Answers For Service Providers & Educators

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few frequently asked questions about Villa de Vida, by service providers and educators helping adults with I/DD live independently.

Table of Contents

  1. Question 1: How can our organization partner with or offer services to Villa de Vida residents?

  2. Question 2: Does Villa de Vida collaborate with schools or educators to support skill-building for residents (or prospective residents)?

  3. Question 3: Are there volunteer or internship opportunities at Villa de Vida for professionals or students?

  4. Question 4: What impact is Villa de Vida having on the broader community and on advancing inclusion?

  5. What to do next.

Question 1: How can our organization partner with or offer services to Villa de Vida residents?

Answer: Villa de Vida strongly believes in partnership and is very much a collaborator model. We recognize that we cannot and should not do everything alone, so we seek out and welcome partnerships with service providers, educators, and organizations that can enhance our residents’ lives.

If your organization provides a service relevant to adults with I/DD (for example, vocational training, art therapy, fitness instruction, educational courses, or therapeutic services), there are a few avenues to partner with us:

On-site Workshops or Classes: Villa de Vida often brings in external professionals to run classes or workshops for residents, day program and social club participants. For instance, we have worked with specialists to provide classes in technology use, personal finance, health education, and more. One notable partnership is with SEEDS Educational Services, Inc., which specializes in social-sexual education for people with developmental disabilities – SEEDS collaborated with Villa de Vida to deliver a comprehensive curriculum on relationships and safety for residents, their families, and staff.

This kind of partnership was possible because Villa de Vida identified a need and brought in the experts rather than trying to invent it themselves. If your organization has a similar expertise, you could propose running a session or a series at Villa de Vida. The Resident Services Coordinator would likely work with you to schedule it (they might coordinate to have multiple residents attend, and possibly even open it to non-residents, guests that the residents invite to attend, for greater impact).

Service Referrals and Coordination: Many residents at Villa de Vida will need external services – and the Villa de Vida staff actively maintain a directory of providers to refer residents to (e.g., therapists, job coaches, mobility training, etc.). For example, Villa de Vida keeps contacts for advocacy organizations, benefits planners, and even legal aid (special needs trusts, etc.) to share with families and residents.

If your service is something an individual might need (say, your agency does supported employment or runs a social skills group), you should make sure Villa de Vida knows about it so we could refer appropriate residents to you. In some cases, Villa de Vida will facilitate introductions – e.g., if a resident wants a job and Villa de Vida’s internal support reaches its limit, they might connect that resident with an external supported employment service (like Goodwill’s program or the Department of Rehabilitation) and work in tandem. From the perspective of your organization, that’s a referral opportunity and a collaborative client to serve.

Volunteering and Internship Opportunities: Villa de Vida, Inc. also fosters a volunteer program, including opportunities for students or professionals to volunteer their time with residents. For example, PLNU (Point Loma Nazarene University) has sent their PA (Physicians Assistants) students to volunteer for the last 2 years to get to know our population in advance of seeing them as patients.

If you have students who need practicum experience or staff who want to volunteer (say, running a one-off art workshop or being a buddy at events), Villa de Vida would be happy to have that help. As an educator, you might encourage your students (in fields like social services, occupational therapy, etc.) to consider interning at Villa de Vida or helping with programs, as it’s a rich learning experience for them and adds capacity to Villa de Vida.

Joint Community Initiatives: If your organization is planning a community event (for instance, a health fair, disability awareness day, or recreation event), you can coordinate with us to involve our residents. Conversely, Villa de Vida participates in community projects (like planning voter education drives) and we might seek other agencies to partner in those projects. By teaming up, we can broaden the reach. A real example: Villa de Vida partnered with the League of Women Voters for voter registration efforts targeting people with special needs. This kind of cross-organization collaboration amplifies impact.

In all cases, the first step is to reach out to Villa de Vida’s management (the Executive Director or the Resident Services Coordinator) and propose how you can add value. Villa de Vida has an open-door attitude to collaboration and is careful to acknowledge that it “partners with professional service providers that our residents choose; we work to enhance the services residents already have”. We connect all available services to the community outside of the apartments while also building life-enhancement programming inside. This means we are facilitators: if you have a service to offer, we can facilitate bringing it to residents who want it.

