Today is indeed a day to reflect and celebrate. Since July 14, 1976, Life Styles has enthusiastically and faithfully served adults with developmental disabilities—pioneering programs, services, and opportunities that insist on the right of the people we serve to full, self-directed lives as participating members in community life.

Our founder, Carol Hart, started Life Styles at the forefront of a revolution. It was only a year earlier—in 1975—that a new federal law required that all children with disabilities be provided a full and appropriate public education. In fact, many of Life Styles’ original group of clients were denied access to the school system. And it was only several years later that group homes and community services began to really take root across the United States.

Then, as now, our belief is that all people deserve dignity, respect, and the liberty to live their lives as independently as possible. Through these 46 years, the means to achieve those ends have varied. At the start, when the Fayetteville City Council rejected Life Styles’ proposal to establish a presence in area neighborhoods—siding with neighbors who feared living near individuals with disabilities—we got creative and established our fledgling organization in rented rooms in the then-Vet-View Motel across from the VA Hospital.

Since then, we’ve incorporated businesses and employment training programs so clients can be employed at the going rate. We’ve assembled a workforce of direct support professionals to provide supplemental care to clients as needed. We’ve built a Residential Center, College For Living facility, and Art Program space so the people we serve can learn independent living skills, gain new insights, and grow in knowledge and confidence. 

In the current moment, our greatest challenges center around continuing to promote the independence of our clients amid a direct support professional workforce crisis, prevalent nationwide. So, once again, we are rolling up our sleeves and actively exploring new approaches and innovative structures that will address our employment challenges while continuing to champion an individual’s right to make choices and live fully.

Building on our long legacy of advocating for independence and autonomy, I look forward to sharing our next generation of groundbreaking solutions—and as Executive Director can personally assure you our overriding goal will always be the greatest good of the people we serve.