For 50¢ a day your family member with developmental disabilities can join an inclusive community of like-minded individuals who want to lead full, rewarding, and independent lives

The ILO Community Group (ILO CG) is a unique, all ages, members-only group of families with a loved one with developmental disabilities. ILO operates in the Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia area.

The group includes families who have a family member with developmental disabilities currently transitioning to independent living with the help of ILO, or, families considering the possibility of independent living for their child or young adult in the future.

To date ILO has successfully helped more than 24 developmentally disabled individuals transition to independent, or semi-independent living, and have several more in the pipeline.

We continue to grow our staff and the ILO Community Group to nurture and support these young people on their journey.

Cost: $180 annually, renewable on each anniversary.

Member Benefits

Social Events for Self-Advocates

Eight times a year we host a 90-minute session that consists of one skill-building activity and one social enrichment experience. These activities are inclusive community experiences for individuals with disabilities. FREE to ILO CG self-advocate members.

Parent Workshops

ILO hosts eight free presentations by experts in the fields of special needs financing, long-term financial planning, transitioning to independent living, housing, and other relevant topics for ILO CG families.

Presentations last two hours with the last thirty minutes designated for families to get to know each other and socialize. FREE to ILO CG self-advocate members.

Life Skills Assessment

Each family is eligible for early access to Skills Inventory™*, a detailed assessment of daily living skills in the community and in the home.

This assessment is the basis for preparing the self-advocate for independent living and for those advocates already out of the family home, for maintaining skills and developing new ones.

Early access allows young adults with developmental disabilities, who are not ready for independent living at this time to start preparing.

*Additional charge.

Annual ILO CG Reception

This gathering is for all Community Group members and has been occurring at our annual Bike, Hike & BBQ in May of each year.

*Additional registration fee.

Private Facebook Group

Support Group Networking – Families have access to a members-only private Facebook group where members can keep up-to-date about CG activities and offerings, discuss challenges, seek advice, share successes and further develop the connections formed at ILO CG events.