Community Pods
Community Pods are the Building Blocks of Independent Living
Community Pods are groups of self-advocates, along with their families and personal support networks, that live in close proximity to each other. The pods provide the infrastructure of assistance to those who have moved out, or are close to leaving the family home.
These pods provide a forum for the self-advocates and their families to get to know each other through family meetings and social events coordinated by the pod leader and their designated community builder.
The community builder works both with individuals and groups of self-advocates through skill-building activities and social events. See “How ILO Works” page to learn more about the role of Community Builders.
Through the community pods, self-advocates begin build relationships with each other and in the community, take control of their own lives and eventually transition out of their families’ homes.
Building relationships takes time, patience and trust; ILO is committed to this process and to facilitating the development of supportive communities.
ILO COMMUNITY PODS
ILO is growing communities in Germantown, Gaithersburg, Rockville and Bethesda, MD, as well as Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Gaithersburg MD
ILO’s Gaithersburg community pod was established in the fall of 2016 at The Crossings, an apartment complex in Olde Towne Gaithersburg, MD. Seven adult men moved into their own units, and through their Community Builder, developed a lively peer group that includes socializing with each other and out in the community, as well working on skills for everyday living.
Germantown MD
ILO’s Germantown community is building off of one self-advocate living in her own apartment, taking advantage of the amenities provided by a transit center, bus routes, a library, restaurants, grocery stores, movies, etc. There are now more than three advocates in the Germantown community.
Bethesda, MD
Bethesda, MD is ILO’s largest community. With more than 10 self-advocates at various stages of independent living, ILO community builders and participating family members help to ensure that all self-advocates are connected to each other, and are integrated into Bethesda’s vibrant, urban neighborhoods. The location of this community allows self-advocates to take advantage of busy retail, restaurant and shopping areas, as well as enjoy easy access to Washington, D.C.
Rockville, MD
ILO’s Rockville pod is growing rapidly with more than seven self-advocates. The idea in Rockville is to populate one to two apartment buildings to continue to building communities and working on the peer to peer relationships. This location is rich with many amenities and easy access to the metro.
Washington, D.C.
DC provides a unique challenge to ILO: how to develop a community among a group of self-advocates spread throughout all quadrants of the city? The DC community builder has done this by developing skills workshops, “Social Sundays”, and family meetings that connect the self-advocates and provide a springboard for independent living, utilizing the myriad of resources available in our vibrant city. In addition, ILO is working with developers and the city to carve out some of the affordable units for ILO’s DC self-advocates.
Virginia
Creating pods in Virginia has been challenge. For 2020, ILO Virginia is on hold.
If you are interested in learning more about community pods please contact us.
Join ILO
Thank you for taking the time to attend our presentation “What Is ILO.” Hopefully, you have a better understanding now, but please know that we are available to answer any questions you may have (info@ilonow.org).
From ILO’s inception our families have been integral to our supportive communities. They have helped define our community framework and continue to be actively involved in each POD’s viability.