A Vision for Inclusive Living at The Village with Dr. Michael Held

Inclusive Education Project (IEP) Podcast

We see many clients in the transitional time of life after finishing high school and wondering what comes next. Today’s show focuses on a wonderful program that meets specific needs in multiple ways, alleviating the worries of many parents of neurodiverse young adults. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Michael Held is the Executive Director of The Village, which offers a multitude of programs that serve about 700 youth and adults with developmental differences each month. As a trained clinical psychologist, Dr. Held founded an organization called ETTA in 1993, originally serving the Jewish community. Since then, he has seen the fulfillment of his dream to create a world where individuals with developmental differences live fully enriched, inclusive, and independent lives through the work of The Village. The goal is to provide services that enrich a neurodiverse person’s life, including housing, job support, employment, activities, and a sense of inclusion and community. Dr. Held has led ETTA from a startup to its current position as the largest agency of its type in the Los Angeles community.

Show Highlights:

• Why The Village has a targeted focus on providing housing for neurodiverse young adults in the form of neighborhood group homes
• How The Village came to be as a way to meet the needs of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• How the plans are progressing for the new building in Los Angeles–hoping to be open and functional in 2025!
• How The Village will have 64 apartments, community meeting spaces, and retail spaces that will employ those with disabilities
• Why The Village is called a “supported independent apartment model” and is for those who don’t need overnight support in their home
• Why The Village will help residents with social development challenges by supporting, facilitating, and teaching them

Links/Resources:

Connect with Dr. Michael Held, ETTA, and The Village: Email and

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center, and send us your questions for Nadia Bennett for a future episode: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

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