An organization called iSolve Project is seeking to develop planned community living spaces in and around Chattanooga. The iSolve Project’s mission is to provide housing, employment options, and other support to adults with autism.
The Chattanooga Autism Center is hosting a community meeting is to get input from the potential residents and parents, as well as gauge interest in this project. This meeting will be Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga Autism Center, 1400 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. No RSVP is required.
iSolve Project is considering two types of programs:
1) Rural Community Farm: Participants live onsite and learn agricultural skills such as planting, growing, harvesting, food transportation, and/or sales.
2) Urban planned community: Participants live independently in their own apartments or houses in a community with other single family dwellings and retail stores. Employment opportunities are tied with the retail stores.
Both options would involve support staff and direct care services that help build independent living skills, vocational skills, and other life skills.
iSolve's Founder, Lori Sanders, will be at the meeting explain the basic ideas as well as to solicit input from attendees. She’ll be reporting the results of this meeting to her board of directors, along with perceived demand in this region. High attendance at this meeting would be one metric that suggests demand is high for this kind of program here in Chattanooga. “Those of us who have been working on creating more supports for adults with autism are hoping for a big turnout," said Dave Buck, director of the Chattanooga Autism Center.
For more information people can call (423) 531-6961 or email chattanoogaautismcenter@gmail.com