Our Mission
To provide long-term stability for adults with autism through subsidized residential housing that builds independent living skills via real-world, experiential learning.
Our Story
Ben and his family started Benergy1 Presentations five years ago with one big goal: to help Ben achieve his dream of being a full‑time public advocate for autism. In that time, Ben has delivered his presentation more than 600 times to schools, professionals, and communities.
From the beginning, the long‑term vision has been bigger than speaking alone. Benergy1’s plan is to use the awareness and momentum from Ben’s work to launch a project that helps adults like him live independently and have a place they can truly call their own. Ben’s brother Dan is especially passionate about creating peace of mind for families, knowing their loved ones are supported, safe, and living meaningful, self‑directed lives.
"The fear we would hear from parents after every presentation about what's next for their kids as they age out of school combined with Ben's strong desire to live independently, made me realize there is a huge need not just for long‑term care, but for safe independence development," Dan explains.
This passion fuels Dan’s desire to help Ben and adults like him who want the same opportunity: to live the lives they choose, with the right support, in homes they can truly call their own.
Is There A Need?
One of the biggest fears for families of individuals with special needs is:
"Where will my child live and who will care for them when I am gone?"
Pennsylvania statistics reveal:
73%
27%
18%
73% of Adults with IDD in Pennsylvania live at home with a family caregiver
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18% of Pennsylvania residents have an intellectual developmental disability (IDD)
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27% of the PA population has a disability.
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73% live at home with a family caregiver.
18% live alone or with a roommate.
9% Live in a supervised residential setting.
One in three adults with IDD in Pennsylvania live with a family member over the age of 60, and most will outlive their caregiver.
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Future focused
Benergy1 Foundation is meeting critical needs for autistic adults today. Looking ahead, the situation balloons dramatically, especially when we examine Pennsylvania's education enrollment trends over the past 25 years.
Autism enrollment in Pennsylvania public schools has risen drastically. When Ben was diagnosed in 2000 roughly 1.6% of special needs students were autistic.
In 2023 the percent of special education students in Pennsylvania public schools that have autism is roughly 15% our schools are slowly adapting to this near 10 fold increase in students.
These school-aged students will age out over the next two decades, creating 10 times the current need for adult housing and independence support. With over 55,000 students already receiving autism services statewide (and estimates up to 185,000 individuals total), demand will only increase without more options like Benergy1.
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