When I give presentations or consult for emerging housing options, I often hear that individuals with I/DD want to live in a supportive and affordable neighborhood. Walking to a friend’s home, having regular opportunities for activities, being recognized as a person who contributes to the lives of others, knowing neighbors will watch out for you or be there to help you make life decisions are features of neurodiverse intentional communities.
But what if instead of trying to find those communities, you got together with others and planned your own neighborhood? What would it look like? Who else would live there? What spaces would you want to share with others? What kind of culture or “feel” would you like it to have? What type of neighborhood activities would you plan? People have been joining together to build their own neighborhoods for decades. These are not hippie communes, but rather a group of people from diverse lifestyles and backgrounds creating the neighborhood and community of their dreams. This type of intentional community is called cohousing.
READ FULL ARTICLE written by Desiree Kameka
