Cincinnati nonprofit LADD, which provides services like housing, employment and community engagement programs to adults with developmental disabilities, will be traveling abroad to be honored for their efforts in helping those they serve live more independently.
LADD is one of 71 awardees from around the world that was invited by Zero Project to the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, to present their solutions to eliminating obstacles to community-based living for those with disabilities, according to a press release. Zero Project is an international organization that pursues the goals of Article 32 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). LADD was one of just eight honorees from the United States.
The local nonprofit’s innovative “Smart Living” model will be in the spotlight at the UN. Smart Living is a software/assessment system and staffing model that allows people with developmental disabilities to live safely and affordably in any community. The technology utilizes smart homes, tech-enabled supports and a geographic-based teams to support clients and, according to a study from Xavier University, can help increase their independence. LADD says, since its launch, Smart Living has been able to safely decrease staffing by 65% and allow their clients more freedom.
Susan Brownknight, LADD’s CEO, will present their findings on Smart Living Wednesday, Feb. 22.
“It is an extreme honor to represent LADD and the Cincinnati region at the United Nations and to have our work developing Smart Living recognized on an international stage,” Brownknight said in the release. “However, we must also remember, we have this opportunity because people with disabilities across the world do not have equal access to affordable and meaningful solutions to community-based living. LADD wants to be part of the solution. Cincinnati, and the support it has given LADD, is why we have been able to do this ground breaking work. We are hopeful Smart Living has the power to bring dignity and equal opportunity to people [with] developmental disabilities here and across the world.”
Find out more about Project Zero and its awardees here.
LADD, 3603 Victory Parkway, North Avondale. More information: www.laddinc.org.
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This article appears in Feb 8-21, 2023.