View this email in your browser. Transition Academy Ready for More “Firsts” This Fall First Place–Phoenix is abuzz with activity in preparation for the fall semester at the First Place Transition Academy. Registration is underway with just a few spots remaining for incoming freshmen. Individuals who currently receive ALTCS-DD supports from the Dept. of Economic Security may be eligible for Transition Academy assistance. Learn more about this groundbreaking two-year residential program operated by SARRC and based in the supportive environment of First Place–Phoenix that helps build crucial independent living and career-readiness skills. Participants can maximize their capacity to live more independently through our Learn4Independence® curriculum and individualized services designed for adults with autism.   Global Leadership Institute Symposium This October Mark your calendars for October 23–25 and join us for the next First Place Global Leadership Institute symposium—our sixth—in the heart of the supportive community of Greater Phoenix, dubbed "the most autism-friendly city in the world" by PBS NewsHour. Pioneering agencies, organizations and families gather to learn about next steps for their communities and neighborhoods, as well as to share their challenges and successes. Workshops focus on building a community asset inventory, financing/fundraising, marketing/branding, curriculum/programming, specialty leasing and quality assurance. Learn from and share information with members of the First Place AZ team, fellow attendees, and various advisors promoting models for public, private, nonprofit and charitable collaboration. Registration is underway! Jump In! The Water’s Fine in “Swim Team”  Everyone at First Place recently enjoyed a special screening of “Swim Team,” a must-see, inspiring story of the trials and triumphs of a competitive swim team of teens on the autism spectrum. Director/producer Lara Stolman, mom of a 12-year-old son with autism, was visiting Arizona after hearing about the amazing things going on at First Place–Phoenix. Residents and their family members, along with staff, gathered in the First Place community room to share the experience.    You can catch this amazing documentary—or watch it again!—for a few more days of the two weeks PBS has been offering free streaming. And read Stolman’s insights about the film that she shared when she sat down with us for an enlightening Q&A. New First Place AZ Board Member First Place AZ welcomes our newest board member, Susan Smith, director of IT Frontline Services at Salt River Project. Susan is responsible for leading her SRP team in multiple areas, including Workspace Technologies, IT Service Management and the IT Solution Center. Susan has more than 25 years of experience in the utility industry and welcomes the challenges of today’s ever-changing technology landscape. Before moving to Arizona from Maine, she was actively involved with various groups, including the Autism Society of Maine, serving people with developmental disabilities and their families. We look forward to Susan sharing fresh, new ideas aligned with our vision of providing more housing choices for special populations in supportive, inclusive communities like Phoenix.  First Place AZ Chosen by Target Circle We’re thrilled that First Place has been chosen as a beneficiary of Target Circle’s latest community giving program. Voting started July 8 and runs through October 6. Target guests can enroll in the program through the Target mobile app, website and in-store. Your online or in-store purchases help you earn and cast votes for local nonprofits of your choice. Let’s try and get as many votes as we can in support of our goal to ensure that housing options are as bountiful for individuals with autism and other neuro-diversities as they are for everyone else. Register today! Must-Read Summer Blog Series A special 2019 summer blog series chronicles the journey of Denise and Rob Resnik’s son Matt and his transition to life at First Place–Phoenix. Denise shares some personal insights and valuable lessons learned along the way. Copyright © 2019 First Place AZ, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.