The Learning Center Launches “Keys to Independence” Housing Initiative for Adults with Disabilities

JONESBORO, Ark. — The Learning Center (TLC), a nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities since 1959, has announced the launch of a capital campaign to build Keys to Independence, a new housing community designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The $6 million project will create 20 accessible apartments in Jonesboro, providing safe, affordable housing paired with supportive services that allow adults with IDD to live as independently as possible while remaining connected to the care they need.

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Individuals with IDD, including those with autism and intellectual disabilities, often rely on support services and frequently live at or below the poverty level. Yet housing options designed specifically for this population remain extremely limited. In Arkansas, 77% of adults with IDD who need housing services are currently on waiting lists, leaving many families searching for safe and appropriate living arrangements.

Keys to Independence aims to address this gap locally by providing a supportive, community-based housing environment where residents can live with dignity, independence, and access to services such as Medicaid Waiver supports.

For more than 65 years, The Learning Center has been a cornerstone of the Jonesboro community, offering occupational, physical, and speech therapy, developmental therapy, applied behavior analysis (ABA), adult day treatment, diagnostic testing, and residential services for individuals with disabilities.

Through the Keys to Independence initiative, TLC hopes to expand opportunities for adults with IDD to live independently while remaining supported and connected to their community.

For more information about the Keys to Independence project or how to support the campaign, contact: Erica McKay, Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator 870-666-5155 ext. 0104 emckay@tlcnea.com