Innovators Share Strategies to Advance 

Inclusive and Integrated Housing and 

Supports for People with I/DD

September 22, 2023

Webinar
Welcome

Webinar is hosted by the 

Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC)

Facilitator

Ryan Elza, Interagency Housing Innovation & Strategy Lead 

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

2
Instructions for Zoom

Audio Options

• Use your computer speakers, OR dial in 

using the phone number in your 

registration email.

• All participants are muted.

Questions and Comments

• Please actively use chat throughout the 

meeting, especially for your comments.

• To ask a presenter a question, please use 

the Q&A function.

Or, send your question or comment via email 

to HSRC@ACL.HHS.GOV

3

This event is being 

recorded.
Accessibility

Maximizing view of ASL interpreters

• Enlarge view of ASL interpreter by “pinning” them: 

Click on their video window and select the Pin icon.

Screen Reader Users: Reduce unwanted chatter

• Request speech on demand: 

Insert, Spacebar, “S”

4
Agenda

• Welcome and Housekeeping

• Opening Remarks

• Introduce the Speakers

• Speaker Presentations

• Panel Conversation

• Q&A

• Closing

5

Opening Remarks

7
Today’s Speakers

8
Jordan Wagner

Project Manager, Technology Projects

Jordan.Wagner@osumc.edu

Go.osu.edu/nisongertech
“Technology makes things possible”

“For people without disabilities, technology makes things 

easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes 

things possible” 

IBM, 1991; p. 2

International Business Machines (1991). Technology and persons with disabilities. Atlanta, GA: IBM Support Programs.
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

12

4

3

5

6

9

7

11

8

10

1123

14

15

18

16

19

17

20
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

12

4

3

5

6

9

7

11

8

10

1123

14

15

18

16

19

17

20
5

6 7

11

8

10 12

13

14 15

16

17

SAFETY AND SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

1

2 4 3

5

6

9

7

1

1

8

1

0

1

12

3

1

4

1

5

1

8

1

6

1

9

1

7

2

0

Tours

• Customized for the tour participant

• Survey helps identify needs and 

challenges

• GO.OSU.EDU/SHDP

• Structure 30-minute tours around 

relevant technologies 

• Identify next steps
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

1

2 4 3

5

6

9

7

1

1

8

1

0

1

12

3

1

4

1

5

1

8

1

6

1

9

1

7

2

0

Tours

• Customized for the tour participant

• Survey helps identify needs and 

challenges

• GO.OSU.EDU/SHDP

• Structure 30-minute tours around 

relevant technologies 

• Identify next steps
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

1

2 4 3

5

6

9

7

1

1

8

1

0

1

12

3

1

4

1

5

1

8

1

6

1

9

1

7

2

0

Tours

• Customized for the tour participant

• Continual support

• Connect with organizations that can help
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

1

2 4 3

5

6

9

7

1

1

8

1

0

1

12

3

1

4

1

5

1

8

1

6

1

9

1

7

2

0

Tours

• Customized for the tour participant

• Continual support

• Follow-up
SAFETY AND 

SECURITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING

HEALTH 

TECHNOLOGY

REMOTE SUPPORT

1

2 4 3

5

6

9

7

1

1

8

1

0

1

12

3

1

4

1

5

1

8

1

6

1

9

1

7

2

0

Tours

• Customized for the tour participant

• Continual support

• Follow-up

• Online tours
Project Design

• How to design the SHDP in a way that best benefits 

participants?

• What technologies should be included?

• What technology infrastructure is necessary?

• How can we ensure continued success?
Program Design

• How to design program in a way that best benefits 

participants?

• What technologies should be included?

• What technology infrastructure is necessary?

Program Advisory Group

• Person with lived experience

• State AT Act program

• Ohio Department of Medicaid

• Ohio Department of 

Developmental Disabilities

• County Board of DD

• Social work expert

• Rehabilitation services

• Expert in Psychology and 

intellectual and developmental 

disabilities

Technology Advisory Group

• Experts in technology solutions 

for people with developmental 

disabilities

• Computer engineer

• Mechanical engineer

• IT experts

• Network engineer & parent

• Expert in Psychology and 

intellectual and developmental 

disabilities
Program Design

• How to design program in a way that best benefits 

participants?

• What technologies should be included?

• What technology infrastructure is necessary?

