ECOVILLAGE FOR PEOPLE WITH IDDS

Ecovillage Intentional Community Research Report Lin Han

Contents Introduction..........................................................................................................................I Chapter 1: Literature Review.........................................................................................1 1.1 Limitations.............................................................................................................2 1.2 Challenges..............................................................................................................3 1.3 Lives with meaning.................................................................................................4 1.4 Intentional communities........................................................................................5 Chapter 2: Methodology...............................................................................................8 Chapter 3: Research Analysis.......................................................................................11 3.1 Identification & Description.................................................................................12 3.2 Design options & Explanation..............................................................................13 3.3 Goals & Benefits....................................................................................................17 3.4 Action steps & Timeline........................................................................................18 Conclusion........................................................................................................................III

I

Introduction

My research question is “How can intentional communities in Cincinnati be developed to create lives with meaning for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs)? “. First of all, I will introduce the background of some key factors in the question.

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are disorders that are usually present at birth and that negatively affect the trajectory of the individual’s physical, intellectual, and emotional development. Many of these conditions affect multiple body parts or systems.

Historically, people with developmental and other disabilities have been segregated in large residential facilities, or institutions, in “special” schools, in the workplace in sheltered workshops and enclaves, even within their residences. Even today, segregation seems continue.

The reason why people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are segregated may be that they are more vulnerable to abuse, neglect, discrimination and exploitation. They are discriminated against in virtually every area of life. These discriminatory practices often make it difficult for them to find jobs in the community, find appropriate, safe, accessible housing, access the health care system access a free and appropriate public education, and pursue post-secondary education.

From the analysis above, we can find out that mainstream communities fail to afford persons with IDDs with meaningful life. At the same time, one form of

EcoVillage at Ithaca is part of a global movement of people seeking to create positive solutions to the social, environmental and economic crises our planet faces source: ecovillageithaca.org

community, which is “intentional community”, are forming at a growing rate both internationally and in the US. What is lives with meaning? In the book “Man’s search for ultimate meaning”, a life with meaning involves forgetting one’s self, be it through a cause higher than one’s self, or loving a person other than one’s self. It also can be called “self transcendence”. Here I interpret lives with meaning from two perspectives. From perspective of people with IDDs, they are often deemed less valuable or less important. However, on the contrary, they are individuals with unique abilities, skills interests and needs. For them, lives with meaning is to face the fate that they cannot change, engage themselves in doing creative work and further fulfill themselves. From the perspective of caregivers, providing service and supports for persons with developmental disabilities can also create a life with meaning for caregivers, wherein the caregiver relates intimately to others and care deeply for other persons.

So what is intentional community? An intentional community is a planned residential community designed from the start to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They typically share responsibilities and resources. Intentional communities include collective households, cohousing communities, coliving, ecovillages, monasteries, communes, survivalist retreats, kibbutzim, ashrams, and housing cooperatives.

II Why do intentional communities have the potential for creating lives with meaning for those with IDDs? Intentional community emphasis interaction among people, sharing responsibilities and social inclusion, which is consistent with creating lives with meaning for people with IDDs. Currently, there are some intentional communities providing services to disadvantaged populations, like operating learning or health center

This research will explore what challenges are people with IDDs faced with in mainstream communities as well as how intentional communities involve significant benefits for people with IDDs and help them create lives with meaning.

The following questions will facilitate to guide the research: What is the distribution of IDDs in Cincinnati? Are people with IDDs segregated from communities in Cincinnati? What are challenges that people with IDDs are faced with to engage themselves in communities? What advantages can intentional communities provide for IDDs that mainstream communities do not have? What kind of intentional communities can provide meaningful life for people with IDDs in Uptown Cincinnati?

Description of urban study studio In this urban studies capstone studio, I will propose a research question based on my primary exploration and understanding of the concepts and applications for “intentional communities�. Being explicit with research methodology is important before launching research, which includes research approach and strategies, type of data, preliminary research sources and methods of analysis. In the process of research, I want to better understand how to apply my theory at different scale by conducting data collection and observation. I also want to get to know what a healthy lifestyle should be like, what kinds of innovation can be applied in communities to make them more cohesive and livable, and what complementary programs may be used in intentional communities to extend their impact to district or city.

In responding to the aim of urban studies studio that it focuses on promoting collaborative and critical thinking among students and tutors, my proposed research will collaborate with urban planning students and their capstone studio, as well as other several civic groups. In terms of data collection, the data about demographics of disabled people and site selection in urban planning studio may contribute to my research. In turn, the outcomes of the research are expected to inspire the program design of urban planning students. Integrating the works of urban studies studio with that of urban planning studio will have great significance in developing and designing a community for those who are challenged by disabilities.

quick fa

01 PART

Literature Review This section will present the issues from various secondary research materials such as books, journals, magazines, and blogs, among those related to this Urban Studies Studio project, research theme, core question and sub-questions. Secondary materials are selected according to the research objectives. Subsequently, my respond to these research objectives will become main sections of the overall report.

Key points 1 Limitation of past and current research on intentional community

2 Challenges that people with IDDs are faced with in communities

3 Key principles to integrate people with IDDs into communities

4 Intentional communities can create lives with meaning for people with IDDs

16%

of people with IDDs being employed have integrated employment In 2012 approximately 600,000 people with IDDs full-time employment through DD agency, of which,100,000 actually had jobs in integrated employment.

100

$

per week is average wages for people with IDDs Weekly wages for people with IDD averaged a little over $100 in both competitive and individual supported employment.

2

1.1 Limitations There is considerable amount of literature on the development of intentional community all over the world.

In these literature, there are many examples of intentional communities mainly in form of cohousing, ecovillage and housing cooperatives. Intentional community has a long and rich history which can be traced back to 6th century B.C. Iroquois Confederacy established in 1500s, and the Puritan Colonies were the first intentional communities in America. Under the context of contemporary society, intentional community has been criticized for contributing to suburban sprawl, environmental degradation, and lack of physical activity and obesity.1 Under the influence of currently popular design strategies such as New Urbanism, transit-oriented development, pedestrian-oriented development, Smart Growth, and compact cities, planners, urban designers, architects, and policy-makers are increasingly trying to figure out how to achieve environmental sustainability, equity, and social inclusion in the physical design of intentional community. Moreover, more and more academics and planners begin to focus on the positive effects of intentional community on people with disabilities. Some models of intentional community

become popular housing option for individuals with disabilities like intergenerational community as invention, collaboration with a college or university, the farmsteads, and co-housing. In addition, various researches on how intentional communities affect different kind of disabled people are being conducted.

However, very little is known about if intentional communities can improve quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDDs) and how to involve them into communities.

Based on the limitation of current research on both intentional communities and IDDs, this paper will explore how intentional communities can be developed to create lives with meaning for people with IDDs. Some sub-questions should be figured out, what is the situation of people with IDDs in United States in terms of community living and participation? what is lives with meaning for individuals with IDDs? What is the background of intentional communities? How can intentional communities be designed or improved to benefit people with IDDs living there?

Iroquois Confederacy in New York in 1914 source: wikipedia.org

1 Sanguinetti, A. (2012). The Design of Intentional Communities: A Recycled Perspective on Sustainable Neighborhoods. Behavior And Social Issues, 21, 7-8.

3

1.2 Challenges

Students with disabilities, including autism, are often easy targets for bullies in school source: scsuntimes.com

Historically, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) experienced discrimination and stigma, even today, they are still negatively affected and have limited choices about many aspects of their lives. According to the report of Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, “the current living arrangements for adults with IDDs who wish or need to live outside of their families’ homes often do not adequately provide for safety, social connections, full belonging in the community, affordable housing, ability to move about their neighborhood freely, continuity, and a lifelong sustainability.” 2

Little sense of belonging in communities and social inclusion There were bunch of researches regarding the social inclusion of people with IDDs in earlier time. For example, after deinstitutionalization, some research began to examine community participation of those leaving institutions. In the literature of “Social Inclusion and Community Participation of Individuals with Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities”, various sets of data have been collected in terms of distance to and quantity of community resources and the type and frequency of weekly community activities for people. Even from these early research, we can easily find that even though people live in their communities physically, but gaps exist between people with IDD and communities. They experience little sense of belonging and few meaningful relationships with nondisabled community members. 3

