Residents

Apply

Application steps for families of adults with intellectual disabilities:

  1. CONTACT INNISFREE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR by email or phone to talk about your adult child’s or sibling’s situation. Describe their gifts and challenges and ask your questions about Innisfree. (Note that due to a high volume of inquiries, email is the preferred form of initial contact so that a phone call can be scheduled; every effort will be made to respond to inquiries within one week.)
  1. SET UP A TOUR OF INNISFREE for your family, including the potential coworker, at least 2 weeks in advance, arriving on a Monday, Thursday, or Friday morning and staying for lunch if you like. If preferred, a visit without the applicant can be arranged prior to the applicant’s visit.  
  2. COMPLETE AN APPLICATION online.  The link will be shared with families after contact has been made and a tour arranged.  After an application has been reviewed, a follow-up phone call is often arranged with members of the Innisfree leadership team to discuss in more detail.  
  3. SCHEDULE ONE OR MORE DAY VISITS for the applicant to attend workstations.  Depending on the applicant’s engagement and comfort level, these may initially involve the family remaining onsite, but at least one successful day without the parents present will be required prior to the 2-week visit.
  4. ARRANGE A 2-WEEK VISIT for the potential coworker when space is available in an Innisfree house and if mutually believed appropriate. The cost for a 2-week visit is half of one month’s tuition, currently $2,264.
  5. SHARE FINANCIAL PLANNING INFORMATION about the family’s ability to support the potential coworker.  This review is completed by a subcommittee of Innisfree’s Board of Directors.
  6. SET UP A 6-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD for the potential coworker following a favorable evaluation of the 2-week visit and when space is available. Currently, Innisfree’s estimated waitlist for a 6-month trial is a minimum of 5 years.
  7. MEET WITH INNISFREE’S ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE following a positive visit and evaluation.
  8. BECOME A FULL-TIME RESIDENT and be welcomed as Innisfree’s newest community member.  The one-time entry fee is paid at this time.

Criteria

A potential Innisfree coworker must be:

  • An adult with an intellectual or developmental disability
  • Between the ages of 21 and 35 at the time of application
  • Not physically harmful to themselves or others
  • Able to orient and physically transition from place to place
  • Able to participate in workstations
  • Able to eat independently
  • Able to use the toilet independently
  • Content with rural living
  • Involved in choosing to live at Innisfree

Sample diagnoses of Innisfree coworkers include:

  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
  • Down syndrome
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Fragile X

Accommodations

Each coworker enjoys the following amenities:

  • Private bedroom in a family-style home, most often with 3 other coworkers and two residential volunteers
  • Bathroom shared with 1 to 2 others
  • Kitchen, dining area, living room, and laundry room shared with all house residents
  • TV and DVD player in living room and access to WI-FI for personal devices
  • Weekday community lunches in the Community Center and other meals in own home or homes around the village
  • Transportation to community activities

Activities

Each coworker:

  • Contributes to household management by taking on designated chores.
  • Participates in workstations four days a week.
  • Has access to Innisfree’s fitness opportunities including access to the FCAP fitness program and involvement in Special Olympics.
  • Has opportunities to join in expressive therapies such as music therapy, expressive arts, and pottery.
  • Has daily opportunities for unstructured independent leisure time.
  • Engages in evening and weekend recreational activities if desired, such as parties, dances, and games.
  • Goes on regular outings for entertainment.

Cost

Monthly coworker tuition for 2024 is $4,528, totaling $54,336/year. Tuition is adjusted annually in response to cost-of-living variables. Tuition covers room, board, and participation in workstations, expressive therapies, and evening recreational activities.
An additional $62,000 entry fee is required at the completion of a successful 6-month trial period. This fee goes directly into Innisfree’s Building Fund to help maintain the existing physical plant and to build new structures when needed. The fee allows new families to share in and support the efforts to sustain Innisfree that were made by its founding families.

Day Program

From two to four days each week, several adults who have aged out of high school programs and are at least 21 years of age come to Innisfree for a day of workstations alongside all community members. Whether transported in by their parents or a public transit provider from Charlottesville, the adults we call “day coworkers” attend workstations and join us for lunch from 9 am-3 pm and are able to experience the richness of life that occurs within each workstation. Fees for day coworkers are as follows:

2 days/week: $697/month

3 days/week: $1,043/month

4 days/week: $1,364/month

Some day coworkers have gone on to become full-time, residential members of our village. Parents who wish for their child to be in a community dedicated to finding enriching ways to develop hands-on skills and friendships with other adults with disabilities should consider Innisfree as an option. For more information for how be a part of our day coworker program, e-mail [email protected].