Casa de SAM
A long-term home in Paraguay for adults with profound autism — built for joy, safety, dignity, and lifelong care.
SAM — Sãso, Alegría y Morada
Casa de SAM is a long-term vision rooted in three words: Sãso (health & wellbeing), Alegría (joy), and Morada (a true home).
This isn’t a concept built around productivity, performance, or “earning independence.” It’s built around a more human question: How do we ensure a safe, dignified, joy-filled life for adults who will always require care?
Autism Is Rising — And the Need Is Real
Worldwide, autism is increasingly recognized and identified — and that means more families navigating lifelong support needs.
In 2021, an estimated 61.8 million people worldwide were living with autism — about 1 in 127 people.
Source: WHO autism fact sheet.
Samuel Is 8 Now — But One Day He Will Be a Man
Samuel is a gorgeous, joyful 8-year-old boy. And like every child, he is going to grow up.
For families of profoundly autistic children, the question is not only about school years. It’s the adult years — decades of life — and the reality that a profoundly autistic person may need care for a lifetime.
This is where many families quietly carry a fear they don’t always say out loud: What happens when the primary caregiver is gone?
Profound Autism Requires Lifelong, Hands-On Support
“Profound autism” often includes minimal or no spoken language and significant cognitive limitations. This is not round-the-corner tutoring support. This is hands-on care — for life.
A CDC analysis found that 26.7% of autistic 8-year-olds met criteria for profound autism in the 2016 data set. That is a large, underserved group — and those children become adults.
Source: CDC analysis (published 2023).
Our Purpose: A Life of Joy — Not a Life of Constant Training
Many systems are structured around the goal of “independence.” But profound autism often does not resolve into independence — and forcing that expectation can create pressure, shame, and exhaustion.
Casa de SAM is built on a different philosophy: the goal is a good life — a peaceful life — a joyful life — supported without performance.
What We Mean by “Adopt”
Our long-term nonprofit goal is simple to say, and hard to build:
Casa de SAM exists to “adopt” our residents for the rest of their lives — providing lifelong care at no charge.
Not a temporary program. Not a waiting list that expires. Not a “you’re on your own at 22” system.
This is about peace of mind for families — knowing their loved one is safe, cared for, and loved for a lifetime.
Timeline to 2035
- 2025–2027 — Research & Foundations
- 2027–2028 — Land Acquisition
- 2028–2029 — Sensory Forest, Farm Start, Pathways
- 2030–2034 — Construction Phase
- Late 2034 — Staffing & Training
- March 16, 2035 — Opening Day
Why 2035 Matters
The children identified with profound autism today will be adults by 2035. Planning cannot wait until families are already in crisis.
Illustration only — shows trajectory and planning horizon, not exact counts.
Why Paraguay
Paraguay is a deeply relational culture — family-centered, community-oriented, and grounded in everyday life.
It is also a place where autism resources are still developing and reliable national prevalence data is limited — which means families often carry the weight privately, with fewer formal supports.
We will speak carefully and transparently about data here — never overstating what we can prove.
Learn More
Casa de SAM has its own home online: casadesam.org
(This page is here for transparency and context — not fundraising.)