Avondale House is a United Way agency providing day school, adult day
habilitation, and residential services for individuals with autism in Houston since 1976.
Avondale House appears to do good things–I toured the school one time, years ago, and was favorably impressed. But it’s too far from Clear Lake to be a resource for our family at this point. They offer three group homes in Southwest Houston, serving a total of 18 adults.
Brookwood is Christian residential facility for adults with disabilities. They appear to have a pretty nice art gallery, greenhouses and cafe where the residents may work or generate an income. I have not toured Brookwood yet, but it is beyond our family’s means. . . don’t see how with all the “estate planning in the world” we can possibly provide that kind of income for him to be a Brookwoodian.
I’d like to hear what others have to say about Brookwood . . . to me, their marketing seems more God-centered than client-centered, which makes me nervous (especially the empty God/Windsor chair placed throughout the community, to remind people of God’s presence. Yikes, what happens if someone sits in it?).
Here’s the info from their website:
Located in Brookshire, Texas, 40 miles west of downtown Houston, The Brookwood Community is a non-profit (501(c)3) residential facility and vocational program for adults with disabilities.
We see every individual as a unique creation of a wise and loving God, deserving not only of our abiding patience and respect, but of boundless awe. We cherish diversity in all forms and eschew narrow-minded notions of normalcy.
A God-centered educational, residential, and entrepreneurial community for adults with disabilities
Through the Grace of God, The Brookwood Community provides an educational environment that creates meaningful jobs, builds a sense of belonging, and demands dignity and respect for adults with disabilities.
Our campus consists of: Eight group homes, two single-family staff homes, a residential Inn, health and dental clinic, Worship Center, enterprise building, activities and administration building, 47 greenhouses, Gift and Garden Center and the Café at Brookwood, and several other support buildings.
Our programs serve: 110 resident adults (known as Brookwood “citizens”) who are functionally disabled and live at Brookwood 24/7. Another 80 plus adults participate in our day program. The range of diverse needs we help include people with autism spectrum disorders; intellectual disabilities; developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury; dual diagnosis; and/or aging care needs.
Resident & Work Program Tuition
Listed below are the fees associated with Residential and Day Program Citizens. Brookwood strives to provide financial assistance to those in need and to those who qualify.
Adult Work Program
$500 Registration (One time fee)
$1,000 Evaluation and Intake (One time fee)
$1,010 Monthly Tuition*
$85 Monthly Bus Fee (not available in Georgetown)Full Residential Program
$1,000 Registration (One time fee)
$2,000 Evaluation and Intake (One time fee)
$4,400 Monthly Tuition**Extra care fees may apply – this will be determined at the intake meeting. Tuition assistance may be available. A financial adviser will perform an analysis based upon complete disclosure of your financial situation and form a recommendation per our Scholarship Committee.
Hope Village is a closed residential community in Friendswood consisting of several homes located on 18 acres across from a golf course. Full-time residential services are available to all individuals whose primary diagnosis is mental retardation and who meet the admission criteria for ages six years through adulthood. Semi-private and private rooms are available and include assistance with the activities of daily living, medication administration, nutritious meals and 24-hour per day supervision and care in one of five homes on the Hope Village campus.
Residents have the opportunity to attend church and Sunday School, bowling, dances, movies, the circus, BBQs at the beach, Astro’s baseball games and various events including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Residents may also enjoy our on-campus outdoor pool during summer months and our recreation center year-round. They have an excellent resale shop and cafe. Villagers sell soap and ceramics made in their workshops.
The Hope Village Developmental Center includes a large work training area, fully equipped kitchen,ceramics manufacturing area, computer lab,gift shop and the Village Cafe. This 14,000 square foot building is home to our Day Program which operates Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 4:00.
