Neuro-Inclusive Intentional Communities Research Project

Desiree' Kameka
22 hours ago
2 min read

Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions produced Colorado’s new landscape analysis of neuro-inclusive intentional communities. This analysis describes urgent, actionable pathways to prevent displacement and re-institutionalization of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) while expanding truly person-centered supportive housing options.

This work was made possible by the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. Thank you to the Council’s leadership for funding and participating in a study that centers self-advocate voices and turns powerful evidence into concrete policy pathways.

Executive snapshot

The report synthesizes literature review, county-level prevalence mapping, national property matrix analysis, 258 stakeholder engagements (including 37% self-advocate participation), eight in-person focus groups, plain-language surveys, site visits to Colorado properties, and a developer focus group to assess demand, risks, and policy solutions for intentional communities in Colorado.

Key findings

Strong demand: 93% of surveyed Colorado stakeholders said they may or would like to live in an intentional community, citing accessible design, built-in social connections, on-site supportive amenities, neuro-affirming culture, and enhanced safety and advocacy.
Institutional risk is defined by experience, not size: stakeholders identified institutional characteristics as top-down control, lack of privacy, depersonalized group living, rigid schedules, segregation from the broader community, and an emphasis on safety over independence.
Housing shortage and financial vulnerability: over 95,000 Coloradans with I/DD live with family caregivers; more than 21,000 caregivers are over age 60, while Medicaid-funded DD and SLS waivers serve far fewer people than the population in need. Without access to housing options, Coloradans are at high risk for displacement in a crisis or homelessness.
Site visit outcomes: on-the-ground visits to three Colorado intentional communities confirmed that well‑designed, resident‑centered properties can deliver positive quality‑of‑life outcomes; residents reported meaningful social connection, autonomy, and satisfaction with neuro-inclusive and programmatic features.

Priority recommendations

Create a dedicated neuro-inclusive housing funding stream (options include state tax credit, I/DD housing trust, social impact bond, or budget earmark) to support development and onsite supportive amenities for neuro-inclusive communities.
Center self-advocate leadership across planning, design, and governance and use outcome-oriented evaluation rather than blunt density limits to ensure rights, choice, and person-centered outcomes.
Embed housing strategies into Colorado’s Community Integration Plan (HB 25-1017) to proactively prevent displacement and re-institutionalization and to guide local governments on serving residents with I/DD.
Require independent, third-party evaluation and ongoing stakeholder feedback loops to certify that communities are not isolating or provider-controlled in ways that limit choice.

Download Full Report and Summary here:

Full Report

Plain-language Summary: