According to a study by Easter Seals, 7 in 10 adults with disabilities live with parents or guardians. Across the country nearly a million young people with disabilities are aging out of school-based services and entering adulthood. The estimated cost of caring for them is in the hundreds of billions.
When you’re a parent, you worry about all sorts of things, but when you’re the parent of a kid with a disability there is one thing that’s always on your mind: what happens to them when I’m gone?
That’s the reality for Barb and Doug Rothfus. Their son Andrew is 23 and lives with them because of his severe autism.
“It’s a constant worry,” says Barb. “Who’s going to care for him when we’re no longer able to care for him? Where will he go? Will he be with family members? Can we find a place? And that’s kind of what started this whole process.”
The process is the dream of building inclusive housing for adults with disabilities. They call it, The Home Place.
“What we’re looking at is condominiums where people with disabilities would live, but also other members of the community,” says Doug. “What makes it a little different is we’re looking at it like a community, not just an apartment building or a group home.”
Barb and Doug are still in the fundraising phase. If you’re interested in learning more about the project check out their website.