Over the years, a significant number of establishments and organizations have utilized their platform to inspire change and spark action, truly impacting the lives of several people and communities for the better. While some authorities establish themselves to become beacons of hope, others take it upon themselves to serve as instruments of transformation. One such organization that was built to transcend limitations and create a better world for people with special needs is Anthony’s Center for Independent Adult Opportunities.
Anthony’s Center for Independent Adult Opportunities is a nonprofit organization that promotes independent living, job training, job creation, and recreation in a safe environment where individuals with intellectual disABILITIES can live their best life. It believes in the capabilities of those with special needs, acknowledging that they can also live ordinary lives. This emerging entity serves as not only a beacon of hope but also a primary motivational source for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Essentially, the goal of Anthony’s Center for Independent Adult Opportunities is to provide an avenue for individuals with special needs where they are given options to live independently or within a community, much like how ordinary people go about their day-to-day lives. Since time immemorial, people have often assumed that individuals with intellectual disabilities require care and supervision, which is not always the case. Many are perfectly capable of living on their own or living according to a path they deem fit. For this reason, Anthony’s Center will be more than a home; it will be a place where people with special needs can have a choice.
Whether a person chooses to live independently or within a community, Anthony’s Center for Independent Adult Opportunities will be the type of place that assures that the individual lives comfortably and well-supported. The center will provide a dedicated support system that consistently improves the long-term outcome of these individuals. “Our goal is to provide opportunities that increase and enhance their living and decision-making skills, health and wellness management, safety, employment, and more,” shared its founder Lisa Ciao. Although the organization is still in its early phases, Lisa assures that they plan to implement programs to provide invaluable support to these individuals. “The nonprofit is still in the infancy stages, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t dreaming big,” she said.
Anthony’s Center for Independent Adult Opportunities was borne out of the founder’s personal experience with her son, Anthony, who was diagnosed with Kleefstra Syndrome. Over the years, Lisa understood the importance of encouraging her son and others like him to live a more meaningful, inclusive, and independent life. Drawing inspiration from this realization, Lisa decided to breathe life into the creation of the center with the goal of offering better opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
In the coming years, Lisa Ciao and her team in Anthony’s Center for Independent Adult Opportunities hope to continue the organization’s mission by expanding its reach to more individuals with special needs across the globe. It aims to create a community of strong individuals who live according to their wishes in the years to come.
