Discover more about what we learned.
The decision of where to live in the future can be a challenging one. People may not know what possibilities are available in the community, there may not be many options, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families may disagree on the most important features in a home.
In 2019, The Arc partnered with CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership to better understand how people with I/DD and their families make decisions about where to live in the future if they are planning to leave the family home. We wanted to learn more about the process of searching for their next home. We also asked people about what they like and don’t like about their current home and where they would like to live in the future.
Key Findings:
- Most people with I/DD and their families said that they had very little choice in where they live because there were not many home options that would take a person with I/DD.
- Family members often decided where the person with I/DD would live, but people with I/DD want to be involved in this decision.
- People with I/DD cherish time they have in and with the community, and want more opportunities to integrate into their communities.
- People with I/DD want to contribute to the choices that impact their lives, such as where they live, who they live with, and how they spend their time.
- People with I/DD want opportunities to learn new skills, participate in tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and medication administration, and interact with friends and romantic partners.
- People dream of having independence and opportunities, a setting that is physically accessible, having the ability to see their friends whenever they want, being treated with respect, and having well paid and qualified support staff.
Want to Learn More?
Check out our technical report, video, and fact sheets:
Housing Survey Technical Report PDF
Housing Survey Results Fact Sheets
- Choices PDF | Word
- Dream Homes PDF | Word
- Community Inclusion PDF | Word
- Why People Move and How They Find Information PDF | Word
There's No Place Like Home: A National Study on Disability Housing Video