Day Program
In addition to residential services, Hope Village offers respite care and day care. The day program is an integral part of the Hope Village Developmental Center and is a work program licensed by the U.S. Department of Labor. It is designed to develop self-confidence, healthy work ethics and provide a sense of accomplishment. Villagers receive payment on a piece rate scale for each item they complete and each Villager participating in this program is periodically assessed for skill development and mastery. Contracts for services and work to be performed by the Villagers such as packaging, collating, envelope stuffing, sorting and similar work come from businesses in the surrounding communities. We are always looking for more contracts, so if you have a project that you think we could help with, please call 281.482.1663.
Although a foundation for Hope Village is a nonprofit, Hope Village itself is private pay, about $4,000 / month, and as I recall you cannot place a family member there if there is no one who can evacuate him in event of hurricane, or provide for his basic necessities. In other words, this is not the kind of home you can hope to place your adult child into if there is no one to look after him or drop in from time to time.
My name is Ashley Newell and I am a Transition Advocate with Mounting Horizons, a nonprofit that serves senior citizens and individuals with Disabilities in Galveston County. We are one of 27 Centers for Independent Living in the state of Texas, with a focus on promoting independence and inclusion for people with disabilities and seniors within their communities.
Some of our services include:
ADA Accessible Transportation- servicing Galveston County, Webster, Friendswood, Seabrook, Alvin, and the Clear Lake Area.
Advocacy- Assisting people with questions about Social Security would be an example
Employment/Vocational Training- We are an ESP (Employment Service Provider) and receive referrals from Texas Workforce Commission to assist individuals with gaining competitive employment.
I&R (Information and Referrals)- Help locating Prescription assistance, rental/utility assistance, or performing research based on expressed needs.
ILS- Independent Living Skills Classes- can include: cooking, how to budget, computer classes, and other life skills
TAP- Transition to Adulthood Program- for youth 14-22 years of age.
YAAL- Young Adult Advocates Leadership Club- Youth with disabilities 14-22 learn how to self-advocate, gain leadership skills, and to advocate for the increased inclusion of people with disabilities within their community.
Social/Recreational Opportunities- With all classes and events, these are currently via Zoom during the Pandemic. In the past, we’ve gone on trips to venues, baseball games, photography outings, etc.
My brother goes here and absolutely loves it! We wait for the calendar to come out each month and he picks out what activities and day trips he wants to go to (sometimes 5 days a week). The staff is excellent and I am extremely grateful it is close to home. We couldn't be happier with their program.
Next Step Transition Center is not only a service provider, a day habilitation center, and a group home, but also a home away from home for all of our young adults. Our day program gives young adults a place to increase their confidence by working on their independent living, social, and vocational skills daily.
“Traci Johnston, our founder, began as a life skills teacher in the public school system. As the years went on she struggled with the idea of her students leaving school without a place to go. She came to the realization that she could provide a “college like experience” for these young adults through a structured day program. She developed Next Step as a program where young adults can continue learning and growing towards independence and community integration.
We began in one room at the Deer Park Community Center with a handful of young adults. Information about our structured program began to spread and our group of young adults grew. Before we knew it, we were in need of a new facility in order for all of our young adults to have space to grow and learn.
We continue to grow and look forward to our next steps as a company and day program!”
I just want to say that I attended a presentation by Traci Johnston and was very impressed with her! She is extremely knowledgeable and really on the ball. They are relatively new in our area, but I will be checking out Next Step for my own son.
The Sean Ashley House, located in Houston, is a Texas not-for-profit (501c3) organization designed to provide “model” homes for individuals with autism, blindness, mental retardation, and/or multiple disabilities.
The Sean Ashley House accepts individuals of any age who meet the criteria of the HCS program guidelines. Funding may also be made privately or through a variety of other agencies.
The Sean Ashley House Group Homes are all located in the southwest part of Houston, primarily in the Westbury Subdivision. Our homes are typical homes in the community. Our homes have three to four people living in each home and are staffed 24 hours day.
Go to their website to learn more. Residents live in typical neighborhood houses like the kind we grew up in, in a neighborhood setting.