Program Advisory Group

• Person with lived experience

• State AT Act program

• Ohio Department of Medicaid

• Ohio Department of 

Developmental Disabilities

• County Board of DD

• Social work expert

• Rehabilitation services

• Expert in Psychology and 

intellectual and developmental 

disabilities

Technology Advisory Group

• Experts in technology solutions 

for people with developmental 

disabilities

• Computer engineer

• Mechanical engineer

• IT experts

• Network engineer & parent

• Expert in Psychology and 

intellectual and developmental 

disabilities

• Outline mission, vision, and goals

• Outlined service plan

• Develop survey

• Identify needs

• Reduce barriers to successful 

demonstration

• Feedback on technology options
Continued Success

• Review feedback

• Annually update technologies

• Capitalize on partner relationships
Partner relationships

• Assistive Technology of Ohio - Ohio AT Act Program

• Short-term and long-term device loans

• Consultation, including annual technology update 

discussions 

• Follow-up with participants

• Funding support
Lessons learned

• Network security

– A business may have security parameters that are not 

common in homes

• Technology is fickle

– Technology companies can end support for a certain 

function

– Acknowledge technologies limitations
Participation

• FY23

– Tours: 50

– People: 140

• Tour participation:

– 1-42 participants
Feedback Survey

• Respondent type (72 respondents)

– Other professionals: State agency staff, OT, education

• Satisfaction (72 respondents)

• Gained knowledge (72 respondents)

Family 

member 

of 

someone 

with a 

disability

17%

Provider 

agency

8% Service 

broker/Ca

se 

manager

10%

Individual 

with 

developm

ental 

disability

15%

Other 

professio

nal

40%

Student

10%

0

1

14

57

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Very unsatisfied

usatisfied

satisfied

Very satisfied

0

3

13

56

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly agree

Series 1
Feedback Survey

• How likely are you to recommend to a friend of colleague?

0

0

3

0

1

0

0

2

6

8

45

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10
Quotes from participants

• “Last week we had our first individual start Remote Support services 

for 8 hours overnight, every night. He is extremely happy with his 

increased autonomy and quality of life.”

• “Touring the Smart Home Discovery Place was very informative and 

helpful for me. The experience helped guide the internal 

conversations we had within [our provider agency] on how we 

implement and use Assistive Technologies and was a basis for the 

Smart Home Try Out site that [our provider agency] developed for 

people who receive services”
Quotes from participants

• “I was very much impacted by the visit. I am in the research phase of 

the process as my son is still in high school and we estimate that we 

are at least 5 years away from being ready for him to live in a 

community setting. I am also the Parent Mentor for [our school 

district] so I have shared with many families and staff the things I 

have learned. I am also the neighbor of an elderly woman who is 

going to need some technology in order to return home from rehab. 

I have shared with her loved ones some of the possibilities that are 

available!”
Jordan Wagner

Project Manager, Technology Projects

Jordan.Wagner@osumc.edu

Go.osu.edu/nisongertech

QUESTIONS?

This project was supported, in part by grant #90-DDUC-0038 (PI: Marc J. Tassé, PhD), from the U.S. 

Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

Inclusiv

e &Integrated Housing

& Supports for

People with

Intellectual & 

Developmental

Disabilities

Administration on Community Living 

September 2023
Advancing 

disability-forward 

housing solutions 

that open doors to 

more homes and 

opportunities for

everyone.

thekelsey.org

33

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
Segregation

People with disabilities are 

segregated in:

• Hospitals

• Institutions

• Congregate Settings

• Homeless Shelters

• Disability-specific housing 

developments

Anchored in Inclusion

Integration

People with and without disabilities 

live in the same building physically 

but with barriers to full access, 

separate lives and experiences, 

and no community connections.

Inclusion

People with and without disabilities 

share community together, diversity 

is valued, interdependence is 

supported, and people have 

access to the same spaces and 

experiences.

3

4

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
115 homes; mixed income with 

30% of units priced at

$500/month; an accelerated 

development timeline. Accessible 

design, transit-oriented location, 

outdoor amenities, and on-site 

Inclusion Concierge services.

Opening early 2024.

The communities we build prove new, replicable models of inclusive, accessible 

housing and provide homes to people who need them most.

112 homes; mixed income with 

30% of units priced at

$500/month. Sustainability 

awarded project, Disability 

Community Cultural Center, 

accessible design, on-site 

Inclusion Concierge. Opening 

early 2025.

A pilot community in a market 

rate building; our signature 

Inclusion Concierge enhances 

services, builds community, and 

supports residents with 

disabilities.

The Kelsey Ayer Station, San

Jose

The Kelsey Civic Center, San

Francisco

The Kelsey at Atlas, 

Oakland

3

5

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
36
37
Housing

that is accessible, 

affordable across a 

range of incomes, 

and meets personal 

preferences

Community

with connections, 

recreation, 

spirituality, joy, 

meaningful work, 

and relationships.

Supports & 

Services

including medical 

services, in home 

supports, and 

therapies designed 

to meet individual 

needs.

38

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
39

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
Accelerate Housing

10

© 2023 The

Kelsey®

The Kelsey provides technical assistance 

and project management for 

organizations across all stages of their 

disability-forward housing efforts. 

Whether structuring community 

engagement, doing site feasibility, 

selecting a development partner, 

overseeing a housing project launch, 

managing design partners, and beyond, 

we support people with a vision for 

inclusive housing to bring projects to 

life. Past clients include affordable 

housing developers, disability service 

providers, universities, housing finance 

organizations, and family groups.

We co-develop inclusive housing in 

partnership with local providers and 

housing developers. The Kelsey brings 

our expertise in disability-forward 

housing affordability, accessibility, and 

inclusivity to best-in-class local teams 

who know their communities and have 

a track record of housing delivery.

