Current systems leave many people with disabilities and chronic illnesses abandoned to unintentional chasms of need that are invisible to most, but threaten our ability to survive and function. These systemic cracks create extra obstacles for a population that is perpetually overextended and often struggling with additional cognitive limitations. It’s exhausting. And lonely.
Housing is a national crisis, but people with long-term disabilities have additional and substantial obstacles in finding safe, stable housing, let alone the vital necessity that is gentle, relaxing housing that nourishes body and soul. All of this exists alongside the all-too-frequent reality of the slow-burn social trauma that comes from constantly fighting for survival and being told your needs don’t matter.
Naturally many spoonies are now also in serious need of recovering their nervous systems alongside their physical recuperation and cognitive healing, all of which cannot begin without the centering, grounding first step of a home where they can feel safe, supported, and comfortable.
We believe that with the right supports, there is potential to thrive, and in that thriving the ability to lift up others in turn. This is why we seek to build a community upon the idea of interconnected reciprocity, to address the complex life circumstances that let people down and bring each bruised soul to our door.
We Need Your Voice
📝 Does this personally resonate with you? Could you use a community like this? Because so many people are struggling unseen, we thought we’d try on this page to open up the comments and allow you to share your own experiences and what it would mean for you to have access to an environment like Turtle Bower.
Comments will be moderated, so there may be some delay in posting.
I’ve spent 20 years of my life fighting with a chronic illness I didn’t know I had until recently diagnosed (ME/CFS). It explained why so many things were so difficult, why the pace of life is too fast for me to keep up, why housing and job insecurity had such a massive impact on my ability to function day to day. Those times when people in my community stepped up and gave me the peace, time, and space needed to do things at a pace I could manage allowed me to be more productive and while I can’t do as much as most, a supportive community allows me to do more than the average social demands permit. When we support each other, and respect our limitations, we can better help others around us and fill in the gaps to lift everyone up. Mutual community support enables independence for the individual too and improves mental health and our ability to cope when our bodies might have other ideas. Turtle Bower and places like it would help so many if only we had the foresight to invest and create a better society for all, regardless of how much ‘societal worth’ an individual possesses.
Most of the “communities” built today are focused on limiting the ability of their residents to thrive. They’re warehouses, not homes. What you’re describing sounds brilliant! Communities of people who understand, even if they don’t share, each other’s difficulties are bound to create hope.
As a chronic autistic and ADHD senior I would love to see this kind of house initiative being largely implemented to get support and to support others people with special needs like myself.
Getting older as an autistic person and loosing my independence is scaring me, because there’s nothing for us. And without any doubt I will never have my autistic respected in classic house for seniors as we are invisible.
So, yes, this project matters so much. ❤️
I really look forward to the possibility of sharing this experiment with you and helping to make it work. We have more than few roadblocks to get through before it can happen. Hope we make it!
The very existence of a place like this means so much for chronically ill people who may have limited energy and few options. I hope it succeeds for the residents and spreads as a model to where ever disabled folk need a safe, sane, affordable, understanding place to live.
We need places like this because I live in a country where, as a disabled person, I feel like the system would rather I die than help me survive in any way and that’s a heavy load to carry on top of poverty and chronic illness.
We need more of this. Get it working and in time others will follow. Politicians at present “can’t” do it, so independent initiatives need to shine. Good luck!