Frequently Asked Questions

What is OASIS? . . .

Our community will be a safe and inclusive neurodiverse neighborhood designed for the needs and aspirations of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). We are planning for around 60 adults with and without IDD where approximately 40-45 will be adults with IDD. The final number will be determined by the size of the parcel on which it is built and the requirements of the municipality.

Why choose this type of housing for people with IDD? . . .

The intentional neighborhood model has many advantages for people with IDD:

• acknowledges that every person needs some degree of help and support
• acknowledges every person can contribute to their community and provides opportunities
• acknowledges the benefits of living in community rather than isolation
• acknowledges the additional safety and security that comes from knowing your neighbors
• separates support services from housing so people with IDD have more choice
  

What makes OASIS Community stand out from other housing communities? . . .

It is intentionally inclusive and diverse. OASIS is designed to mirror the makeup of our larger society, with neighbors living together in a community that reflects the diversity of ages, income levels, and abilities present in our larger society. We believe that building a community on this foundation of inclusion and diversity will yield a beautiful and supportive place to live for every neighbor.

Is OASIS only for people who experience disability, are old, or are below median income? Or do you have to be rich to live in the OASIS Community? . . .

No and No! Ours will be a neurodiverse setting in which the majority of our residents will be adults ages 21 and older who have a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability and who are accepted through our evidence-based intake process. OASIS also plans for a minority of the residents to be adults without disabilities who accept an obligation to be supportive intentional neighbors to the adult residents with IDD. These may include people whose lives have been devoted to service such as retired teachers, retired nurses, and retired clergy, or graduate students in disabilities programs who want an immersive living experience.

Will OASIS only be providing housing? . . .

No, in addition to housing we are planning to develop a Community Center for use by our residents and available for use by other nonprofits and community groups for recreation and to help individuals with IDD improve their independent living skills such as learning to access transportation and enhancing their social skills. OASIS also plans to produce informational programming for families, guardians, friends, and supporters of adults with IDD.

Is this a care facility? . . .

OASIS is a diverse and inclusive community of neighbors. Many owners may have supports that help them live independently in community, but OASIS does not provide services. We do not offer skilled nursing care, medical or behavioral support, or memory care. We offer a community of neighbors who naturally support each other, some of whom have additional supports of their own that help them live in a diverse and inclusive community.

Are children allowed?. . .

Definitely! Children are a natural part of any diverse and inclusive community. We welcome families of all types and many sizes into OASIS both as neighbors and as visitors.

I’m a young able-bodied person, why would I want to live there?. . .

If you’re looking for a community that mirrors the makeup of society as a whole, one that champions diversity and embraces people for their gifts and strengths first and foremost, if you want to see beyond the labels and limitations often assigned by society, and you want life-long connections and friendships with purpose and maybe even surprise, we’d love to talk to you.

What if I’m an introvert—do I have to participate in community events or meals? Will I have privacy?. . .

Very few of us feel like socializing all of the time. There’s no expectation to be social at any particular time. You will have the choice of enjoying the privacy of your own home, or joining in on whatever happens to be going on in the neighborhood. The shared common spaces allow for quiet reflection and chance meetings alike.

While participation in every community event or meal is not mandatory, we find that active participation helps to keep our community strong. We plan to have at least one group dinner each week.

If weekly community meals is not your thing, we’ll help you find something you love doing so that you can chip in and better the community!

Do I have to like everyone?. . .

It is important that neighbors behave with respect toward one another. Living in community, we are likely to develop relationships more readily; though at times living in close proximity can also bring some inherent challenges and conflicts between neighbors.

Will I need to take care of community members who experience disability or community members as they age? . . .

No. We do not offer skilled nursing care, disability supports, medical support, or memory care. We are not a disability service provider, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), nor a retirement home or convalescent facility. We are a group of people who have chosen to live in a tight-knit community of caring, helpful friends. We believe this will provide rich lives of reciprocity, purpose, friendships and fun, and enable many of us to stay in our homes and community longer than if we lived in isolation.

Where are you planning to build your community? . . .

We do not have land yet and are evaluating several sites in the Tippecanoe County, IN area.

Do you have your land yet? . . .

Not yet. We are evaluating several promising sites in the Tippecanoe County, IN area.

When do you plan to open? . . .

