Meet Lisa Masters | Founder/CEO Autism Life and Living

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Masters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Need. As a single mother of two young men with autism who were approaching adult age I realized I needed to start researching options for their housing and support when I was no longer here to care for them. This was when I became aware of the severe gaps in support services and housing options available to individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) in Arizona. Motivated by the lack of viable options for my boys, others like them and the troubling statistics reflecting the widespread crisis, I was driven to take action. So, in 2021 I formed Autism Life and Living, a 501c3 nonprofit based in AZ.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Once a child with an I/DD turns adult age, they experience a gap in housing and support services needed to live a healthy, safe life. Most do not have the skills to advocate for their health and well-being and must rely on caregivers for their daily needs. These individuals with I/DD face many barriers:  Access to support services.
 Financial and work limitations.
 Societal mindsets that perceive them as a burden without anything to contribute.
 Risk of displacement and abuse

Of the 159,000 individuals with autism/IDD in Arizona,
 85% are unemployed
 67% express desire for classes to learn healthy habits and become more independent
 87% experience loneliness
 and they have the lowest rate of independent living at 19%, compared to their peers with other disabilities.

Complicating matters, policy is often not fully informed and results in unnecessary obstacles and inadequate services. Even health care practitioners have difficulty fully grasping the needs of those living with this disability. Due to the gaps and barriers to services, these individuals can remain isolated and receive inadequate or insufficient supports. This puts them at extreme risk for poor social relationships, exploitation, negative health effects, poor life choices, decreased quality of life and homelessness.

The mission of my organization is to empower young adults with autism by providing programs that promote inclusion, independence, socialization and well-being. ALL supports adults, ages 17 & older with autism and I/DD by offering programs, resources and support services that promote independent living skills: life-skills, relationship skills, social skills and more. ALL eliminates the barriers to accessing these services and affords individuals the opportunity to learn necessary skills to live an independent life with self-directed choice. ALL’s ultimate vision is to develop an inclusive community where individuals with autism and other I/DD can live independently in a secure environment with needed support that is permanent and affordable.
ALL is set apart from other organizations by solely focusing on the unique and timely needs of young adults. Additionally no one is turned away for inability to pay.
ALL has experienced tremendous growth in just a short time, surpassed budget goals and has served over 450 individuals to date. Getting here, though fast ,has not been easy. I have learned that need is not enough to succeed. It takes dedication, drive, passion and patience. Patience has been the hardest part for me because I know time is of the essence as myself and other parents of children with autism and I/DD are aging knowing their loved ones face an uncertain future.
I want the world to know that there is a silent crisis brewing in our society and that policy is currently uninformed and insufficient to support these individuals. I am driven to be part of the solution and welcome the support of anyone who aligns with ALL’s mission.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arizona has so much diversity to offer, from hiking, to shopping to sporting events and more. I personally love enjoying the many unique restaurants AZ has to offer, and the shows and concerts. If a friend was visiting I would mix it up by first taking them to Frontier Town in Carefree to walk around the shops, get a feel of the old west then off to El Encanto for authentic Mexican food. The next day would be a walk through Desert Botanical Gardens and the evening at Dominick’s Steak House then off to a show at Gammage. These are just a few of my favorite AZ things!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mother. I am incredibly grateful to my mother for her unwavering love and support. Without her, I would not be able to dedicate the time and energy it takes to run a nonprofit organization. She selflessly cares for my boys, allowing me to focus on establishing a strong business model that aims to provide for an underserved population. It’s a bonus that my boys absolutely adore going to their grandma’s house!

Website: www.autismlifeandliving.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismlifeandliving/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-masters-71470a221/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Autismlifeandliving

Image Credits
Dennis Murphy