Partners include affordable housing 

and market-rate developers.

Open Source 

Resources

Our open-source, free resources 

support organizations in their own 

efforts to build inclusive housing.

Resources include toolkits for 

community outreach, technical 

guidance on financing and project 

development, design guidelines, 

strategies for increasing disabled 

leadership, and beyond. Office Hours 

gather housers at all stages of 

development to learn more and ask 

questions about their own housing 

efforts.

Capacity Support Co-development
Inclusive community 

engagement

© 2023 The Kelsey® 11

© 2023 The

Kelsey®

Design guidance

Access to capital

What communitiesneed:
Disability-Forward 

Housing Strategies

42

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
Accessible 

Design

43

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
Diverse 

Affordability

44

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
Inclusive 

Services

45

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
Community 

Partnerships

46

© 2023 The

Kelsey®
© 2023 The Kelsey®

thekelsey.org

21
Creating an Inclusive World,

One Community at a Time
Our Mission

To build inclusive communities and strengthen neighborhoods 

through diverse programming, sustainable affordable housing, and 

social spaces for people of all abilities
Our Why

7.37M

Adults in the U.S. living with a 

developmental disability (DD)*

1.3M

People with DD lived with a 

caregiver older than 60 in 2017*

62%

People with DD dream of living in 

their own apartment*

The loneliness epidemic is a public health issue.**

AWD are more likely to report loneliness, low social support and social isolation.***

Higher prevalence of loneliness found amongst AWD who are younger, economically inactive, living in 

rented or other accommodation, living alone and have low levels of access to environmental assets.***

Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death and preventable disease.**

(Sources located in presenter notes)
Mutual dependence

Reciprocal relationships

Based on needs and strengths

Self-actualization

Social inclusion

Specific to each person

Our Philosophy

Independence Interdependence

Self-sufficiency

Unrealistic goal

Based on functionality 

Social isolation

Vague standard of achievement

Why does OSG promote interdependence over independence?
Prioritize permanent housing then add support through over 100+ hours of programming each month.

* 

Our Approach

Housing First Model
Queens Court, Arlington 

The Waypoint, City of 

Alexandria

Ovation at Arrowbrook,

Herndon

The Arden, Alexandria 

Fairfax County 

Our Communities

Gilliam Place, Arlington

The Cadence, Arlington
Who We Serve

older adults/

individuals with 

disabilities

27%

30% 55%

children women

Wesley Housing communities 

are filled with over 3,200+ 

individuals 

of all ages and ethnic 

backgrounds. 

As their advocates, we work to 

find and create opportunities that 

allow them to build better and 

brighter lives. 
On-site Resource Community Centers:

+ Colonial Village CRC 

Arlington

+ Lincolnia CRC

Alexandria (Fairfax County)

+ Madison Ridge CRC

Centreville

+ Wexford Manor CRC

Falls Church (Fairfax County)

+ Brookland Place CRC

DC

+ The Arden CRC

Alexandria (Fairfax County)

+ The Cadence CRC

Arlington

+ The Hampshire CRC

DC

+ The Waypoint CRC

Alexandria
Resident Services

Community Engagement Education Health & Wellness

Core Focus Areas

Wesley strives to enrich the lives of residents with on-site complimentary family programs 

and supportive services in three additional impact areas.

Housing Stability
Thank You!

@wesleyhousing

wesleyhousing.org

(703) 642-3830

wesleyhousing@whdc.org

Cierra Falke

Sr. Resident Services Coordinator

(571) 229-7715

cfalke@whdc.org
Our Impact

How do inclusive communities like these impact the health 

outcomes of adults with DD?

Dr. Sean D. Cleary, PhD, MPH 

Department of Epidemiology

George Washington University

In collaboration with Melwood and Dr. Cleary at the George Washington University 

(GWU), OSG conducted a research study to examine the measurable impact that a 

supportive living model has on individuals with DD. 

Baseline data collection ended May 2023; key findings:

● In response to the question, “How would you rate your overall quality of life?”, 

84% of respondents reported it as good or very good. 

● In response to the question, “How satisfied are you with your health?”, 67%

responded satisfied or very satisfied.

● Respondents reported the lowest levels of disabilities in the domains of 

mobility and self-care, and the highest levels of disability in the domains of 

getting along with others and participation in life activities. 
Thank you!

“The deepest sense of life's meaning and purpose arises 

from our interdependence and, in turn, our willingness 

to relate to others and respond to their needs. ”

-Hugh Mackay
EMAIL 

info@ourstompingground.org

WEBSITE 

www.ourstompingground.org

Please get in 

touch - we'd love 

to hear from you. @OSGInclusiveLiving

@OurStompingGround

@OurStompingGround
Panel Conversation
Q & A
HSRC Website

63

acl.gov/HousingAndServices
Stay Connected

We want to hear from you! 

Please email us at hsrc@acl.hhs.gov

64
THANK YOU