Helping Young Adults with Disabilities Transition to Independent Living
Integrated Living Opportunities (ILO) is a non-profit organization serving members primarily in the Washington, D.C./Maryland area.
ILO is a coalition made up of:
- Self-Advocates* – adults with developmental delays or significant challenges.
- Participating Families
- ILO Staff
- Our Executive Director and Board of Directors
Together we create supportive communities of peers and caring people who help the Self-Advocate transition to independent living.
Our goal is the utmost independence and self-reliance possible, with a safe network of support when it’s needed.
*This is a term that respectfully reflects their abilities and their rights to make choices.
Stay Connected
Want to stay abreast of how we are working with our Self Advocates, especially during this challenging season? Follow our newsletter and receive updates in your email inbox!
ILO Insights Newsletter: Our Latest Edition
What’s Happening in the ILO Community
In the News
Coronavirus Info for ILO Self-Advocates
Click here for tips on prevention and how to get help if you need it.
ILO in The Washington Post
ILO’s Crossings community was recently featured in the Washington Post! To read the full article, click HERE.
Upcoming Events
Community Group
ILO Self-Advocates – Join Us for FREE Yoga, BINGO and other fun programs and activities through the end of the year.
*Participating self-advocates, or their families, must subscribe to the ILO Community Group and must sign a waiver before participation.
Go to https://www.ilonow.org/ilo-community-group/ for more info or to join the ILO Community Group.
See ILO’s Activity and Event Calendar for more information: www.ilonow.org/calendar
On Social Media
To stay up to date with our posts on social media, follow us online!
Current ILO POD Happenings
PODS are supported communities of Self-Advocates who interact together locally.
ALL PODS
Calendar & RSVP Reminder
ILO self-advocates and staff have begun in-person meetings and activities – however, some events will remain virtual for now. Please check the calendar for upcoming events.
ILO’s Community Builders and staff will continue mentoring self-advocates – engaging them, encouraging them, helping them problem-solve, and helping them stay connected while still complying with CDC safety guidelines.
Maedi Tanham Carney on Wiley Online!
Our very own Executive Director, Founder and Board Member, Maedi Tanham Carney, was recently featured in an article published on Wiley Online, entitled, “Planning for the future of a pediatric kidney transplant recipient with special needs: A parent’s perspective.” As the mother of a special needs daughter, Ellie, Maedi has a unique perspective to offer parents who are faced not only with the requirements of a child with a disability, but also one with critical health concerns.
Article Abstract
I was asked to write this article to share with medical professionals, my view as a parent with a child who has special needs and needs a transplant. It is a detailed story from a parent’s point of view on what it is like to have a child with special needs with serious medical complications and how I went about finding and managing my daughter’s care. I summarize my own personal experiences based on my years of planning for my daughter.
The ILO Community Group
The ILO Community Group is a unique, all ages, members-only group that operates within the wider ILO community. It was created to bring together individuals with disabilities who wish to join the ILO community, but may not be ready to participate in ILO training, or actively prepare for independent living at this time.
Learn more and get involved today.
Learn about ILO
VIDEO: A brief introduction to ILO and why it supports building inclusive communities for individuals with disabilities. Click the image to play.
VIDEO: A discussion with Founder Maedi Tanham Carney on what ILO is, how we are creating communities, and on gaining an understanding the concept of community partnerships and the impact of the community builder. Click the image to play.