To summarize, there are many partnership opportunities: delivering group style programing on-site, accepting referrals, volunteering, or co-sponsoring events. Villa de Vida values being seen as a collaborator with others in this space, so we are receptive to working together.

From your perspective, partnering with Villa de Vida can extend your services’ reach to a concentrated group of individuals with I/DD who are motivated to engage, and it positions your organization as part of an innovative community model. It’s truly a win-win for providers/educators and the Villa de Vida residents when such collaborations happen.

Question 2: Does Villa de Vida collaborate with schools or educators to support skill-building for residents (or prospective residents)?

Answer: Yes, education is a key component of Villa de Vida’s support programming, and we do collaborate with educators and educational institutions in multiple ways. One aspect is during the transition period for young adults. For individuals coming out of high school or transition programs, Villa de Vida can be seen as a post-education next step - independent living !!  We maintain relationships with local educational programs (ie, Abraxas). Every year, we invite graduates to tour, eat lunch and then join us for social hour to “feel” what it is like to live at Villa de Vida. The students ask current residents how they like living away from their families and how do they spend their days.

Villa de Vida’s leadership has spoken at transition fairs and networked with school district transition coordinators to make them aware of the housing option and the skills needed. By doing so, they indirectly influence curricula; schools might emphasize certain independent living skills knowing that opportunities like Villa de Vida exist.

In a Casa de Amma newsletter about Villa de Vida, they highlighted how sharing stories of adults with disabilities (like Villa de Vida residents) with schools and the public can challenge stereotypes and educate the community. Villa de Vida shares this ethos – we want the wider world to see what adults with IDD are capable of, which in turn can shape educational goals earlier in life.

Villa de Vida’s own staff sometimes teach a class such as a cooking class or a leadership class. They might consult with credentialed educators to develop curricula for these in-house classes. The staff may also partner with volunteers, including students in social services or special education, to work with residents. Those volunteers effectively act as instructors or mentors under Villa de Vida’s guidance.

Additionally, Villa de Vida emphasizes inclusive learning: when we run a program, we often include not just residents but also their support staff or family in the training. A prime example is the social education: “education that supports awareness, protection and guidance for residents, their families and service provider team”. We explicitly included direct care staff and parents in the sessions so that everyone learns consistent information. This collaborative training approach might interest educators who work with those families, as it extends the learning environment beyond the classroom into the home and community.

From the perspective of a teacher or school, if you have students nearing adulthood, you could coordinate with Villa de Vida to perhaps tour the facility or have a Q&A with residents (with permissions) about what skills are important. Hearing from a Villa de Vida resident about, say, why learning to cook or manage money was crucial could deeply motivate students still in school. Villa de Vida’s existence also allows educators to tell families, “Look, there are emerging options like this, so let’s focus on those independent living skills because they will pay off.”

In summary, Villa de Vida collaborates with educators by (1) linking residents to continuing education and adapting those opportunities to their needs, (2) involving educational volunteers and interns on-site, (3) co-training families and staff in topics that educators care about (like safety and wellness), and (4) serving as a model that educators can leverage to prepare their students for adult life. The flow of knowledge is two-way: Villa de Vida learns from educational best practices, and educators learn from Villa de Vida’s real-world outcomes. This synergy ultimately helps ensure that adults with I/DD are life-ready when housing opportunities like Villa de Vida arise.

Question 3: Are there volunteer or internship opportunities at Villa de Vida for professionals or students?

Answer: Yes, Villa de Vida actively encourages community members, including professionals, university students, or anyone with a passion to help, to get involved through volunteering. We believe that integrating volunteers not only benefits residents by providing extra mentorship and friendship, but it also educates the volunteers and builds a more inclusive community.

