Supporting youths with special needs as they move toward adulthood requires thoughtful, personalized care. This transition isn’t just a phase—it’s a journey that calls for practical skill-building, strong relationships, and deep community roots. In my practice, I focus on nurturing independence through everyday experiences, building self-advocacy, daily living, and vocational skills in ways that feel natural and affirming. Just as importantly, I help families navigate access to essential resources like housing, healthcare, and ongoing support. To that end, I’ve compiled this list resources and opportunities in the Louisville area.
Read on for housing, employment, and educational supports, plus general information about the transition to adulthood.
Housing
Louisville, KY offers several supported living options for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Group homes provide shared living with staff support. Family Home Providers offers family-style care. Supported apartments allow more independent living with periodic assistance. These aim to promote independence and community inclusion. Several area agencies offer these services, this is not an exhaustive list.
Residential Support Providers
Southwest Center offers several residential options and helpful descriptions of each. This is from their website—
A Staffed Residence is where a participant lives in their home with two housemates. you sign a lease and pay room and board monthly and the Southwest Center maintains the home and has staff in place to ensure you are getting your meals, medications, and enjoying life in the community.
A Technology Assisted Residence uses the internet to connect devices to enable remote monitoring, and control of appliances and systems, such as lighting and HVAC. These latest advancements in assisted technology give residents increased accessibility and greater independence.
A Family Home Provider (FHP) is where a person moves in with a family and becomes a part of a family in the community. This too is your home and you pay room and board and the FHP ensures your needs are being met in addition to welcoming you into their home and family.
Dreams with Wings administers two types of supported living— staffed residences and supported apartments. Learn more on their Adult Services page.
Breaking Barriers of Kentucky offers Family Home Providers
Tri-Generations offers Family Home Providers and Co-Family Homes
Day Spring‘s residential options “span across five homes and include, small group homes, staffed residences, and apartment living”, in addition to Family Home Providers.
Supports for Community Living Waiver
Alternatively, services could assist the person in their own context through individualized assistance within the person’s own apartment or family home, focusing on specific needs like budgeting, personal care, and accessing community resources.
From the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS)—
The Supports for Community Living (SCL) waiver is part of Kentucky’s 1915(c) HCBS Medicaid waiver program. SCL provides assistance to individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability to help them live in the community as independently as possible.
CHFS posted this community resources list for participants.
Other housing resources:
- HUD “Mainstream Voucher” for people with disabilities
- Hart-Supported Living Program (click here for eligibility information)
Employment
- Vocational Rehab Services and Eligibility
- Transition Services for Students from the Kentucky Career Center
- Pre-Employment Transition Services Strategy Guide, from the Kentucky Career Center
- Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center
- Job Readiness Training
- Seven Counties’ Work Matters unit, administers supported employment
- Harbor House’s Supported Employment services
Education:
- Department of Education Guidance
- Transition-related IEP goals from KY-SPIN
- The College for Living, a private-pay option from Day Spring
- Think College. From Autism Speaks— Think College is a national organization dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving inclusive higher education options for people with intellectual disability. With a commitment to equity and excellence, Think College supports evidence-based and student-centered research and practice by generating and sharing knowledge, guiding institutional change, informing public policy, and engaging with students, professionals and families.
- Allegra Ford-Thomas Scholarship. The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship awarded over two years ($2,500 each year) to a graduating high school senior who will enroll in a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with disabilities in the fall.
- Anne Ford Scholarship. The Anne Ford Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year over four years) granted to a graduating high school senior who will enroll in a full-time bachelor’s degree program in the fall. Students must have a documented learning disability (LD).
Adult Day Training
A day training center, also often called a day habilitation program or adult day program, is a community-based setting that provides structured activities and support services during the day for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. As with residential services, there are a number of provider and this is not a complete list.
Day training providers around Louisville
Zoom Group, which administers LifeWorkZ day program
General
- KY-SPIN Youth and Adults Resources Page
- US Dept. of Human Services
- Autism Speaks Transition Toolkit
- Autistic Self-Advocacy Network Transition Roadmap
- Adulthood Begins in Preschool: Meaningful Curriculum in Support of Increased Independence for Individuals with Autism
- Pathways to Independence: Critical Skills for a Fulfilling Adulthood in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Kentucky Autism Training Center (KATC) resources for professionals and future planning
- Parenting 4 U’s Common Questions About ASD
Relevant Organizations
- Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities (CCDD)
- Kentucky Autism Training Center (KATC)
- FEAT of Louisville (Families for Effective Autism Treatment)
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
- Autism Society of America
- Autism Speaks
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Spectrum Behavioral Services of Kentuckiana 