By Denise D. Resnik, Founder & President/CEO, First Place AZ/First Place Global; Co-Founder, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center; and Matt’s Mom
For many families, Independence Day means backyard barbecues, local parades and fireworks lighting up the night sky. While we celebrate our nation’s declaration of independence as the United States, I’m also reminded of our interdependence—the reality that we need one another to thrive through shared values, mutual support and inclusive communities.
As the mother of an adult with autism and epilepsy, this deeper meaning of the holiday resonates with me more every year.
In the early days, July 4th celebrations were a mixed bag. Matt and our family loved the fireworks, but the intensity of crowds and “bombs bursting in air” could feel like a veritable battleground. It also meant carefully managing severe sensory overload.
As the country celebrates 250 years, our original national motto, e pluribus unum—out of many, one—offers a truth that parents like me hold to be self-evident: Our nation relies on a union of states, just as adults with—and without—disabilities rely on an accessible, supportive societal framework to achieve their own version of independence. Such a realization—that freedom is fueled by connection—is what led to the creation of our flagship property, First Place–Phoenix.
A New Blueprint for Community Life
I used to dream of a day when Matt could experience a home of his own surrounded by a supportive community. Today, at First Place–Phoenix, that dream is a reality for him and many others.
First Place–Phoenix is not just an apartment building. It is a vibrant, 81,000-square-foot neuro-inclusive community. Adults with autism, Down syndrome and other neurodivergencies live in their own apartments—but not in isolation. They learn crucial life skills, secure gainful employment and build lifelong friendships within a supportive ecosystem that also makes life fun!
Uniting Communities Across the Nation
Matt’s independence means peace of mind for parents like me—something that should not be limited by geography. Just as our country thrives when ideas move freely across state lines, the data we have collected and the positive outcomes we are demonstrating in Arizona belong to the entire nation.
First Place Global is working across the country to scale momentum, connecting with real estate developers, policymakers, healthcare providers, local leaders and stakeholders to share lessons learned and recognize our collective strength.
Fueling Freedom Through the Ballot Box
If home and community are the foundation of an interdependent life, then civic engagement is its fundamental expression. True autonomy means having a voice in the laws and leaders shaping our country. Vote the Spectrum, a nonpartisan initiative created by First Place AZ, is dedicated to educating and registering voters with disabilities. When self-advocates and their families, friends, teachers, physicians and lifelong networks of support use their voices at the ballot box, they are not just participating in democracy—they are strengthening the collective union that drives the future of our nation.
True freedom for Matt—and others like him—doesn’t mean navigating the world alone. It means living in communities where each of us recognizes that everyone can do something: Offer support, understanding and kindness in the places we share every day—from school and the corner store to places of work, worship and beyond.
This Independence Day, let’s celebrate the many connections that empower democracy to thrive—and keep passing the torch of freedom to the next generation with the understanding that this work, like motherhood and democracy itself, is never truly done.
Dimensions® 2026, First Place Global’s annual symposium, will focus on bridging the gaps separating individuals with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities from the vital housing, healthcare, employment and education they need for more independent lives of purpose and possibility. We hope you’ll join us in this endeavor!