FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
~~ How can I join ICW? ~~
As a supporter/family...
If you would like to join ICW’s community as a supporter/family member of a prospective resident, we encourage both your loved one and you to attend some of ICW’s public events, such as our monthly potlucks.
We also encourage you to consider reviewing our ICW membership tiers here.
Once you have attended a few ICW events with your loved one to familiarize yourself with our community team, if you would like to proceed to an ICW application for resident/non-resident membership, please complete the contact form located at the bottom of this webpage.
If you would like to help support our organization, please consider donating below. Thank you for your generosity! 🙂
As a prospective resident...
If you are interested in joining ICW as a member, please consider reading more about our membership tiers here.
We also encourage you to join us for our monthly potlucks and any other public events we may host so that you can get to know our community. More importantly, meeting our community members can provide you insight as to whether or not you would like to apply to be a member of our community!
If you would like to be added to the ICW emailing list, please fill out the contact form located at the bottom of this webpage. Thank you!
~~ What does ICW provide resident members? ~~
ICW’s overarching goals are to provide our members with meaningful socialization, a community they can be an integral member of, and a higher quality of life.
We achieve these goals as an organization by providing our Community Builders (CBs) as well as regular weekly programming (which they often lead).
Some of our past programming has included excursions to:
- Local restaurants and events such as Ann Arbor Summerfest.
- Informative nature-based outings to places like the Leslie Science and Nature Center, Howell Nature Center, and the Toledo Zoo.
- Entertainment-based outings such as group trips to the Michigan Theater, bowling, and our annual ICW Dance!
- Seasonal outings to apple orchards, holiday gatherings, and peony viewings at Nichols Arboretum.
~~ What does ICW NOT provide resident members? ~~
With ICW’s focus on providing community and increasing the quality of life of our members alongside their devoted families, there are multiple services/resources we do not provide our members. These include, but are not limited to:
- ICW does not provide housing.
- ICW does not provide Community Living Support (CLS) Staff.
- ICW does not provide medical care of any kind.
- ICW does not provide legal assistance of any kind.
If you are looking for these types of resources, please consider viewing our Resources webpage.
~~ Where are current ICW Communities located? ~~
Note: ICW offers one-time grants of up to $6,000 to help alleviate moving costs of ICW resident members moving into eligible units. If you would like to learn more information, please use the Contact Form below! Thank you!
As mentioned previously, ICW does not provide our resident members with housing. Instead, we encourage prospective members to consider purchasing/leasing property in the general area so that they can benefit fully from our Community Builders and potential transportation to and from ICW events.
ICW’s current communities are present in Western Ann Arbor, MI, near Stadium Boulevard and Liberty Road.
You can spy the general locations of our communities in red on the map on the left.
If you are interested in potential housing options that would allow you to be a resident member of ICW, please consider the following complexes:
~~ Where do I begin? ~~
ICW understands that many families struggle to find resources for their loved one after state/school-sanctioned resources end at the age of 26.
Over the years, our team has observed that there are certain steps families can effectively take when it comes to providing the necessary care and resources for their loved ones to thrive, and we have compiled numerous resources here.
However, below is a list of our recommendations for families who are still navigating new challenges regarding their loved one’s care and living conditions:
If you are interested in pursuing an independent living environment for yourself or a loved one:
- If you are looking for general case management regarding your loved one’s resources, please contact Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. They can provide you with a Case Manager to help you consider the options/opportunities for your loved one, and their continued care.
- If you are looking for in-home care for your loved one or Community Living Support (“CLS”) staffing options, please peruse this Ann Arbor/Washtenaw CLS Company Providers List.
- If your loved one is looking for accessible employment, they should consider contacting the Disability Network of Washtenaw, Monroe, & Livingston. They have multiple programs to help individuals with Intellectual and or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) seek out professional roles.
If you require financial assistance in different areas like food and housing:
- Please go to MI Bridges and create an account for your family/loved one. This website is a hub for many different resources, including food and housing assistance. If you need help getting started, here is an introductory video about MI Bridges.
- To promote food security and mitigate the financial strain of grocery shopping, please apply for a MI Bridges Card for your loved one as soon as you can (if you have not done so already). On your MI Bridges Portal, you can apply to the Food Assistance Program (“FAP”) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”). Learn more about timelines/applications for these food security programs here.
- If your loved one is looking for medical insurance, you may qualify for Medicaid in Michigan. To learn more about applying for, and using, Medicaid to stay healthy, please refer to this webpage. You can apply for Medicaid benefits via your MI Bridges account.
If you or your loved one needs other assistance, such as in mental health or legal matters:
- If your loved one requires legal representation, advocacy, or other resources regarding their rights as a citizen/human being, please contact Disability Rights Michigan.
- If your loved one is seeking mental health resources, such as for substance abuse, therapy and or mental health counseling, or your family is seeking support groups, please visit Washtenaw Health Department’s Local Mental Health Resources Page.
~~ What is ICW's recommended timeline to join our community? ~~
Joining ICW as a residential member is a process that can take some time. This is because we want to make sure that your family/your loved one feels confident that they can thrive within our community. We provide a unique community structure that emphasizes meaningful social interactions and accessible programming, and we highly encourage any prospective members and their families to join us for public events and to reach out if they have questions about joining.
Below is a suggested timeline, but each application/individual is unique. Please use the Contact Form if you would like more information.
