META HEMENWAY-FORBES | For One Vision

Innovative. Transformational. Pioneering.

But for One Vision clients Jeff Hauswirth and Seth Ashland, it’s independence. It’s autonomy. It’s home.

Jeff and Seth are among One Vision’s first persons served through the new Smart Living service model that uses technology to support adults with disabilities to live more independently. Smart Living, developed by Ohio-based company LADD, Inc., was implemented by One Vision this year.

“Smart Living incorporates smart devices and remote support technology into our supported community living services, resulting in a service model that offers the opportunity for even greater independence and community inclusion,” says One Vision CEO, Mark Dodd. “Services are individualized and focus on finding technology solutions as the first means of support, with in-person interventions provided only as needed.”

Behind the scenes

Smart Living technology also relieves some of the pain points of staffing shortages. Since launching the service nationwide nearly two years ago, LADD reports Smart Living has helped safely decrease in-person staffing needs by up to 65% in organizations using its tech-enabled support.

At first, staff member Becky Brummund was skeptical. As a One Vision direct support professional, she had concerns when her supervisor approached her about becoming a remote support specialist via Smart Living.

“I didn’t like the idea at all,” she says. “I thought there was no way I could help by sitting behind a computer.”

Becky is thrilled about how wrong she was.

An individual she had worked with for years was found to be a good candidate for Smart Living. However, he, too, was hesitant. After all, he and Becky had established a routine of watching the news together every morning.

“He was concerned I wouldn’t be there anymore,” Becky said.

Today, the pair watch the news together every morning via remote cameras and monitors.

Now when they chat, he is also engaged in chores like loading his dishwasher and taking out the trash. If he has a problem with the dishwasher, he’ll turn on the camera and show Becky what soap he’s using. “I’ll remind him to use the pods and not the liquid dish soap,” Becky said.

Sometimes her morning news buddy needs a little help making pancakes. He’ll call Becky from his kitchen, and she’ll walk him through the process.

“Then he’ll call me back and brag about how good they were,” she said, laughing. “It’s just so rewarding to see our individuals meeting goals on their own.”

Remote Support Staff currently provide support for eight One Vision Smart Living homes. They’re there to answer questions and provide other assistance, such as helping individuals get to jobs and appointments on time. For safety, motion-sensitive cameras can detect falls in a home and door cameras show peoples’ comings and goings. The system is set up for maximum privacy and minimum intrusion.

This summer, Becky’s full embrace of Smart Living technology earned her a 2023 Dustin A. Wright Tech Champion Award from Tech First SHIFT. The award is given to a handful of providers who champion a tech-first commitment that allows adults with disabilities to live independently. It’s a huge accomplishment for someone who once doubted it could be done.

“For me, it’s been more or less like your kids are moving out,” Becky notes. “To treat them like babies is a disservice. We have to put our wings down and let their wings expand.”

Jeff’s story

Jeff’s wings have opened wide since moving into his Smart Living apartment on Nov. 1. He’d spent the previous three years in a group home and before that lived with Diane Carlson, his sister and guardian. Finally, at age 62, he is living independently.

“It’s quiet,” Jeff says. “If I want to go to sleep, I go to sleep. I don’t have everyone running around like a goose. I have privacy. If I want to sit in my underwear and watch TV I can do that,” he jokes. “There’s most definitely a sense of freedom.”

Jeff suffered a head injury at age 13 after falling down a flight of stairs. He’s now losing his sight to macular degeneration, and arthritis impacts his mobility.

Jeff’s Smart Living supports are tailored to his needs.

There are three monitors in his apartment, one in the living room, one in his bedroom and a third in the bathroom. A smart doorbell alerts him to anyone at his door. He calls remote staff to let them know of any outings, including his day habilitation program, and again when he returns home. Before Jeff turns in for the night, he lets remote staff know.

“They know when I’m in and out, and if I’m not feeling well, I can let staff know,” Jeff explains. “If they don’t hear from me for any length of time, they can check on me.”

Three times a day, Jeff is visited in person by support staff — once for morning meds, once for supper and a shower, and lastly for evening meds. A self-described introvert, Jeff asked that staff not come in the afternoon immediately after he gets home.

“He needs time to decompress after work,” his sister Diane said. “He loves time alone.”

Initially, Diane had reservations about Jeff in a Smart Living environment. Although confident in One Vision, where she’s also employed as a nurse, she worried about Jeff’s ability to navigate living alone.

“I lost a little bit of sleep making sure he would be safe. I was fearful that he would fall. I just thought it wasn’t possible that he would live on his own. But his abilities have actually increased. Now that he has to do all of these things I see how capable he is,” Diane said.

Moving into his own space has been a breath of fresh air, for both Jeff and Diane. As opposed to a group home setting, when the siblings spend time together it’s one-on-one without the distraction of housemates.

“It’s just time with me and Jeff. I’m more comfortable and so is he,” Diane said.

Seth’s story

The same holds true for Seth Ashland and his parents, Donn and Nikki. Since moving into his own apartment in September, family visits are peaceful and focused. He has cooked dinner for his parents. And Seth is happy. Really happy.

Seth was diagnosed with autism at age 3. He was non-verbal. He lived with his parents for most of his life, moving to a group home at age 26. Today, at 31, Seth has a Smart Living apartment and is an announcer for Clear Lake High School junior varsity baseball games.

“His independence has come a long way,” Nikki notes. “This technology has been amazing.”

Seth’s two-bedroom apartment gives him room for an office. He’s proud of his space and keeps it spotless, his parents say. An in-person caregiver visits Seth once a day to check in. All other support is delivered by remote staff.

“He’s very proud of what he has accomplished. He’s inviting people over. He’s so much happier in this apartment than before,” Donn said.

“I was told he would never do this and never do that,” Nikki adds. “But he’s more than capable of living independently. He doesn’t need or want someone hovering 24/7, just a little oversight.”

Full speed ahead

The experiences of Seth and Jeff exemplify One Vision’s mission to help individuals with disabilities pursue their best life. To that end, the plan is to add 12 to 15 more Smart Living homes in 2024, working with individuals to customize a technology-enhanced service plan for their specific needs.

“We want those we serve to be the authors of their own stories and give them the technologies to help them along the way,” says One Vision Chief Development Officer Janet Johnson.

For more information about the One Vision Smart Living service model or how you can help support this initiative, email info@onevision.org.