Limited access to community-based services There are roughly seven million individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) in the United States, but only about 25 percent receive services through publicly-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. The other 75 percent are supported by their families or live independently without publicly-fu nded supports and services. 4

Lack of jobs and employment opportunities in communities Surveys about people with IDDs have found that majority of people with IDDs do not have jobs and cannot earn enough livable wages. An article written

by Amy Hewitt showed that in 2012 approximately 600,000 people with IDDs full-time employment through DD agency, of which, just 100,000 actually had jobs in integrated employment.Those that did have jobs made very little money; weekly wages for people with IDDs averaged a little over $100 in both competitive and individual supported employment. 5

Lack of access to information for people with IDDs Hewitt also mentions that “Access to information is a powerful tool for people to engage in today’s society. Efforts have been made to make Internet, movies, televisions, and other forms of media accessible to people with disabilities, but little attention has been paid on cognitive accessibility for people with IDDs. Information gap makes people with IDDs have limited access to understand and communicate with other people.” 6 2 Intentional Communities (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www. fddc.org/sites/default/files/file/legislative_action/Intentional%20 Communities.pdf 3 Intentional Communities (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www. fddc.org/sites/default/files/file/legislative_action/Intentional%20 Communities.pdf 4 Gretchen, E & Cyndy, J. (2012). Trends and Challenges in PubliclyFinanced Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Center for Health Care Strategies 5 Human Services Research Institute (HRSI). (2014). Working in the community: The status and outcomes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in integrated employment – an update.

Cambridge, MA: Human Services Research Institute.

6 Impact Newsletter: Where Do We Go Next? The ADA Moving Forward. (2017). Ici.umn.edu. Retrieved 26 February 2017, from https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/281/23.html

4

1.3 Lives with meaning People with IDDs should have the opportunity to live like people without disabilities. They should have the same opportunities to be employed, have a place to call home, and be engaged in the community with family and friends.

Individuals with IDDs should have the opportunity to be employed in non-segregated, regular workplaces.

Virtually all individuals with IDDs can be employed and earn the same wages as people without disabilities. When needed for such employment, they should have access to supported or customized employment. They should be afforded options other than sheltered work, day treatment, clubhouses, and other segregated programs.

Individuals with IDDs should have control over where and how they live, including the opportunity to live in their own apartment or home. Living situations that require conformity to a collective schedule or that restrict personal activities limit the right to choose.

Intentional Communities of Washtenaw provides painting class for people with disability source: intentcom.org

5

1.4 Intentional communities In Jackson’s research, intentional communities have been criticized as a return to the segregation of people with ID and a denial of the principles of normalization. 7 However, the largest UK study of the quality of life and costs of different forms of supported housing found that on several indicators intentional communities provided less institutional regimes and a higher quality of life than other types of supported accommodation.8 Compared with residential campuses and dispersed housing, intentional communities were most likely to involve people with ID in activity planning, were more likely to provide skill training, were safer, engaged residents in more hours of scheduled activities, had a higher rate of health checks and contacts with health and social care professionals, and provided more training for their staff. Mean costs were also lower than alternative forms of supported housing.9

Design Strategies An overview of Projects of National Significance (PNS) studies published between 2008 and 2012 examined different types of residential settings in which people with IDD lived, and their health, obesity, loneliness, well-being and satisfaction, as well as financial expenditures related to their residential settings. The study authors found that, overall, the best outcomes occurred among individuals with IDD living in their own homes (owned or rented). Those living in their own homes, with appropriate supports, were less lonely, healthier, financially better off, and more satisfied with their lives.

Those living with their own family or a host family had more opportunities to make their own choices related to their daily living and were more satisfied with their lives than those living in agency-operated settings.10

In a recent policy research brief, Nord reviewed some studies published over the last decade, examining numerous outcomes for people with IDDs living in different residential settings. His review found that across all outcome areas, smaller settings, on average, produce better quality of life outcomes for people with IDDs. People living in their own homes, family homes, host family homes, or in small agency residences (six or fewer residents) ranked consistently better in achieving positive outcomes than moderate size (7-15 residents) and large agency residences and institutions (more than 15 residents). Also, people living in their own homes, small agency residences, and host family homes reported more independence and more satisfaction with their lives. It is clear from decades of studies that people with IDDs have happier, healthier, and more independent lives when they live in smaller community-based residences than in larger institutional settings.11

Jackson R. (1999) The case for village communities for adults with learning disabilities: an exploration of the concept. Journal of Learning Disabilities for Nursing, Health and Social Care 3, 110–17.

