Carolina Living & Learning Center

The Carolina Living and Learning Center (CLLC) is an integrated vocational and residential program for adults with autism located in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The CLLC is part of TEACCH and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Located on 79 acres of land just north of Pittsboro, North Carolina, the CLLC has one home for 5 adults and a second home for 10 adults with autism. Both homes are certified as Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF-MR) and the primary source of operating funds is Medicaid. In addition to being a treatment program, the CLLC is involved in training professionals in the field of autism.

The residential program emphasizes the development of independent skills in a wide variety of areas. Communication, social, leisure, vocational, self-help, domestic and cooking skills are addressed in activities both at the CLLC and in the community. Vocationally, the CLLC emphasizes a gardening and landscaping curriculum. In addition to the residents of the CLLC, several individuals with autism from the community also participate in the vocational program. The individuals with autism work collaboratively with the staff members to build and maintain vegetable, herb and flower gardens and to maintain the CLLC grounds.

Most work tasks are set up on an individual basis, where the client can work at his/her own pace. Outdoor activities include mowing, raking, weeding, planting, watering, building compost, and harvesting produce. Individuals with autism working at the CLLC also enjoy indoor activities such as making pesto or salsa, and making soap, cards and potpourri using dried herbs and flowers from the gardens. Some also work on office tasks and/or cleaning tasks.Residents and day participants are active in preparing harvested vegetables for consumption at the CLLC or for sale to staff members, friends, and family.