Community Living - Overview

Community Living Services

AHRC Nassau's Residential Program opened its first home in Hempstead, L.I. in 1970. While expansion of the community living program has been steady since that time, the pace has significantly increased with the passing of the New York State CARES initiative. This state initiative, which was proposed by Governor Pataki and then passed into law in 1998, provided increased funding levels to eliminate the lists of people with developmental disabilities that were living at home with their families and waiting for residential placements in community residential programs. In order to apply for residential placement you must be on the New York State CARES waiting list.

The AHRC Nassau community living program is comprised of homes called Individualized Residential Alternatives, most commonly referred to as IRA’s. There is also an IRA Apartment Program which includes Cooperative Units as well as Rental Units. Some of these apartment complexes are Supportive and provide minimal supports for people who are fully capable of independent living while others are Supervised and have enhanced supports in place for people who are capable of independent living, but may also require additional supports for varying reasons.

The individuals that reside in our community living program receive habilitative services to assist them in meeting their valued outcomes as well as nursing services to ensure their health and well being. Recreational activities are provided within their surrounding communities. Individuals’ have access to an array of clinical supports that include physical therapy, nutrition, occupational therapy and psychology. Additionally, with the opening of our Article 28 Clinic, services such as primary care, neurology, dental, podiatry and psychiatry are also available.

The houses and supervised apartments are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days week, many of which also include a live-in manager on site. Increased independence, inclusion, individualization and productivity are the goals for each individual that resides within our community living program. AHRC’s focus is to provide a true home for each individual while ensuring their health, safety and well being.

• IRA Program
• Apartment Program
• Helen Kaplan ICF Program
• Respite Services
• Residential Waiting List