The IDDeal Life at The IDDeal Place: Week 2

This week, we’re settling in and stepping up!

Week 2 at The IDDeal Place is turning out to be even better than Week 1!

Our five residents are adjusting beautifully and, more importantly, The IDDeal Place is truly starting to feel like HOME. We are slowly building our routines, learning what works, checking in with each other every day and figuring out this new life together.

The unpacking is almost done (we think! ), apartments are looking amazing, and each resident is beginning to make their space their own.

And the best part? We are already seeing more independence, confidence and connection.

JESSICA — Breakfast & Big Steps

Jessica continues to amaze us with her growing independence.

This week brought a HUGE first…

Jessica made her own breakfast — completely independently — for the first time ever!

For something that may seem so simple, it was an enormous milestone and exactly what The IDDeal Place is all about.

We also had a more difficult moment this week. Jessica experienced a seizure Saturday morning. Thankfully, it was handled well, and we believe some underlying anxiety surrounding all of the recent changes may have contributed.

But something remarkable happened afterward.

We went back to our old house, and Jessica immediately felt uncomfortable and even physically sick being there. She told us she didn’t want to go back — she wanted to go HOME to The IDDeal Place.

That said everything.

So while Saturday was difficult, we choose to focus on what it showed us: Jessica knows where home is now. She is happy here, she feels safe here, and every day she is discovering just how much she can do for herself.

LEXY — Connected at Heart 🫶

If you know Jessica and Lexy, you know these two girls are deeply connected. They don’t just celebrate each other’s happiness — they feel each other’s pain.

As a Type 1 diabetic, Lexy’s emotions can directly affect her blood sugar levels, and Jessica’s seizure understandably affected her. On Sunday, Lexy’s blood sugars ran extremely high and were difficult to control. 

Thankfully by Sunday night sugar was normal; but took a huge toll on Lexy. 

Thankfully, both girls recovered well. Monday became an official REST DAY — lots of sleep, downtime and taking care of themselves.

And by Taco Tuesday our girls were back! 🌮

Watching these two navigate life together reminds us just how special their friendship is — and how important it is to have people around you who truly understand you.

KEEFER — Gone Fishin’ 🎣

Keefer is definitely HAPPY at The IDDeal Place!

He continues to keep a busy schedule filled with activities and things he enjoys. This

week, Keefer and his mom spent the day fishing together, and he had an absolute blast.

Keefer is finding his rhythm here — balancing his independence, his activities, his family time and his new home.

And we love watching it happen!

JOSH — Work, Helping & Lord of the Rings!

Josh continues to adjust incredibly well. He heads off to his job at the Hab Center and comes home ready to jump right in and help everyone else.

He has quickly become one of those people you can count on when something needs to be done.

And we now have a very important new IDDeal Place tradition…

…Tuesday night after tacos = Lord of the Rings with Josh!

…because independence isn’t just about where you live or where you work.

It’s also about friendships, traditions and having people to share your favorite things with.

KIM — On a Mission!

Kim is working hard and continuing to focus on independence — but right now, we have another very important mission:

Finding Kim a new Publix!

Kim has proudly worked for Publix for 23 YEARS. Moving to The IDDeal Place means she needs to transfer to a store closer to her new home.

We have submitted her transfer request through the Publix portal and have been visiting local Publix locations, but so far, no luck…

…and the clock is ticking. Kim has only 28 days to secure a new location before potentially losing her long-standing employment status.

WE DON’T GIVE UP!

Kim is an incredible Front Service Clerk. She loves her job, loves Publix and takes enormous pride in being a working member of her community.

So we’re putting it out there — can anyone help us find Kim her new Publix home? Be sure to send us an email if you have any leads!

And Of Course… Taco Tuesday! 🌮 

Some traditions are already becoming sacred around here.

Taco Tuesday continues to be a favorite, our evening gatherings are becoming part of our routine, and every day brings another opportunity to laugh, connect, learn and grow together.

Little by little, this group of five residents isn’t just living in the same community.

They’re becoming a family

Counting Our Blessings

As we settle into our new lives, we make it a point every single day to stop, look around and count our blessings.

Sometimes it still doesn’t feel real.

This place.
These apartments.
These friendships.
This independence.

This IDDeal LIFE.

None of it would be possible without the extraordinary generosity and belief of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, along with our incredible donors, supporters and everyone who believed that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the opportunity to build lives filled with independence, purpose, friendship and joy.

We truly feel like we are living in a dream.

And we couldn’t be more grateful. 💛 

Next Week…

Another exciting step in The IDDeal Life!

Next week we begin the onboarding process for our new partnership with Autism After 21, creating even more opportunities for connection, growth and meaningful experiences for our residents.

We can’t wait to share what happens next!

Help Keep The IDDeal Life Possible

Moving into The IDDeal Place is only the beginning.

For some of our residents, the dream of living independently can only continue with financial assistance. 

Through The IDDeal Life Scholarship Fund, we can help ensure that finances don’t stand between a resident and the home, community and independence they have worked so hard to achieve.

Your gift doesn’t simply help pay an expense.

🏡 It helps someone wake up in their own apartment.
⏰ It helps them build routines and independence.
🫂 It gives them friends to come home to.
🌮 It gives them Taco Tuesdays, movie nights and everyday moments that finally feel like their own.

Most importantly…

It helps them continue living The IDDeal Life.

Please consider making a gift to support resident scholarships and help us make sure that once someone has found their place, they can continue to call it home.