In Colorado, nearly 130,000 adults have an intellectual or developmental disability, or IDD. That’s an umbrella term for a group of conditions that includes Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. Nearly three-quarters of people with IDD live with their families, and many of those caregivers are over the age of 60. Those caregivers often fear what will happen to their adult children with IDD when they need care themselves.  

Jeans Mobley is Executive Director of Trailhead Community, a housing development built according to the needs and wants of people with IDD. She walks us through the many features that make Trailhead a welcoming community for all. Then we hear from Desiree Kameka Galloway, CEO and Lead Consultant for Neuro-inclusive Housing Solutions and Director of Autism Housing Networks. She studies the housing needs of IDD adults and their families and works with developers on housing solutions to fit those needs. She discusses the considerations and challenges involved in building neuro-inclusive housing. 

The Grove at Cottonwood is a neuro-inclusive development underway in Broomfield. Kristin Hyser, Executive Director of Broomfield Housing Alliance, explains how IDD adults were invited to shape the Grove. Slated to open next fall, Hyser says she’s learned how centering these needs in the design process can provide benefits for anyone and everyone. 

Resource from this episode:

• Trailhead Community 
• About Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 
• Neuro-inclusive Housing Solutions 
• Autism Housing Network 
• Broomfield Housing Alliance 
• The Grove at Cottonwood 

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