Last Saturday was one of those mornings that reminds you why we do this. Our community room was full of parents, the coffee was hot, and Evelyn from Katie’s House showed up ready to break down one of the most confusing topics in New Jersey disability services: self-direction and supportive housing.

If you’re not familiar with self-direction, here’s the short version. It’s a way for adults with different abilities and their families to design their own support plan instead of being placed into a pre-set program. You pick your own staff, set your own goals, and manage a budget through the Division of Developmental Disabilities. It sounds great on paper, but the application process and all the rules that come with it? That’s where most families get stuck.

Evelyn walked us through the whole thing, step by step. She covered eligibility, how to set up an individualized budget, and what supportive housing actually looks like in practice. Group homes, supported apartments, family-managed setups. She talked about the differences between them and what to ask when you’re exploring options for your loved one.

The best part was the Q&A. Parents were sharing their own experiences, asking real questions, and helping each other out. One mom talked about how long the DDD process took for her family. Another had tips on working with case managers. That’s the thing about these workshops. The information matters, but the connections people make with each other matter just as much.

We also have to give a huge thank you to Marcella, who brought food for everyone. There’s something about sitting around a table with a good meal that makes hard conversations a little easier. She didn’t have to do that, and we’re so grateful she did.

A few things parents told us they found most helpful:

• Understanding how self-direction budgets actually work and what they can be used for
• Learning about housing options they didn’t know existed
• Hearing from other families who’ve already been through the process
• Knowing their rights when it comes to advocating for their adult children

We’re going to keep hosting workshops like this at Lennon’s House in Rockaway, NJ because families shouldn’t have to figure all of this out alone. If you missed this one, don’t worry. We’ll have more coming up, and you’re always welcome.

Thanks again to Evelyn and everyone at Katie’s House for sharing their time and knowledge with our community. And to every parent who showed up on a Saturday morning to learn something new for their family, we see you and we’re glad you’re here.