Transition to Independent Living

We help individuals with disabilities live independently

Did you know that 85% of North Carolinian adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) reside in a supervised setting or are cared for by family? We want to help more individuals live independently. Our Transition to Independent Living program provides individuals with IDD with the tools and necessary skills to live on their own.

The individuals in our program are working toward being as independent as possible. For a variety of reasons, they are concerned about self-reliance, especially when their caregiver is aging.

Our innovative approach to independent living is significantly less intrusive than the traditional model of full-time staff monitoring the home while still providing a safety net. Our Transition to Independent Living Smart Home is outfitted with technology to support independent living. This allows residents to be alone without caregivers while their families are comforted in knowing that an on-call Transition Coach can still get into the home quickly if needed. Overnight, staff safely monitor residents remotely through technology.

We have developed a phased approach to assist individuals with IDD learn hands-on independent life skills. Residents spend each weekday evening with a coach, working onsite to develop living skills like cooking healthy meals, paying bills, dividing chores and adhering to a roommate agreement. After the selected two roommates move into the Smart Home, they continue working toward completion of a six-phase program over approximately 18 months.

The six phases of the program are:

  • Phase 1- Residents spend one night a week in the house.
  • Phase 2- Residents spend three nights a week in the house.
  • Phase 3- Residents spend seven nights a week in the house.
  • Phase 4- Residents live full-time and pay 15% of their half of the rent.
  • Phase 5- Residents live full-time and pay 25% of their half of the rent.
  • Phase 6- Residents move out of the Transition to Independent Living Smart Home and new residents move in.

Independent living with the help of assistive technology

We have partnered with Simply Home to create a Smart Home outfitted with different kinds of smart technology to support independent living. The technology in our Smart Home allows our residents to live more independently.

Read more about the Smart Home

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