ROOF's mission is to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to successfully obtain and maintain affordable and inclusionary housing of their choice.

The ROOF Connector
Connecting you with housing news and resources
January 2017

Your gift can help empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities obtain and maintain inclusionary housing of their choice.

We invite you to learn more about ROOF
Assistive Technology Conference Showcases New Products to Help People Live More Independently
The Assistive Technology Assosciation (ATIA) Conference took place January 18-21, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. The annual conference is held to bring together self-advocates, family members, providers, and schools to a three-day conference on the the latest assistive technology products.

Assistive technology has greatly impacted the lives of many people with disabilities. From home modifications to specialized learning tools, assistive technology continues to help people with disabilities live more independently. Access to assistive technology is offered through many state agencies and organizations. Depending on the individual's needs, there are opportunities for subsidized assistive technology. 

The ATIA conference offers expert educational sessions as we as the opportunity for attendees to broaden their contacts in the community and share their own experiences and expertise. ATIA 2017 showcased advances in assistive technology, offering best practices and trends, and networking with others who make, sell, deliver, support, teach, test, and use products and systems that enhance life for persons with disabilities.

Next year's ATIA conference will be held January 30-31, 2018. Please visit the ATIA website for additional information.

To learn more about how to access assistive technology, contact ROOF.

READ MORE about the ATIA Conference
Get ready to join NACDD's Life Side By Side Campaign for Developmental Disability Awareness Month!
People of all abilities side by side holding hands

March is Developmental Disability Awareness month and ROOF is joining the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) in their new social media campaign Life Side By Side.

The campaign's effort will highlight the many ways in which people with and without developmental disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. ROOF will highlight the many housing options people with disabilities choose to best fit their needs and how they contribute as members of their communities.

In preparation for the Life Side By Side social media campaign, the NACDD will host a webinar on the social media plan to increase awareness on Thurday, February 2, 2017 from 3:00 pm EST to 4:30 pm EST.

CLICK HERE  to learn more and register for the webinar!
Housing Success Spotlight: Cody Bowman

At 30 years old, living on my own has made a huge difference in my life. I am not the same person I was before I moved into my own apartment. I am happier and feel that I have more freedom and independence. I am finally living the life I always dreamed about. I don't have to live my life by anyone else's rules anymore. I live life for me now! I waited a long time for accessible housing like the Loveland Village, where I live. 

I grew up having to crawl into my bathroom due to my chair not fitting through the doorway or having the need for a ramp to my front door because there was a small step at the entrance. I never knew what it was like to be able to just wheel into my home or wheel into my bathroom without getting out of my chair. Loveland Village took years to come to fruition so I first heard about it when it was in the early stages of funding. I volunteered as a teachers aid in 2012 at The Loveland Center in Venice, FL which is a day center for adults with developmental disabilities. The Loveland Center was instrumental in securing everything that was needed to make Loveland Village a reality. 

My job coach also works at the Loveland Center so due to my involvement with the Loveland Center, I was able to keep up to date with the development of the Loveland Village which is adjacent to The Loveland Center. After waiting patiently, construction of the Loveland Village was completed in Spring 2016 and I moved in to my apartment in Summer 2016...it was literally the BEST decision that I have ever made for myself!

        CLICK HERE  to view Cody's Home!
College Application Deadlines Quickly Approaching! 
Are You Ready for Campus Living?

As the season for college application deadlines approaches, it is time to consider the options high school students with developmental and intellectual disabilities have to transition into postsecondary education. Whether the student is moving to another part of the state or they are adapting to a new academic environment where they live, it is important to know of the resources available to ease the transition to their new chapter in their lives.
college_campus.jpg

On October 29, 2015, the Florida Legislature signed into law the Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program Act that created a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) framework to provide scholarships to students with disabilities. The program fosters the growth of more inclusive educational environments by enabling more people with developmental disabilities to access higher education.

Qualified scholarship recipients receive $7,000 and benefit from the same supports required in the federal Comprehensive Transition Programs. Through the CTP, students are provided a number of curricular support services intended to prepare them for successful community living and employment upon graduation. 

In addition to the transition program scholarships, there are also many resources offered from  key stakeholders working together to promote successful living for postsecondary  students with developmental and intellectual disabilities. 

CLICK HERE to learn more!
Residential Options of Florida | 239-774-ROOF (7663) 
info@flroof.org | www.flroof.org
2640 Golden Gate Parkway Suite 112-A
Naples FL 34105