KYPT - Communication

Supported Living

Think about moving away from home and into your very own place for the first time. This might be a college dorm, an apartment or townhouse, etc. Are you likely to live alone or have a roommate (or roommates)? Most people have roommates when they move away from home. Why is this? Why not just live alone? Usually, the reason is because you can’t afford it yet! You need a roommate (like they need you) for that financial support. Or maybe you decide to live with your best friend just because it makes the transition from home easier and you both like the idea of having the emotional support that comes with living together.

Well, just like you, people with disabilities sometimes need supports when they want to live independently. Once a person with disabilities leaves high school, he or she is no longer eligible to receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA (see the Legal Rights & Protections unit to learn more about IDEA). Adult service agencies are now responsible for providing services. There are two such programs in Kentucky that offer residential supports: Supports for Community Living and Supported Living.

The Supports for Community Living program offers services to young adults after graduation. This program offers a variety of supports including residential. The residential supports offered through this program are designed to allow individuals with more significant disabilities the opportunity to live independently instead of in a residential facility. Because services are not usually available immediately, a person interested in receiving these services should register as soon as possible—even if he or she is still in high school.

Kentucky Supported Living is a program that is specifically geared towards providing residential assistance. The Supported Living program provides individuals with disabilities assistance so that they may live in a residence of their choice, whether it be an apartment, a group home, or with friends or relatives. A team of family, friends, and others who can help is formed. These folks work together to determine a plan for reaching the focus person’s goal of where he or she wants to live. A person receiving supported living supports may live alone but may need someone to come into his or her home to assist with bill paying, cleaning, getting ready for work, cooking, etc. The goal of Supported Living is to offer supports that will allow individuals to live as independently as possible.

So when you think about making the transition from your parents’ home to your own home, realize that your peers with disabilities are thinking about the same things. They may need to seek support, just as you may need to seek support. These forms of support just may come in different ways!

*ACTIVITY*
Pretend you are on the planning team for a person with disabilities and you are trying to determine a plan of action to reach that person’s goal to live in their own apartment. What kind of things do you need to consider? What are your suggestions? Remember to think about the type and severity of the disability. This activity can be based on a fictional person.

If you have completed all sections and activities in this unit, you may be ready to take the quiz - ask your teacher!