This is all that they say they do:
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Case Management
Residential Support Services
Supervised Living
Supported Home Living
HCS Foster Care
Day Habilitation
Respite (Hourly)
Respite (Daily)
Psychological Services
Nursing Services
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Dietary Services
Speech Language Pathology
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Audiology Services
Supported Employment
Dental Services
Social Work
Adaptive Aids
Minor Home Modifications
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Summerhouse is not in the Clear Lake area but might be accessible for those who commute into town to go to work. In addition, it might serve as a model for the creation of a similar organization in Clear Lake.
The Summerhouse conceptualized from a bi-monthly Saturday program with community outings and social activities emphasized on developing social skills and cultivating friendships among young adults with intellectual disabilities. On June 4, 2012, after countless Saturdays engaging in the community, The Summerhouse doors were opened full time by a small group of 4 volunteers and 6 clients with a very basic idea in mind: young adults with intellectual disabilities are deserving of highest quality programming available to enable them to become valued, respected, contributing members of society.
From the beginning, The Summerhouse has focused on providing young adults with a variety of options to obtain the skills necessary for a successful transition into independent adult life. The program’s beginnings as a social skills based program has naturally evolved into a full time daily educational program encompassing not only basic life skills, but functional academics, social and emotional skills, and vocational training focused on entry into community-based employment.
Today, young adults (post-high school) cam participate in daily programming focused on life, learning, and exploring with a small group of peers led by our professional staff. The Summerhouse philosophy is not only to equip each person with individualized skills that enable them to become productive citizens, but to do so in the midst of a conventional neighborhood setting. In this way, they are integrated into the daily life of the community.
The core program runs from 9am-3pm, with supervised activities from 7am-5pm each day.
Members attend Monday through Friday year round.
The Center’s Residential Services offer a caring environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to call home. Each is designed to support an individual’s personal goals and choices. Our programs promote autonomy and independence while providing the personalized support our clients need to thrive.
SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
The Center’s Supported Independent Living Program offers adults with I/DD the opportunity to live in their own community-based apartment. An on-site residential administrator is available to help with daily living tasks, meals, and emergencies. This program currently offers units at the Stella at the Medical Center apartment complex with other city-wide options planned for the future.
INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
The Center’s Independent Living Program offers individuals the opportunity to live independently in their own efficiency-style apartment while still benefiting from the resources and services The Center has to offer. For some, it is one step towards a goal of independent living in the larger community and for others, they have already met their personal goal. Participants in our Independent Living Program live in Cullen Residence Hall.
ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAM
The Center’s Assisted Living Program exemplifies our vision for all adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to receive the resources necessary to realize their personal potential. Clients in our Assisted Living Program demonstrate every day all that is possible when the right support is available. Participants in our Assisted Living Program live at Willow River Farms, with some additional availability at Cullen Residence Hall.
HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES (HCS)
HCS is a residential program designed for people who desire to live in full community integration. The service planning team ensures that each person receives the support needed to successfully manage day-to-day living. HCS is a program of choice. Individuals may choose among Supervised Living, Residential Support Services, Community First Choice, and Host Home Companion Care. The Center has a full complement of staff to provide our clients services in management, program coordination, social work, nursing, and residential administration.
In September 2000, Kimberly and Linda, as well as several other parents of children with disabilities, founded The Village Learning Center, Inc (dba Village Learning & Achievement Center) as a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation. A monetary commitment was made by both Kimberly and Linda, the organization was created, and the passion to provide quality programs and services to individuals with disabilities was born. The word “village” was chosen because they realized that the organization’s success depended upon the support of their community. They knew that it would take a village to make their vision a reality.
The Village at Stoney Glen provides independent living opportunities in a beautiful residential setting for adults with disabilities. It is designed for individuals who are taking a major step on the road to independence, moving out of their family home for the first time. The staff offers support and training in a home-like setting to individuals who have basic self-care skills. Family interaction and participation are welcomed as our residents transition from the family home to greater independence while continuing to live, work, and worship in their own community.