Here are some avenues for involvement:

Program Volunteering: If you have a skill or interest, you can volunteer to lead or assist with resident activities. For example, volunteers have helped run art classes, technology tutoring, gardening projects, and fitness activities. Given that Villa de Vida offers a variety of classes (yoga, art, music, etc.), we appreciate volunteers who can co-facilitate these alongside staff or even initiate new clubs (maybe a volunteer could start a weekly reading club or a theater group if residents are interested). Volunteers might also accompany residents on community outings or help organize events like dances or BBQs.

Social Buddy or Mentor Roles: Some volunteers may be invited to come to social hours or events to socialize with residents. This is especially rewarding for both sides – residents get to widen their social circle beyond their peers, and volunteers get to see the residents’ abilities and personalities firsthand. For instance, participating in the coffee hour gathering or being a dance partner at the social club are ways volunteers contribute informally.

Internships and Practicums: Villa de Vida has opportunities for students in fields like social work, psychology, special education, occupational therapy, etc., to do internships or practicum hours (may be arranged). A social work intern might assist the Resident Services Coordinator in developing case plans or connecting residents to resources. A special education student might help design a skill-teaching module or work one-on-one with a resident/day program participant on a goal (under supervision). The environment provides rich learning because interns see community-based support in action.

Professional Volunteering: Professionals such as financial advisors, chefs, and fitness trainers, sometimes volunteer to host a one-time workshop or consultation for residents. For example, a local chef might volunteer to run a special cooking demo; a finance professional might volunteer during tax season to help residents understand taxes; or a legal professional could give a talk on special needs trusts or rights).

To ensure quality and safety, Villa de Vida has policies for screening volunteers and we show appreciation to our volunteers, who are valued members of our team. For instance, we have held Volunteer Appreciation Brunches and BBQs where we recognize individuals who have contributed.

If you or your students/professionals want to volunteer, the best route is to contact us via email at info@villadevida.org or give us a call at 858-935-8811 and inquire about current needs or application steps. We may require a background check and/or brief training depending on the role (especially if working directly with residents) and supervision.  Staff must be with volunteers at ALL times.

The volunteer experience at Villa de Vida is often described as very rewarding. Volunteers get to be part of a pioneering community and learn about supporting adults with I/DD in a respectful, empowering way. Many come away inspired. Villa de Vida offers that kind of eye-opening experience for volunteers, which in turn helps spread inclusion beyond the community’s walls.

For educators advising students or for service providers looking to give staff some community exposure, volunteering at Villa de Vida can be an excellent professional development opportunity. It’s like cross-training in community-based support.

In summary, Villa de Vida provides a variety of volunteer and internship opportunities and strongly values those contributions. We see volunteers as part of the extended support network that helps residents thrive. It’s a classic example of “it takes a village,” and Villa de Vida is actively building those villages.

Question 4: What impact is Villa de Vida having on the broader community and on advancing inclusion?

Answer: Villa de Vida’s impact goes beyond the people it directly houses; it’s making waves in the broader community and serving as a catalyst for inclusion and awareness.

Here are a few key impacts:

Raising Visibility of Adults with I/DD: By establishing a vibrant community in the heart of Poway, Villa de Vida has made adults with developmental disabilities more visible as active, contributing members of the community. Neighbors see residents shopping, working, volunteering, and participating in local events, which helps normalize the presence of people with I/DD in everyday life.

Our founding Board Chair, Ted Merchant (a parent himself), says that one dream is for residents to “have relationships both within Villa de Vida and within the surrounding community,” and for the surrounding community “to respect the people of Villa de Vida.”. This is happening: residents have joined local volunteer efforts, and organizations in Poway collaborate with Villa de Vida for community initiatives (like Holiday with Heroes, park clean-ups, local fundraising events for non-profits etc.), fostering mutual respect and integration.

Collaborative Spirit Among Service Providers: Villa de Vida’s stance of being a collaborator rather than an isolated service has encouraged a sense of teamwork in the region’s disability services. Other agencies see Villa de Vida as a partner, not a competitor, in supporting adults. For example, Casa de Amma (another supportive community in Orange County) celebrated Villa de Vida in their newsletter, highlighting that more options like this are needed. This spirit of “as many players, with as many ideas as possible” means Villa de Vida is actively engaging with others, sharing their model. We have presented at conferences, community education forums, and city council meetings to spread ideas on housing for I/DD. As a result, communities elsewhere are now exploring similar models, leveraging what’s been learned (e.g., how to finance and how to partner with housing developers).

