3.1.0 Choosing the Right Living Arrangement Option
Louisiana Statewide Transition Project and Louisiana: Healthy and Ready to Work Fact Sheet Series
	5/26/99

I. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Where to live is one of the most important life decisions a person makes. Unfortunately, unlike other transition outcome areas such as employment and post-secondary education, adult living arrangements is often not considered a "top-priority" for transition planning. Families and service providers may feel young adults will live at home, especially if they have a significant disability. On the other hand, families and service providers may feel that no services or supports will be needed for young adults with milder disabilities.

While adult living arrangements may not be a topic that is frequently stressed, it is vital that this very important area be given due consideration. By knowing the support options available to them, young adults can plan for their future. Service providers and families should have accurate and up-to-date information to share with young adults. Adult living services are offered through Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), and the Office of Mental Health (OMH).

II. KEY POINTS

Traditionally, discussions of living arrangement options have focused on a continuum of options. The Target Areas for Transition Planning form (or the "Transition Menu") used by Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in Louisiana when developing the Transition Services page of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) lists these options:

· Living on Own-no support

· Living on Own-with support

· Living with the Family or Relative

· Substitute Family Care

· Group Home

· ICF-MR-ongoing support

· Adult Nursing Home

This continuum lists options ranging from least to most restrictive. When planning for adult living, it is important to remember that those places listed on the more restrictive end are needed only by a very small percentage of all young adults. Most young adults could live on their own, if provided the necessary supports. Transition planning for adult living should begin with the dreams of young adults, then look to what supports they will need to attain that dream. Once those supports are identified, the appropriate living arrangement option can then be chosen from the menu.

Funding for services is often a key consideration when deciding where to live. In order to make informed choices, it is important to know the terminology used by agencies that fund adult living services. Two concepts that are frequently used when discussing living options are Independent Living and Supported Living. Although very different, these concepts are often erroneously used interchangeably. It is important to get clarification from agencies as to their definitions when considering whether to access their services.

Independent Living: Independent living is defined as control over one's life based on the choice of acceptable options that minimize reliance on others in making decisions and in performing everyday activities (Nosek, 1992). Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (1997) defines independent living services as those services that enable an individual with a significant disability to function independently in the family or in the community. Independent living services are provided in order to teach a person to live independently in the community. No provision for ongoing support is included.

Supported Living: This concept supports the belief that people, regardless of their disabilities, should live in the community where they want, with whom they want, for as long as they want, with whatever supports they need to make that happen (Ferguson, et.al., 1990). Services are provided in order to support a person to live in the community. Individuals are not required to have certain skills before accessing a particular living option. Provisions for ongoing support are included. It is not necessary for independence to be a goal.

As stated earlier, adult living services in Louisiana are offered through LRS, OCDD, and OMH. Each agency has eligibility requirements that must be met before services are offered. Given below are descriptions of services offered:

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services funds independent living services to qualifying individuals with a significant disabilities in order to enable them to function independently in the family or the community. Examples of services funded include counseling; mobility training; personal care attendants; physical rehabilitation; provision of needed prosthesis, other appliances, and devices; community awareness programs; interpreter and reader services; and individual and group social and recreational services (LRS, 1999).

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities offers residential service options including Medicaid funded small and large Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MRs), supervised apartments, supported living for adults, and extended family living (OCDD, 1999). Some regional OCDD offices also offer support to individuals who wish to become homeowners.

Office of Mental Health offers supported living services either through specialized residential programs or through case management and other services which support persons living in their own homes. Individuals with serious psychiatric disabilities are provided services necessary to address both their housing and mental health/rehabilitative needs. The types of housing resources available for adults include group homes, supervised apartments, respite apartments, board and care homes, foster care, and individual residences with support. For adolescents, housing is limited to group homes and foster care (OMH, 1999).

III. ROLES/NEXT STEPS

Students/Young Adults: Young adults should be active members of their IEP teams. By being involved in all transition planning activities and IEP meetings, they can assure that their wishes are heard and acted upon. More specifically, young adults should think about where they would like to live. They must express these dreams to others and advocate for themselves to make them come true.

It is important to consider the financial implications of the various living options. Many young adults may find they need to get a job, or to work more hours, in order to afford their chosen living environment. Young adults must also learn money management or ask for assistance with this from those giving support.

By beginning early enough, young adults may be able to learn how to do various homemaking tasks such as laundry, meal preparation, etc. on their own. If they are unable to complete all or part of these tasks, however, supports can also be used. Remember, it is not necessary to be able to do these things independently!

Young adults should explore services and supports offered by various agencies. They should determine which services to pursue given individual support needs.

Families: Family members should think about their role in their son or daughter's life after high school. They should consider what role they will need to take when supporting their son or daughter when preparing for adult living. Family members should discuss their dreams and fears.

By identifying the strengths and needs of their son or daughter, families can help determine how to address those needs in the IEP. Families can also help young adults advocate for themselves in IEP meetings, as well as in daily life.

Families should help young adults explore services and supports offered by various agencies. They can determine which services to pursue given individual support needs.

Agencies: LEAs should ensure that post-school living arrangements are discussed at IEP meetings. Action steps to help young adults attain their desired living arrangement outcome should be a part of all IEPs, not just those for young adults with significant disabilities.

By taking a person-centered approach, agencies can help young adults live where they want while still receiving needed supports. Beginning with the dreams of individual young adults, then finding services and supports to make those dreams happen is the best way to ensure that only those supports needed are provided.

Participation in meetings at which transition to adult living is discussed and/or on a local interagency transition team are excellent ways for adult agency personnel to ensure that young adults exiting LEAs and entering adult agencies come with the living skills needed.

IV. RESOURCES/CONTACTS

Contact the following state offices in order to get the number of the regional office nearest you:

Families Helping Families

888-9111 in New Orleans, or 800-766-7736

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services

925-4131 (in Baton Rouge) or 800-737-2958

(contact to get the number of the office nearest you)

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)

(225)342-0095

Louisiana Office of Mental Health
(225) 342-2540

V. REFERENCES

Ferguson, P., Hibbard, M., Leinen, J., & Schaff, S. (1990). Supporting community life: Disability policy and the renewal of mediating structures. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 1(1), pp. 10-35.

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) (1999). What is independent living? Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Rehabilitation Services. [available via internet: www.dss.state.la.us/offlrs/html/independent_living.html]

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) (1999). Description of OCDD services. Baton Rouge, LA: Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. [available via internet: www.dhh.state.la.us/OCDD/describe.htm]

Office of Mental Health (OMH) (1999). OMH support services. Baton Rouge, LA: Office of Mental Health. [available via internet: www.dhh.state.la.us/OMH/omh-support.htm]

Nosek, M.A. (1992). Independent Living. In Parker, R.M. & Szymanski, E.M. (Eds.), Rehabilitation counseling: Basics and beyond (p. 103). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.