You're Not Alone in This Journey

Whether your loved one is turning 22 or is already navigating adulthood with IDD, we want to help you find the support, community, and resources you need.


Life After 22: What Many Families Face

When your child ages out of school-based services at 22, it can feel like falling off a cliff. You're suddenly responsible for coordinating:

  • Healthcare and therapies

  • Day programs and employment

  • Housing arrangements

  • Social opportunities

  • Financial planning

  • Transportation

And here's what makes it even harder:

  • Society has a clear path for high school → college → job, but when your loved one's path looks different, there's no established framework to follow. And so much of what matters—health benefits, community, purpose—is tied to those traditional pathways.

  • There's no central place to find resources. You're cobbling together information from word of mouth, Facebook groups, and endless Google searches. When you finally find a service, they may not have availability—or they may not be the right fit for your loved one's needs.

  • You're overwhelmed, stretched thin, and don't know where to start. Between work, caregiving, and managing complex systems, you barely have time to breathe, let alone research and coordinate services.

  • And needs shift over time. What worked at 22 might not work at 35. What mattered most at 30 might look different at 45. Families need to regularly revisit what's working in their loved one's day-to-day throughout different life stages.


We've talked to hundreds of families who've been exactly where you are.

You're navigating a system that wasn't built for the 40+ years of adult life your loved one will now live.

That's why we created 22plus.

Haven't connected with Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) yet? They handle benefits navigation, waiver services, and support coordination. Learn more on the  → APD website

What Makes a Good Life After 22?

Research shows that quality of life for adults with IDD depends on five key areas (based on the Social Determinants of Health) working together. We call these the Life Domains—and they're the foundation of everything we do at 22plus.

  • Health

    Access to healthcare, therapies, mental health support, and wellness services that understand IDD

  • Financial Stability

    Benefits navigation (SSI, Medicaid), employment opportunities, financial planning, and long-term security

  • Housing

    Safe, stable living arrangements — whether that's family home, group home, supported living, or independent housing

  • Community

    Meaningful relationships, social connections, day programs, recreational activities, and a sense of belonging

  • Passion & Purpose

    Opportunities to pursue interests, contribute to society, work, volunteer, create, and feel fulfilled

Every adult with IDD has unique needs across these five domains. Some families are focused on finding the right day program (Community + Passion). Others need to secure housing and benefits (Housing + Financial Stability). Many are juggling all five at once.

Our Life Design Toolkit helps you assess where your loved one is thriving and where they need more support —and can be used to search for resources that can help.

Resources for Your Post-22 Journey

We’re building three tools to help you navigate this journey—use what's helpful, when it's helpful.

Our research-backed Life Design Toolkit helps you and your loved one reflect on what truly matters across five key areas: health, financial stability, housing, community, and passion.

Get clarity on priorities, identify gaps, and receive personalized resource recommendations tailored to your family's unique situation.

Design a Life with Intention

Stop wasting hours searching the internet and asking in Facebook groups. Our directory
includes 350+ verified services across Florida —from healthcare providers and therapists to day programs, housing options, and community activities.

Every resource has been checked by our team, organized by county, and tagged with what matters most: availability, insurance accepted, languages offered, and specific IDD expertise.

Find the Right Services, Faster

Join local gatherings where families, caregivers, and adults with IDD connect, share experiences, and build lasting friendships. No structured agenda, no presentations — just genuine connection with people who get it.

Currently piloting in select counties. Interested in bringing Community Connects to your area? Let us know.

Build Your Village

Real Families, Real Change


We used the Life Design Toolkit to shift my son's day to day. The changes we made have taken us from feeling constantly in crisis to getting to see him laugh and smile, not having to take him to the hospital as frequently, and getting to enjoy spending downtime together as a family again."

— Parent, Florida

"My 31-year-old brother celebrated his birthday with friends for the first time because of the community he formed with 22plus. Being around people that just get it made it easier for him to just be himself."

— Sister and caregiver, Florida

Hundreds of families across Florida are navigating this same journey. Every resource you find, every connection you make, every insight you share makes the path clearer for the next family. Together, we're building the infrastructure our loved ones deserve.


Get in touch.

We'd love to hear from you if you:

  • Want to share a resource

  • Are looking for something specific you can't find

  • Want to update a resource we have listed

  • Have questions about the Life Design Toolkit

  • Interested in Community Connects in your area

  • Have any other suggestions, comments, or questions