Empowering Self-Advocates: Residents at Villa de Vida are gaining skills and confidence that ripple outward. Some residents have become advocates or leaders, sharing their experiences publicly. For instance, residents might speak at a local school or an event about living independently, thereby educating others and breaking stereotypes. Residents present lectures on a variety of topics to their neighbors and peers through our “Virtual Programs”. This peer advocacy is powerful; hearing directly from an adult with I/DD who is thriving in their own place can shift mindsets among families (who might have underestimated what their own children could do) and among policymakers (who see the success and might support funding more such housing).

The data shows that, historically, many with disabilities lived with parents until a crisis, or ended up in mismatched settings like senior homes, and Villa de Vida is providing a better alternative. Seeing that alternative succeed gives advocates a concrete example to point to when lobbying for housing funds or changes in policy.

Cultural Change in Perception of “Integration”: Villa de Vida contributes to the ongoing conversation about what true inclusion means. It challenges the notion that inclusion only means being dispersed among the non-disabled population. As Villa de Vida articulates, sometimes being among a community of peers can be more empowering than being the only person with a disability in a setting.

The concept of “affinity community”, where shared experiences form the basis of belonging, is being showcased. This adds nuance to discussions on disability housing and could influence future guidelines or best practices. Importantly, Villa de Vida isn’t about segregation from the broader world; it’s about creating a strong home base from which residents engage the world on their terms. The broader community sees that the residents are not cloistered away; they are out and about, and also have their own vibrant home life. This dual presence can change perceptions: people start to see adults with I/DD as individuals who both form their own community and are part of the fabric of the town.

Family and Caregiver Relief and Optimism: Though harder to measure, the psychological impact on families is significant. Many aging parents in San Diego County now have hope that their adult children can have a secure future outside the family home. This peace of mind is invaluable and has a community benefit; it means fewer crises when elderly caregivers can’t provide care anymore, because now there’s a model to plan for that transition.

We’ve heard that parents of our residents gained not only relief but also joy seeing their sons/daughters flourish independently – and they often become ambassadors, telling neighbors or relatives about how great this community is. That word-of-mouth spreads a positive narrative about the potential of adults with special needs, likely reducing stigma in social circles.

In conclusion, Villa de Vida’s impact is multi-layered: it’s improving the lives of its residents (who now “don’t just live – they thrive” in a real community), it’s galvanizing collaboration and new thinking among disability service networks, and it’s slowly but surely influencing public attitudes and policies regarding inclusive, supportive, affinity-communities.

The Villa de Vida project has been described as “hopefully the start of a housing trend for our special needs community”, indicating that its ultimate success will be measured by how many others follow in its footsteps. And given the attention it has drawn, we can already see that Villa de Vida is a leader in its focus area, not by overshadowing others, but by lighting the way for many to contribute to the cause of housing and empowering people of all abilities.

What to do next:

If you’re a service provider or educator, consider reaching out to Villa de Vida to explore partnerships, whether it’s volunteering, offering a class, or simply visiting to learn more.

You can incorporate Villa de Vida’s model into your own training or curriculum: for example, educators can use it as a case study to inspire students with disabilities about post-school life, and providers can adapt some of its community-building practices in other programs.

Encourage the individuals you support to join Villa de Vida’s Social Club or classes to broaden their social networks. If you’re an advocate, use the success stories from Villa de Vida when campaigning for more resources; cite the data that show the unmet need and the positive outcomes (e.g., residents living independent but not isolated lives).

Ultimately, we all have a role in expanding such opportunities: you might host a discussion or workshop at your organization about innovative housing models and invite Villa de Vida representatives or residents to share their experiences. By spreading the word and collaborating, you’ll be helping to create a future where communities like Villa de Vida are commonplace, and adults with I/DD everywhere can choose from many options to live fulfilling, independent lives.