Carolina Living and Learning Center

The Carolina Living and Learning Center (CLLC) is an integrated vocational and residential program for autistic adults with higher support needs. The CLLC is part of TEACCH® and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Located on a large plot of land just north of Pittsboro, North Carolina, the CLLC has one home for 5 adults and a second home for 10 adults on the autism spectrum. Both homes are certified as Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF/IID) and the primary source of operating funds is Medicaid. In addition to being a treatment program, the CLLC is involved in training current and future professionals in the field of autism.

The residential program fosters the development of independent skills in a wide variety of areas. Communication, social, leisure, vocational, self-help, domestic, and cooking skills are addressed in the daily activities carried out at the CLLC and in the community. Vocationally, the CLLC emphasizes a horticulture curriculum. Many of the autistic individuals work collaboratively with staff members to care for our vegetable, herb, and flower gardens. However, now that so many of our program participants are reaching retirement age, the CLLC also emphasizes meaningful engagement throughout the day in alignment with the lifestyle factors that promote positive brain health.

Staff at the CLLC are in the process of co-designing C-SMILE, a toolkit for Direct Support Professionals that will equip them to encourage brain health in autistic adults of all ages and stages.

C-SMILE is focused on the six modifiable lifestyle factors that are most directly related to maintaining positive brain health.

1) C=coping with stress
2) S=sleep
3) M=movement
4) I=interacting with others
5) L=learning new things
6) E=eating Mediterranean.

Our staff are learning how best to implement C-SMILE as they take into account each individual’s strengths and needs. Our goal is to encourage healthy behavior while honoring each person’s autonomy and ability to make meaningful choices.