8 Emerson E., Robertson J., Gregory N., Hatton C., Kessissoglou S., Hallam A. et al. (1999) Quality and Costs of Residential Supports for People with Learning Disabilities: A Comparative Analysis of Quality and Costs in Village Communities, Residential Campuses and Dispersed Housing Schemes. Hester Adrian Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester.

9 Randell, M. & Cumella, S. (2009). People with an intellectual disability living in an intentional community. Journal Of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(8), 716-726. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.13652788.2009.01181.x 10 Tichá, R., Hewitt, A., Nord, D., & Larson, S. (2013). System and individual outcomes in services and support for people with IDD and their predictors. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(5), 298-315.

11 Nord, D., Kang, Y., Tichá, R., Hamre, K., Fay, M., & Mosley, C. (2014). Residential size and individual outcomes: An assessment of existing National Core Indicators research. Policy Research Brief, 24(3).

Minneapolis, MN: Research and Training Center on Community Living, University of Minnesota 7

6 Choosing model and type of intentional community Besides the size of residence setting, choosing appropriate model of intentional community also has great significance on promoting social inclusion. As I mentioned in the limitation part, some models of intentional community become popular housing option for individuals with disabilities like intergenerational community as invention, collaboration with a college or university, the farmsteads, and co-housing. Intergenerational community as intervention (ICI) is built on the idea that social relationships are important to all people and have positive effects on people with IDDs. This kind of model is effective under a supportive context. For example, The ICI must span three generations – families with children and older adults (mostly retired). The families with children provide homes to a particular population of individuals with special needs, while seniors in the community receive reduced rent and act as volunteers to provide support to the family.

In turn, as seniors age, families return that support to the older adults. 12

In addition, different type of intentional community may have various effect. Among those types of intentional community such as cohousing, ecovillage and housing cooperative, design principle of cohousing can create a sense of belonging and inclusion. These communities are typically built as a cluster of attached or single family homes on streets surrounding a courtyard. This design is intended to foster a sense of the old-fashioned community; the design encourages social contact through shared common spaces, for example a community “common house” typically provides space for communal meals (not often required), a lounge, recreational facilities and children’s spaces. Persons with disabilities get support in their homes from the municipality and county council, while the cohousing members often provide human support to their neighbors in ways that do not exist in conventional housing. Working groups are in charge of care of common spaces and for gardening.13 This type of community accounts for privacy for individuals by providing individual homes, however residents in the community share a sense of commitment to mutual support, respect, and the fostering of community relationships. As a result, community decisions are made through consensus. 14

Common House in New View Cohousing source: newview.org

M&LAdmin4,. (2013). Housing Options for Individuals with Disabilities: Intentional Communities. Housing for individuals with disabilities. Retrieved from http://specialneedsplanning.net/2013/05/housing-options-for-individualswith-disabilities-intentional-communities/ 13 Dick Urban Vestbro,. (2014). Cohousing in Sweden, history and present situation. Retrieved from http://www. kollektivhus.nu/pdf/SwedishCohousing14.pdf 14 Creating Cohousing | The Cohousing Association. (2017). Cohousing.org. Retrieved 26 February 2017, from http://www.cohousing.org/creating 12

7 Creating employment opportunities for people with IDDs An interview conducted by university of Birmingham about lives of people with intellectual disability in an intentional community indicates that work is an important part of people’s lives, which enables them to fully participate and contribute to their communities and majority of these respondents were positive about their employment. In the report by Jean Winsor, it shows that people with IDDs want to work in the community and to be self-determined. Majority of people would like employment outside sheltered workshops, or at least consider it an option. There are four reasons they want to work—earnings, productivity, the admiration of others and the quality of social relationships.15

There are four primary types of day and employment services for individuals served by state IDD agencies: integrated employment services, community-based non-work services, facility-based work services, and facility-based non-work services.

