The Sweetwater concept embraces a set of core principles for establishing a new community of persons with autism, including:

• Accommodate the full range of autism spectrum disorders.
  
• Create active resident involvement in their home, neighborhood and surrounding communities.
  
• Provide access to productive enriching choices that support a life with purpose.
  
• Offer the opportunity for lifetime residency.
  
• Utilize autism-specific design, which addresses both safety and sensory issues.
  
• Nurture long-term, high-value relationships between residents and staff.
  
• Accommodate a broad financial spectrum.
  
• Create and foster a model that can be replicated nationwide.