The Innovative Independent Living Project (IILP) was a pilot project that successfully demonstrated how technology, customized independent living training, and support can combine to allow adults with developmental disabilities to live independently and affordably in their own communities.
Funded by the Cleveland Foundation and the Billie Howland Steffee Family Fund, this three-year project resulted in seven young men moving into family-directed housing situations that are supported by a variety of technology. In addition, a number of tools were developed that will assist others who want to create similar solutions. These include a detailed, interactive financial model; detailed descriptions of technology and sources of technology; training and assessment tools; an overview of legal issues; sample documents; and other resources.
It is hoped that the IILP will become a model that others can imitate and expand as new technology becomes available. It is clear that new ideas such as those developed on this project are essential to reducing costs in the long term for both families and agencies. Equally important is the increased independence and self-esteem that comes for individuals who can now live on their own. Two films and a comprehensive manual have been developed to share as much as possible of what we have learned; they are available for viewing and/or downloading from this web site.
In this film, the parents and their sons with developmental disabilities describe their experiences and the resulting independence due to the Innovative Independent Living Project. You will see the young men living in their own homes utilizing a variety of the technology that supports them, as well as hear them and their parents discuss the journey. You can watch the whole film or by hovering over the video player below, you can bring up individual sections of the video. For Closed Captioning, please click the bottom-right menu for options.
IILP – Introduction (through 12:38)
This segment includes an overview of the project objectives and achievements. In it, you will hear the project manager describe and will view various aspects of the two houses with 6 residents with developmental disabilities. In addition, parents describe why they were motivated to participate in this innovative project.
IILP – Technology
These segments show some of the technology used in the houses to increase the levels of safety and independence of the residents. For your viewing convenience, they have been divided into sections related to specific purposes.
Overview of technology, as well as miscellaneous specific items for the kitchen (12:39 – 15:01)
Household security, including door locks, automatic garage door closers, and other miscellaneous items (15:02 – 16: 58)
Cameras for remote monitoring (16:59 – 18:21)
Prompting systems for independence, an innovative system that tests whether a variety of activities of daily living have been performed and delivers customized and variable prompts depending on the results. (18:22 – 24:34)
IILP – Making It Happen (24.35 – 28:29)
Parents describe what was involved in successfully implementing their family directed housing projects.
IILP – Retrospective (28:30 – 31:58)
Parents look back at the year since their sons moved into their new homes and reflect on the value and trials of it all, as well as give some advice for others who might want to try similar solutions.
IILP – The Guys (31:59 – 36:25)
The residents of homes facilitated by the IILP describe their own perspectives of independent living.