Urban designers and planners should consider combine these employment services with intentional community.16

Timmons, J. C., Hall, A. C., Bose, J., Wolfe, A., & Winsor, J. (2011). Choosing employment: Factors that impact employment decisions for individuals with intellectual disability. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 49(4), 285–299.

16 Winsor, J. (2014). Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in their Communities (1st ed.).

Retrieved from https://www.aucd.org/docs/resources/pie_adults_Nov2014_families.pdf 15

quick fa

02 PART

Methodology Every research process comprises a series or steps of activities that informs the final outcome. The techniques, assumptions, approaches, data types and sources are all important factors that provide validity and reliability for research. The study methodology is important and critical in t h a t r es earc h i s a s ys tem ati c a nd conscious search for information to inform knowledge building and decision making.

Key points 1 Research approach adopted 2 Assumptions made for research 3

Data type & data collection methods

4 Data analyzing techniques

9 My research question is “How can intentional communities be developed to create lives with meaning for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs)?” From previous introduction and literature review, purpose and objective of my research have been stated clearly that it will explore what challenges people with IDDs are faced with in mainstream communities as well as how intentional communities involve significant benefits and create lives with meaning for them. This section provides a rationale for using qualitative research approaches.

Research Approach In my study, the research approach adopted is mainly qualitative research approach involving in-depth interviews and document review. In-depth interview serves to obtain information which might be used to contribute towards the results of report which is analyzed statistically. For example, reports of The Intellectual Disabilities Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging provide statistics to indicate social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Reponses from interviews correspond to major factors found in reports by analyzing statistically that have great impact on community participation for people with intellectual disabilities.

In addition, different forms of document review have different objectives some books provide background information of intentional communities while some reports provide good case studies with respect to innovative programs and design options. For example, a report named “A Case Study Analysis of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Missouri” by Beck, R and Ormsby, A in January 2016 presents case study research conducted at Dancing Rabbit in terms of its benefits for residents and environment which provides a sustainable model for us to follow.

Assumptions One of important assumptions is that people with IDDs are faced with a sequence of challenges in many aspects of their life, which impedes them to participate in community life. This assumption can be made from selected reports. For example, the national report on employment services and outcomes indicates majority of people with IDD suffer from the lack of integrated employment opportunities.

Another assumption is that intentional communities have great potential in integrating people with IDD. “People with an intellectual disability living in an intentional community” by Randell, M and Cumella, S in July 2009 and “Developmental Disabilities and Intentional Communities: Creating Lives with Meaning” by Bruce McCreary in 2016 suggested explanations why intentional communities can satisfy the needs of people with special needs and facilitate them to live meaningful life.

Data Types and Sources Qualitative data is mainly used for my studies based on qualitative research approaches, which is supported by compilation of data and information made available from various sources. Major source is UC library and Journal of Intellectual Disabilities Research. Other sources of information are based on interviews and discussions with personnel in University of Cincinnati.

Data Collection Methods Multiple methods of data collection are used to obtain an in-depth understanding of my study. I will introduce qualitative data collection methods first.

In-depth interview People with IDDs is the main subjective in my research and will be main community members in my proposed intentional communities. Therefore, individuals with IDDs are key informants to be interviewed. In this case, individual face-to-face interviews were made with students with autism who working in UC laundry as well as their co-workers, who can also be regarded as their caregivers. The conversation with them are useful for me to learn beliefs, feelings, experiences and expectancy in communities of those people with special needs. For me, another important impact of individual interviews is empathy. As a sentient being, I empathize with individuals with IDDs, in other words, I can better understand their situation, problems and feelings as if I am in similar situation, which will make my proposal more reliable and suitable for people with IDDs based on my own empathy and compassion. Key questions include: Do you have difficulty in integrating in community life? If so, what do you think the challenges are? Please describe what a good community life would be like.

10 Document review Depending on my research question, I utilize review of existing documents which include reports, program logs, journals and books to gather background information of intentional communities and determine if intentional communities can generate benefits for people especially those with IDDs and how to design an intentional community.