We don’t yet have a specific timetable, but our goal is to open in the next 3-5 years.

Will the homes and apartments be leased to residents or will they be able to buy them?. . .

We anticipate being able to offer both.

What will it cost residents to live in OASIS Community?. . .

We do not have that information to release at this time.

How will residents with IDD pay to live in OASIS Community?. . .

We expect residents to utilize SSI/SSDI, SNAP, waiver resources, and family supports based on their own personal needs and resources.

What will the houses look like?. . .

Our plan is to create a cozy welcoming neighborhood of different size homes and duplexes – all with front porches. Most will be single-story homes (fully wheelchair accessible) but there may be some two-story homes.

What kind of supports and services will be provided for residents by OASIS Community? . . .

We are still working through the details of this, but we anticipate that OASIS, through Resident Life Assistants, will provide optional activities for residents, plus safety and other non-DSP resident support. We also hope to have families, guardians, and adults without disabilities living there and serving as intentional supportive neighbors.

How will OASIS Community provide for the safety and security of its residents?. . .

We are planning several ways to make our housing and neighborhood as safe and secure as possible. It will be gated with the gates open during business hours but closed and access-controlled outside of business hours. Residents will utilize technology such as an intelligent bracelet, key fob, or access card to access their units, common areas, and gates. This also will enable us to know where residents are in our neighborhood. Our Resident Life Assistants will be eyes and ears 24/7 monitoring our residents and neighborhood. We will incorporate security cameras and sensors monitored by our staff to augment our staff. And lastly, our residents without disabilities will be screened and empowered to be good intentional neighbors who embrace their role in providing natural supports.

Are adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities telling you what they want you to build for them? How are their voices being authentically included in your planning?. . .

Definitely! We have reached out to self-advocates and their families and guardians to inform and guide us on what they need and want for safe, supportive, affordable housing, and what they want for learning and enrichment opportunities.

How will my son or daughter or ward be able to get out in the community? Will they be isolated in OASIS Community?. . .

Your son or daughter or ward’s day will be guided by their needs and desires expressed in their Person Centered Plan (PCP) developed by their care team and supported by their Direct Support Professional staff.

OASIS Community will be fully integrated into the Tippecanoe County community and designed to optimize the opportunities, outcomes, and experiences of all our residents with and without IDD.

How does OASIS Community support the larger community of Greater Lafayette?. . .

There are several ways we can think about the impact that OASIS Community will have on Greater Lafayette:

• We will provide an innovative, supportive, and much-needed housing option for adults with IDD in Greater Lafayette.
• OASIS Community will create new skilled jobs.
• Our Community Center will become a new asset to the Greater Lafayette community, especially for adults with IDD for whom there are not enough social and recreational options.
• As word gets out through traditional media, social media, Internet search, presentation to parents, guardians, and professionals, and general word-of-mouth about what a great place OASIS Community is, Greater Lafayette’s reputation as an inclusive community will grow.
• Families and guardians will move to Greater Lafayette to be closer to their sons or daughters or wards living in OASIS Community.
• Families, guardians, professionals, and students will flock to Greater Lafayette to tour OASIS Community and learn all about it. They will stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, and shop in retail locations in Greater Lafayette.
• We hope to establish a collaboration with Purdue University which could enhance some of their existing education for students considering entering the disability field.
  

How can I get more information?. . .

We are building a list of people interested in potentially becoming a part of OASIS Community. Joining our mailing list is the best way to stay informed about the ongoing development and a great way to learn how you can get involved.

What will it cost to build your setting? . . .

We do not have specific costs yet, but we anticipate that it will cost $12-15 million to build.
How will residents with IDD pay to live in OASIS Community? We expect residents to utilize SSI/SSDI, SNAP, waiver resources, and family supports based on their own personal needs and resources.

Who will be able to live in OASIS Community? . . .

Ours will be a neurodiverse setting in which the majority of our residents will be adults ages 21 and older who have a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability and who are accepted through our evidence-based intake process. OASIS also plans for a minority of the residents to be adults without disabilities who accept an obligation to be supportive intentional neighbors to the adult residents with IDD. These may include individuals whose lives have been devoted to service such as retired teachers, retired nurses, and retired clergy, families, guardians, and individuals who want to include this kind of service in their lives, or graduate students in disabilities programs who want an immersive living experience.