LADD Celebrates 50 Years of Empowerment and Inclusion 

By Robin Gee

This year, Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled, or LADD as it is commonly known, celebrates 50 years of service. Started with the goal to provide housing opportunities for adults who are developmentally disabled, the organization has grown to offer a wide array of services, as well as a strong community of support and advocacy.

The nonprofit was founded by a Hyde Park mom who wanted something more for her daughter who had cerebral palsy. Peggy Geier had been looking for opportunities for her daughter, Sis, as she was approaching young adulthood. When Geier could not find what she envisioned, she brought her ideas to family and friends. She advocated to create opportunities, not only for her own daughter, but for the many individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in our community.

Launching LADD

In 1975 Geier launched LADD, one of the nation’s first educational and residential programs focused on independent living. By 1979, LADD, with support from Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services, opened its first residential home on Victory Parkway. Two more housing opportunities followed in the 1980s — Find-A-Way apartments located off Oakley Square and the Margaret B. Geier Apartments in Kennedy Heights.

When she decided to found LADD, she turned for help to a close friend, Bob Goering, a lawyer and professor at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, who helped her lay the legal groundwork for the nonprofit. He and his cousin John Goering, a University of Cincinnati professor, advocated for the nonprofit in the community and helped raise needed funds to bring Geier’s vision to life.

Today, Peggy Geier and Bob and John Goering are no longer with us, but both of their families have stayed very much involved. Vallie Geier, Peggy’s daughter-in-law, serves as an advisor. Peggy’s granddaughter, Emily Geier Vollmer and Bob Goering’s grandson Will Goering, both Hyde Park residents, serve on LADD’s board. Both Sis Geier and Will’s brother Doug are served through LADD’s programs. 

Housing first

“Housing was our first program, our number one program, and that was something that was really important to Peggy,” said Shelley Goering, director of Marketing and Community Engagement for LADD. Goering is the mother of Will and Doug Goering and served on LADD’s board until she stepped off to take her staff position.

She said Peggy Geier and the Goering cousins would have been very proud of the housing facilities and amazed at how much has been added since the beginning. Find-A-Way and Geier apartments each serve about 40 people. Many of the residents also work and are involved in LADD’s work support programs. LADD also has had residential units on Victory Parkway, and these have been remodeled and relaunched as a senior living facility for those with developmental disabilities. 

“This is a first-of-a-kind model launched here in our Victory Parkway residential area. We’re in the midst of remodeling the whole complex, and we’ll be serving 22 seniors who have developmental disabilities…There’ll be specialized support that older adults need, including support for dementia, any type of memory care, health and wellness and more…There’ll be a huge outdoor garden area as well to allow people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors,” she said.

“We’re partnering with the zoo, and they’re lending us some of their services as far as the green space and landscaping…Also, we have partnered with the Occupational Therapy Department at Xavier University to help create this new program for senior living…it specifically supports seniors with developmental disabilities.”

In addition to the apartments, LADD also offers programs that help people live independently on their own, with family or with others. Their SOAR program helps people find places to live and to navigate the federal Housing Choice Voucher program.

The future is today

As LADD looks to the future, the plan is to take advantage of today’s advanced technologies to provide even more support and independence for people served by LADD. In fact, a lot of technological advancements are available and being used right now at LADD. 

“Now we have smart homes located in Anderson and Blue Ash. There’s three homes in each area, and they are powered by technology,” Goering said.

LADD’s Smart Living Systems, is the first of it’s kind. It’s been spun off into a separate organization, but remains a partner to LADD.

Built in 2020, the smart homes include wearable devices, sensors that detect health emergencies, smart appliances. Features include stoves have automatic cool down features, bed sensors that monitor individuals at risk for seizures along with both virtual and in-person supports. 

In 2023, LADD’s Smart Living Systems was recognized as an “Innovative Practice” by The Zero Project, a global UN-sponsored initiative to remove barriers for people with disabilities.

Last year, LADD partnered with Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Development Fund to invest $4 million to expand the Smart Homes program to include nine homes, three each in Hyde Park, Colerain Township and Springfield Township. Each home will support four adults with developmental disabilities. Completion is planned for 2027.

More than housing

In addition to housing, LADD provides employment support that includes help finding jobs, support for employers interested in hiring people with developmental disabilities, and follow-up job coaching. 

The Community Supported Living program provides support to people living in their own homes in the community by providing activities designed to connect them to the community. LADD organizes small group trips to area attractions, events and facilities based on their interests.

LADD hosts a wide variety of events and activities for adults with developmental disabilities, and has become known for hosting the annual OTR International Film Festival. LADD also has sponsored Disability Pride Month celebrations in recent years.

LADD touches the lives of close to 1,000 individuals and their families. The organization kicked off its 50^th year last month with a celebration at the American Sign Museum. A 50^th year fundraising campaign is underway to support the senior living and Smart Homes projects as well as, offset essential operational, maintenance and costs. For more info, go to laddinc.org.