Data Analysis Techniques When I analyze data from interviews, one fundamental thing is to categorize the data collected so that similarities and differences of interview data can be recognized. For example, I record interview answers and highlighted all the important messages to describe what common challenges they are having in community life.

Based on the descriptive level, a more interpretive analysis that is concerned with response can be conducted, like what can be inferred from data collected. As for document review, techniques include close reading of journals, books and research papers, taking note, reflecting on the data and writing down interpretations. Moreover, I will connect the two types of data analysis like trying to interpret the causes of challenges that people with IDD are faced with by using comments or theories that I find in document review.

Limitations Responses to interview questions likely were influenced by their living environment since majority of participates of interview are students, and male students occupied three fourth. Responses to interview questions are likely to just represent a portion of people with IDDs and reflect parts of perspectives of people with IDDs. At the same time, information from document review may be inapplicable, disorganized, unavailable or out of date. For example, one limitation is lack of adequate information on people with IDDs. There is not much published data on distribution of people with IDDs and if they have problems integrating in community life as well as intentional communities specific for people with IDDs. So far, there was only a report that connect intentional communities and people with special needs simultaneously i.e. “People with an intellectual disability living in an intentional community� by Randell, M and Cumella, S in July 2009. Even it provides us with good precedent of intentional community, we cannot guarantee this model is also suitable and applicable for people with IDDs. Another defect in this report is that its conclusion was drawn from a single intentional community, which limit its generalizability by the small sample.

quick fa

03 PART

Precedents

Research Analysis I will make recommendations in this section that are relevant for enhancing the potential role the intentional community can play in promoting community development in Uptown Cincinnati. It also provides an overview as to what my proposal entails, who may be affected, who may be responsible for implementation.

Sweetwater Spectrum source: resilience.org

Key points 1

Identification and description

2

Design options and explanation

3

Goal

4

Benefits of the proposal

5

Action steps and timeline

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage source: landesign-inc.com

12

3.1 Identification & Description Based on the previous literature reviews and case studies I have researched, my proposal is to establish an ecovillage collaborated with UC as a model for people with IDD living in Cincinnati. Ecovillages are consciously designed through locally owned, participatory processes to regenerate and restore their social and natural environments. Ecovillages offer small-scale communities with minimal ecological impact or regenerative impacts as an alternative. Why ecovillage is an appropriate form of intentional community to accommodate people with IDDs? Intentional communities have been formed for a variety of reasons, such as religious values, social justice and environmental values. Ecovillage represent the intersection of concern about environmental degradation and social inequity problem.There are many ecovillages are established as experiments and models for others to follow.

Dancing Rabbit in Missouri and Sweetwater Spectrum in California are two excellent precedents to be analyzed in terms of how to develop an ecovillage and design for people with special needs. Both of them have weaknesses and strengths and their good elements can be replicated in my project, which I will further explain them in next sections as well as what my proposal entails, who may be affected, who may be responsible for implementation, and potential sources of funding for the project.

The problems the proposal aims to tackle: (1) Limited access to community-based services and unstable supports offered for persons with IDDs (2) Absence of meaningful day activities and integrated employment (3) Lack of quality oversight and community integration

Sweetwater Spectrum is a successful intentional community model specific for people with autism, which overcame above challenges by a variety of innovative solution. For example, residents in this community can choose supported living services by a vendorized service agency. Each member of our community has an individualized program—tailored to his or her specific needs, capabilities and expanding choices. Residents in Sweetwater make their own everyday choices and plan for their own futures. They direct the services they receive and have a choice of staff. Moreover, they have opportunities to join clubs, groups, organizations, and religious institutions because Sweetwater has good location that is close to some good institutions and bike path which allows safe transit . Therefore, people with autism can not only receive community-based services and supports but they can also choose by their own according to different specific needs and wants. In addition, they can fully participate in the mainstream of community life according to personal preference. In my model, in order to attract people with IDD to move in and integrate them in community life, besides a vendor services system, I highly recommend the collaboration between University of Cincinnati and this proposed ecovillage connecting with the practical situation in Uptown Cincinnati. In this case, housing units will be provided for both adults with IDD and students. The adults and students share space for group and social activities, with each resident interacting, supporting and learning from each other. Different schools in UC are able to conduct various programs in this ecovillage, which I will further talk about in design options.

