Building a Life

A transition guide for Kansans

Things to Consider

  • Consider where your young adult likes to frequent, their place of work, and other activities in determining where to live.
  • Check to see what transportation is available near their home.
  • Is it important to live near family and friends?
  • Does the neighborhood feel safe?

Where to Live

Finding a home is not an easy task. Most of us have experienced what it is like trying to find a place to live that is the perfect fit. Consider the following when looking for a place for your young adult to live:

  • Single dwelling, apartment, duplex or other
  • In densely populated area, rural or small town
  • Walking distance to grocery store, library, restaurants, etc.
  • Single level home or multi-level home
  • Accessible floor plan
  • Live alone or with others


Tools and Resources


KS Community Developmental Disability Organizations (CDDOs)


Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services


CDC Introduces "What's Disability to Me?"


Supports Needed


Make sure that the needed supports are in place for whatever residential option is chosen. Having adequate support from the onset is the key to success. Sometimes finding the level of support needed to ensure that an individual can live a quality life in their community can be a challenge.


As noted earlier, it is important for everyone in your young adult’s Circle of Support to identify what supports they think need to be in place to ensure success.


Questions to ask of potential providers to learn how they support the individuals they serve:



  1. How long has this provider served individuals with disabilities in residential services? What type of disabilities have they served as a residential provider?

  2. What is their staff-to-resident ratio?

  3. What type and how much training does staff receive before working alone with residents? What type of ongoing training does staff receive?

  4. How are schedules developed for the home and its activities? Is the schedule based on the individual’s preferences, scheduled for the group or a combination of individual and group needs?

  5. How is transportation provided? Is the individual charged for every trip taken? Is transportation provided to take the individual places other than to work or medical appointments? For example, can the individual ask to be taken to the mall if it isn’t a group outing?

  6. Does the provider involve families in planning how services will be delivered?

  7. Will the provider help families connect with other families who are receiving their services?