Having the opportunity to live independently is an exciting step for individuals with I/DD. This can be scary for them as well as for their families in making sure the individual feels welcome, supported, and safe within their community. A great option can be a community within the greater community. An emerging trend in residential options is the development of a planned community or neighborhood built specifically with the preferences of people with I/DD in mind, but not just for people with I/DD. Most of these emerging projects are “consumer-controlled” which means one’s housing is disconnected from a Medicaid-funded service provider. Thus, residents have more control over their home, can choose any residential service provider they prefer, and can change providers as needed but stay in their own home.

The Arc Jacksonville Village is an example of these neuro-inclusive, consumer-controlled planned communities. Its model has since spawned similar communities in both Florida and nationally.
The Village offers apartments and amenities designed with the neurodiverse population in mind. For example, every unit has an intercom that can be used to request immediate help from an on-site support person in the case of an emergency. In addition to being within walking distance to several shopping centers and public transportation, alternate transportation can be scheduled as needed which is a huge benefit for many people with I/DD to access their community. The Arc Jacksonville Village features game and fitness rooms, a theater room, a computer lab, raised garden beds, jacuzzis, half-courts and a swimming pool. Americorps volunteers, both neurotypical and neurodiverse, offer additional in-person support to residents. Additional amenities include planned social activities, life skill classes, and an optional dining hall where residents can purchase meals and eat with others or bring back to their apartment. These additional options would not be available in a typical apartment community, and residential service providers could not cover these costs through Medicaid reimbursements.
“I would not change a thing.
This place is amazing!”
The Village provides a safe, supportive environment for residents to live meaningful, inclusive, and independent lives. We were able to sit down and talk with one of the residents at the Village to hear her experience. She moved to The Village from living with her parents to see if it would be a good place to try living independently. She told us, “Here at The Village I have grown and matured and learned how to do more things on my own than if I didn’t live here.”
The Village encourages all residents to engage with their greater community, get a job, volunteer, go to college and be in charge of their own life. To achieve this goal of independent living, opportunities are provided to residents to learn skills relating to: decision-making, safety, wellness/medical management, employment, self-advocacy, community access, civic responsibility and ‘sense of self.’
At The Village, residents can take advantage of built-in support systems, life-long education opportunities, and intentionally networked relationships to offer more recreational and employment connections throughout the city. The resident we met told us, “My favorite thing about living here is being able to have the opportunity to go out and volunteer in the community and attend the different classes, programs, and activities they offer at The Village.”
My son is 22 and has many great skills. Our hope for him is that he can maintain his pride and dignity with some supports in place. He is an amazing swimmer, loves the computer and completing tasks. He is enthusiastic about playing the piano and creating things (crafts). He has experience riding horses and skiing. He has had many rich experiences with his family and we would want this experiences to continue.
My son Steven lived at the sister community, Noah’s Landing in Lakeland Florida. Ultimately Steven returned home, through no fault of Noah’s Landing. Steve is very high functioning and he needs a part-time job. We just couldn’t make that happen in Lakeland, so he decided to come home.
The program didn’t work for Steven, but we rave about Noah’s Landing to everyone. The homes were beautiful. The staff was helpful and kind. Steven made many friends with the other residents. Steve still goes down to Florida (from Virginia) once a year to visit his Lakeland friends.
I highly recommend that you visit the communities in Jacksonville or Lakeland.
Kathleen, how is this paid for?
That sounds so fantastic. I am happy for your son & family. I am looking for the same type of setting for my son. He is 25 with autism. Was it difficult to get him placed here?
I would love to learn more about this place. We are in CT and my son does not have DDS services as his IQ is one point above! We are on an autism waiver waitlist that could be 10 years for those who are a bit higher functioning. How do we pay for this if interested? He works part time right now and has saved in an ABLE account. He does have Medicaid too, but obviously that isn’t an option. Thank you so much!!
Hi Carol,
Here are some suggestions on how to use the Resources page (www.autismhousingnetwork.org/resources) on the Autism Housing Network to start moving forward with a plan. There are financial assistance and support systems, but they are disconnected so the key is understanding them and seeing if your loved one would qualify. DO NOT count your income or any help you give financially when questions ask about “income.” Let us know if you have any other questions.
How do residents pay for living in this community?
Hi Laura,
There are financial assistance and support systems in place for help, but they are disconnected so the key is understanding them and seeing if your loved one would qualify. DO NOT count your income or any help you give financially when questions ask about “income.” Go to our Resources page (www.autismhousingnetwork.org/resources) and you can filter by topic to learn more about this. Let us know if you have any other questions.
For this specific housing community, rent is fixed for those with extremely low income (ssi/ssdi with limited earned income). Their supports to live independently are separate and each resident chooses their preferred service provider (either private pay or waiver funded).
This community looks amazing! My daughter 36 on the autism spectrum with mild cognitive deficits could certainly benefit from living in a community like this one. She currently resides in New York State in a supervised apartment program. Are there any such planned communities like this one in the Northeast? How difficult would it be for someone out of state to be accepted to this community or is it just for Florida residents?
Thank you!
We took a tour and were impressed. Our son is on the waiting list and I hope someday he gets to live here.