Sweetwater Spectrum source: sweetwaterspectrum. org

13

3.2 Design options & Explanation Proposed program My proposal is a small-scale ecovillage with 20-40 units, specific for people with IDD and students. The proposed size is between 2-5 acres and housing is composed by 70% rental and 30% market. It may consist of a community center, farm and green house.

Site selection According to what is discussed above about how to tackle challenges for people with IDD, some suitability variables should be considered in Uptown Cincinnati. Here I choose land value, land use, connectivity, slopes, proximity to educational and medical institutions and proximity to grocery and pharmacies as the pictures showed below.

Program

Suitability Variables

Map of Cincinnati: Red area is Uptown Cincinnati source: wikimedia.org

14

When these maps are overlaid together, we can get an overall suitability map as below. The darker one area is, less suitable it is to be selected for proposed program.

From this map, the highly suitable area is concentrated in north Corryville, east Avondale and Heights. Take east Avondale for example, proposed location for my program will be the shadow area in the framework map, which is 624 Lincoln Ave. The nearly 4-acre site is within walking distance to UC health, grocery and pharmacies. In addition, it has strong connection to public transportation offered by proximity to Martin Luther King and Reading Road.

Overall Suitability Map

Urban Framework Map

street view of 624 Lincoln Avenue source: google.com

624 Lincoln Avenue

15

Solar Panels used in Sweetwater Spectrum source: gooood.hk

Design principles Design principles of the project are based on three pillars of sustainability: economic stability, environmental soundness and social justice.

Economic stability As for economic stability, I recommend using alternative currencies. Example is Exchange Local Money (ELM) system which has been proved success in Dancing Rabbit, an intentional community in Missouri.

ELM balances are tracked in a database that’s accessible through an online interface. Users can log in to see their balances, view a list of goods and services being offered, and make exchanges. People can use local currency to pay for all of their living expenses as well as many luxuries.

Housing, transportation, food, telephone, laundry, photocopies, beer, coffee, showers, massages and much more are all available from ELM-accepting businesses and co-ops. ELMs makes it easier for residents to avoid the hassles of dealing with lots of checks or cash and pay bills automatically. ELMs is a good way for disabled people to manage their daily expense and income, since it become safer and more convenient.

In addition, urban agriculture is a crucial composition of ecovillage and an effective way to achieve economic stability by providing on-site food. It also focuses on reducing consumption and achieving voluntary simplicity, which allows members to live better lives while consuming fewer resources.

Environmental soundness In terms of environmental soundness, sustainable design will be implemented. Sweetwater Spectrum is a role model, which is a successful intentional community in Sonoma, CA. It provides an excellent opportunity to make sustainable design tangible and visible. Sustainable practices like energy-efficient design and recyclable technology is implemented. As the picture below, Sweetwater Spectrum has integrated electrical and mechanical features that will promote energy efficiency including a solar hot water system and photovoltaic solar electric (PV) roof panels. In this project, I suggest that it might incorporate with DAAP in UC to create and develop sustainable practices like green roofs that DAAP is currently researching. Since the project is located in Uptown Cincinnati, it provides an easy access for student to visit and volunteer there.

Ecovillage has great impact in saving natural resources and utilizing natural power. In terms of water conservation, water at Dancing Rabbit comes from rain catchment, municipal water, or a combination of the two. Some houses there have their own solar panels, and wind turbines on the property harness wind power 17.

People in Sweetwater Spectrum sell their agricultural products source: sweetwaterspectrum.org

17 Beck, R, & Ormsby, A. (2016). A Case Study Analysis of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Missouri. Communal Societies, Volume 36, Issue 1

16 Social justice Intentional communities play important role in promoting social justice, in that important decisions will be made by consensus, allowing for a greater sense of selfactualization. IDD-specific design is another way to tackle social inequity, since it allows people with special needs to live a normal life as others without disability. Their needs and wants are also put into consideration at the very early start of the community design. For example, the physical environment for persons with IDD is very important.

