organic farm on-site which includes an energy-efficient greenhouse, providing opportunities for physical skill development and healthy eating for Sweetwater Spectrum tenants.
The greenhouse grows and distributes microgreens to local and Bay Area restaurants year-round. Moreover, the farm also sells produce through on-site and local farmer’s markets. Sweetwater Spectrum residents are volunteers on a weekly cleanup crew at Jack London State Park, frequent the Sonoma Farmers’ Market, and run a Friday Farm Stand open to the public. They also work at Sonoma Farm, planting and harvesting microgreens for sale.
Sweetwater Spectrum is an active part of life in the greater Sonoma community and its residents participate in the broader community as volunteers, community participants, employees, students, advocates, performers, athletes and artists.
When it comes to entrepreneurship, Sweetwater Spectrum residents make and sell crafts through online and gallery sales, sell lemonade on the Plaza and more. In fact, many residents are employed in local businesses including Becoming Independent, and Mary’s Pizza.
From resident athletes competing in Special Olympics events to attending Santa Rosa Junior College in the College to Career program, a specialized career-preparation program for young adults with developmental disabilities, Sweetwater Spectrum offers a range of enrichment programs that benefit not only those with autism, but also the greater community.
“Cochon supports all great work in Sonoma and Sweetwater does amazing work in the community,” said Sean Lirette, a salesroom associate at Cochon Tasting Bar in Sonoma.
We chatted more with Olivia Vain, Executive Director for Sweetwater Spectrum, on the work Sweetwater Spectrum does, why autism awareness is important and more. Here’s what she had to say.
Was there a specific catalyst in the creation of Sweetwater Spectrum? What began it all?
Sweetwater Spectrum was founded on the dreams of parents who wanted to ensure long-term independent living for their autistic children and to provide the same opportunity to other adults with developmental disabilities across a wide range of financial capabilities. A group of founding families came together and created the nonprofit, fundraised, purchased, and the construction of Sweetwater was completed in 2013.
The property is 2.7 acres, including five residential buildings for 20 residents, a community center, gym, pool, hot tubs, gardens, an urban farm and a greenhouse in the heart of Sonoma, just minutes from the Historic Plaza.
Sweetwater’s mission is to create an opportunity for residents on the autism spectrum and other developmental disabilities to live independently and with purpose, as part of a peer group and the larger community. We opened our doors in January of 2013 when our first resident moved in.
Over the past 10 years, how have you seen Sweetwater evolve? Were there any unforeseen challenges that had to be overcome?
Sweetwater is a landlord who chooses to rent to people with disabilities, and one of the biggest challenges is making all the layers of support needed for people with disabilities to come together and work collaboratively long-term. Disability services here are funded through the state of California through Regional Centers, and individuals and their family select their residential supports, regardless of living at Sweetwater or elsewhere in the community, for example, renting an apartment or owning their own home.
Each year thousands of children age out of the system and adults with special needs often struggle to find resources, work, financial stability, services, support, meaningful activities, belonging, friendships, connection, and a community.
At the very center of those struggles is the shortage of long-term and suitable housing. Our residents with autism and those with similar developmental disabilities represent a rapidly growing population. It is more important than ever that Sweetwater Spectrum can continue to pave the way for like-minded groups who are looking to us for support.
Are there any programs you work with to help employ your residents? Keep them active in the local community?
The Enrichment Program that we offer on site and in the community for our residents who want to participate, is centered around community integration and individual choice/interests.
We focus on social, health and creative aspects to promote a life with purpose. With autism being a social disability, there are 60-70 opportunities monthly that encourage social engagement and generalizing skills on the residents’ own terms and comfort level.
Examples include hosting trivia night at the community center and then later at a local pub. The enrichment program offerings are geared towards sensory, music, movement, and volunteerism and vary based on seasons, suggestions and interests of the residents.
The residents of Sweetwater Spectrum volunteer and give back to the local community. Residents volunteer at the Napa animal shelter, Pets Lifeline, Jack London State Park and more. Many have volunteer opportunities and work at local restaurants. We also work on skill development on site to prepare for options elsewhere. Many residents participate in a weekly potluck in the community center, preparing the dishes, setting the table, etc., to develop skills and eventually holding jobs at local restaurants.
Since the pandemic, we have developed more aspects of our enrichment programs with an increased focus on volunteerism. The volunteer opportunities residents partake in range from serving the elderly and animal shelters to local park-clean up, community events and school district functions. These opportunities help our residents develop self-awareness and find purpose within the community.
How did this collaboration with local Sonoma restaurants come about?
Our goal is always to highlight our mission to spread awareness about autism and the housing crisis facing the population. We only have space for 20 residents here on-site, but our ultimate mission is spreading awareness about creating these opportunities worldwide.
That starts here, locally in Sonoma on the grassroots level. Several restaurants and tasting rooms supported our efforts to raise funds for our fifth residential building and housing expansion, which was finished in August 2023, underscoring their support of our mission.
We’re proud to continue to collaborate with local businesses this year to showcase the napkins initiative celebrating Autism Awareness Month. We’re humbled and excited to see the participation from the local community and the businesses our residents love to visit!
Talk about the one-acre organic farm on-site and the work you do with it.
We maintain a small farm and greenhouse at Sweetwater Spectrum, where we grow microgreens and an array of vegetables, herbs and flowers along with raising a flock of chickens. Much of the produce from the farm is given to local non-profits that support the elderly and homeless. We sell the microgreens (cilantro, pack chia, rainbow mix, pea shoots, wasabi, etc.) at the Friday Farmers Market in town each week, and our residents also love to go to support the local stands.
We mainly give what we grow to other nonprofits, such as the senior program in town, and for the past two years we also supported the International Sonoma Film Festival, which is also a culinary event with our microgreens. The film we sponsored, “Ezra,” won an award and the focus of the event was also to spread awareness about food insecurity in the local community, so we were happy to be able to support it.
During the wildfires in Sonoma, we were also able to donate to those in need. We also use what we grow on the property for our residents. A popular activity is making tea using herbs and flowers grown on the farm. We also sell our microgreens and edible flowers to local restaurants.