About Us

A Personal Story

As a physician I was privileged to practice interventional cardiology for almost three decades. During my medical training I was drawn to this particular specialty because it provided excellent tools to not only to evaluate patients, but, more importantly, to quickly intervene in order to correct their problems with a high degree of success. The mindset of initially identifying a problem; evaluating it carefully; and trying to correct the problem as quickly as possibly has become deeply ingrained in my professional and personal life. Recently, I have realized that unwittingly I’ve adopted this same approach since our son, Mark, was diagnosed at 18 months of age with a severe form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

After Mark’s diagnosis, like so many other families, we were frustrated by the lack of funding and coordinated scientific research and worked with other advocates to establish premier academic centers such as the UC Davis MIND Institute. During the past twenty-some years, there have been remarkable breakthroughs in our understanding of the science and causes of autism. The early detection, evaluation, treatment, and medical insurance coverage for this disorder have markedly improved. Despite these noteworthy and inspiring advances, employment opportunities for autistic remain woefully lacking. Arguably, transitional services, vocational training, and competitive integrated employment are significantly lacking (some would say virtually absent) for individuals such as our son who require intensive supports and accommodations.

During the past several years, my wife Wendy (Mark’s mother) and I have focused on providing Mark with his own life that optimizes his potential for growth, independence, and self-satisfaction. A major emphasis of our endeavors has been related to finding jobs and employment for Mark. Even as I write the preceding sentence, part of my brain is saying, “Lou, shouldn’t you be looking for jobs “with Mark; and NOT for Mark?” Nothing would give me great joy and pleasure, if indeed that could be the case. Regretfully, Mark would not be a candidate to work at Microsoft or SAP. For reasons that hopefully will become evident, working at an Amazon warehouse or Walgreen’s facility are well beyond his capacities and capabilities.

Vocational training and opportunities for sustained, competitive integrated employment are (in my opinion) virtually absent for individuals such as Mark, who require intensive supports and accommodations. This problem is further intensified by recent federal and state rulings that many of the congregate settings and day programs are being phased out. Adhering to the old adage of “every crisis presents a golden opportunity,” Wendy and I have been “beating and bushes and leaving no stone unturned” in finding jobs for Mark (hopefully these are my final cliches).