They are often sensitive to outside stimuli. Sweetwater Spectrum provides a paradigm for replication in terms of specific design. Sweetwater has been designed with special considerations to minimizing visual stimulation, ambient sound, lighting and odors. There are simple, predictable spaces. Durable materials have been utilized throughout the development. Individuals have the opportunity to customize their personal living spaces to accommodate their preferences and particular needs.

In addition, all residents are supposed to have access to information of work opportunities inside and outside community. The proposal can provide opportunities for people with IDD to work together with others to do farm work, and gardening as well as providing volunteer opportunities for students. Since the proposed location is close to UC Health and grocery stores, people with IDD may become potential workforce.

Overall, the planning of Sweetwater Spectrum is ideal for implementation in Uptown Cincinnati and it is a good precedent for us to follow.

Proximate seating allows residents to observe or participate at their comfort level. source: gooood.hk

17

3.3 Goal & Benefits Goal Short-term Objectives (1) Utilize IDD-specific design, which addresses both safety and sensory issues (2) Building an intentional community where community members are able to pursue ecologically sustainable lifestyles and achieve self-reliance Medium-term objectives (1) Building a model for special needs living in Uptown Area to ensure quality of life and individual choice (2 ) Help people with IDD integrate in community life and encourage their involvement in their home, household, neighborhood and surrounding communities by attending meaningful activities Long-term objectives (1) Offer the potential for lifelong residency (2) Create and foster a model that can be replicated all around Cincinnati, even in greater region, state or nations

Benefits

18

3.4 Action Steps &Timeline The book “Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities� is a good attempt to help ecovillage or intentional community get off to a good start. Major steps of forming a new ecovillage are listed below: (1) Establish a core group with a particular vision and purpose (2) Choose a legal structure (3) Find and finance property (4) Move in and renovate (5) Create an internal community economy (6) Refinance any initial loans if necessary Most of the steps to take in forming an ecovillage or intentional community are not linear, but simultaneous. So although the information is presented in a step-by-step way, some tasks must be undertaken together. For example, although we’ll need to create a legal entity for owning land before we buy property together, what kind of land we want as well how we intend to organize ownership and decision making, makes all the difference in which legal structure(s) we choose in the first place.18

Timeline

18

Christian, D., & Adams, P. (2015). Creating a life together (1st ed.). Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers.

III

Conclusion

Intentional community, is getting more attention from modern planners, urban designers and policy makers in terms of how to achieve environmental sustainability, equity, and social inclusion by the design of intentional communities. As a planned residential community designed from the start to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork, it also has great potential to integrate people with disabilities into community life, so more and more academics begin to focus on the positive effects of intentional community on disabled people.

This paper focus mainly on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). We have to know the facts that people with IDDs are still faced with a set of challenges. In United States, only about 25 percent receive services through publicly-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. The other 75 percent are supported by their families or live independently without publicly-funded supports and services. In addition, limited access to integrated job is another problem.

An article written by Amy Hewitt showed that in 2012 approximately 600,000 people with IDDs full-time employment through DD agency, of which, just 100,000 actually had jobs in integrated employment . Intentional communities have been proved that they can provide high quality of life and most likely to involve people with IDDs in activity planning, skill training and meaningful life. My research also gives a proposal for building an intentional community model in Uptown Cincinnati,

source: ldcarerscommunity. org.uk

which is ecovillage. Besides current and past study on positive effects of ecovillage, some successful precedents of ecovillage are provided to indicate the advantages of integrating people with disability.

Ecovillage can not only promote social justice, but also provides a sustainable lifestyle for residents. In terms of social inclusion and practical situation in Uptown Cincinnati, proposal is suggested that small-scale ecovillage collaborated with UC acts as a model for people with IDDs living in Cincinnati. In the proposal for this research, three pillars of sustainability are implicated as the fundamental design principles, which are able to guide design process easily to tackle above challenges.

I also suggest following future work: as a relatively new community model, the proposal can be facilitated by a sequence of prominent non-profit organizations, such as SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program), AAIDD (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). For instance, AAIDD is an institution providing e-learning opportunities for people with IDD. Further discussions and development of this proposal may be especially helpful in understanding the value and potential of intentional communities as a means of promoting social justice and integrating people with special needs in a more sustainable community.