Finding the right residential option for a
young adult with a disability is certainly one
of the most difficult parts of the
transition process. There are different options to choose from, but several hurdles to get over before the individual is settled in the right place. The most important thing is to build the skills necessary for young adults to live as independently as possible as an adult.
It is critical to be proactive when it comes to choosing the right residential option. Think first about what’s best for the individual based on his or her needs, abilities, strengths, etc.
Where would the individual thrive?
Where would he or she be happiest and feel safest?
What type of setting would best help him or her achieve an independent, successful future?
What supports does he or she need? What types of options can best provide those supports?
What setting can help your young adult expand upon his or her strengths and
abilities?
It is important to research all types of
options, and continue to narrow down your list until you find the best fit. Each type of residential program is designed to provide a different level of support for the residents in the program. Here are a few types of options:
Supported Living
Supported living programs provide residential services to adults with developmental disabilities who are able to live in self-owned or leased homes in the community. Among the core tenets of supporting living are that 1) everyone, independent of current skills sets, can benefit from supported living; 2) programming and instruction are directed by the consumer and not by the program; 3) to be effective, communities of support must be built around the person and promote their involvement, and; 4) smaller numbers result in greater levels of community
integration. Supported living is designed to foster the individual’s full membership in
the community as they work toward their long-term personal goals.
Supervised Living
Supervised living is a residential model designed to provide services to individuals
greater oversight and direction than might be provided in a supported living context, but less than group home living. In supervised living, the homes may be self-owned or leased. Although individual residences may be small (generally no more than one or two adults with autism per residence), there may be a number of such residences scattered throughout the apartment building or housing complex,
allowing for greater staff accessibility and oversight.
Groups Homes (Supported and Supervised)
With the onset of de-institutionalization came the movement of individuals with developmental disabilities from large, congregate care facilities to smaller, more typical homes in the community. Group homes exist in every state. They are small, residential facilities (i.e. actual homes) located in the community. Typically, group homes have eight or fewer occupants and are staffed 24 hours a day by trained agency staff. Ownership of the house usually lies with the provider agency (as do staffing decisions) and not with the residents of the house. A primary goal of group home living is to promote increasingly greater levels of
independence in the residents. As such, instruction in daily living and self help skills
including meal preparation, laundry, housecleaning, home maintenance, money
management, hygiene, showering, dressing and appropriate social interactions are
provided by the agency staff.
