March 27, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and the 2026 theme — “We’re Here: Then, Now, Always” — is both a celebration and a challenge. It reminds us to recognize the progress that has been made for people with developmental disabilities while also asking whether our communities are truly inclusive today.
In Tallahassee and across Leon County, one barrier stands out above many others: the affordable housing crisis. As housing costs continue to rise throughout Florida, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are often left with limited options. For many families, the traditional paths remain group homes or assisted living facilities — settings that can be valuable but are not always designed for individuals who can live independently with the right supports.
Too often, the conversation about disability focuses on limitations rather than possibilities. Yet across our community, adults with IDD are proving every day that independence, employment, and meaningful community life are not just aspirations — they are realities when the right opportunities exist.
That belief is at the heart of Independence Landing in Tallahassee. Our unique model centers on something simple but powerful: affordable, supported housing that allows adults with developmental disabilities to live independently while remaining connected to services, employment opportunities, and a vibrant community.
Residents live in their own apartments, manage their own schedules, and build lives that reflect their goals and talents — not a predetermined program. By breaking away from the “one-size-fits-all” approach that has historically dominated disability housing, Independence Landing is demonstrating what inclusive living can look like when dignity, autonomy, and community are placed at the center.
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Housing, however, is only part of the equation. Real independence also requires opportunity.
Through our culinary workforce development program, residents and community members gain job training and real-world experience that leads to employment and confidence. That effort led to the creation of The Press Café — a community café where individuals of all abilities work side-by-side, building skills and relationships while serving the public. Open Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Café proudly boasts the official stamp of approval from the Tallahassee Foodies scene—a testament to our students’ hard work and dedication.
What makes these programs truly special is not just the model itself, but the way our community has embraced it. Local businesses, volunteers, donors, and neighbors have stepped forward to support the café, mentor participants, and champion inclusive employment. Their involvement proves something important: inclusion works best when the entire community participates.
During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we celebrate how far we have come. But we must also ask ourselves how far we are willing to go.
The affordable housing crisis is not going away, and people with disabilities cannot remain an afterthought in the solutions. Inclusive housing models like Independence Landing demonstrate that when communities invest in private-public partnerships committed to accessibility, opportunity, and independence, everyone benefits.
The more people who know about this work — and the possibilities it represents — the stronger our community becomes. Because people with developmental disabilities have always been here. The question is whether we are building communities where they can fully belong to, then, now, and always.
Barby Moro is executive director of Independence Landing, the Big Bend area’s first and only affordable, permanent housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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