Riverflow Community is committed to serving a growing number of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Vermont. We would like to learn more about you and your interest in an Intentional Lifesharing Community dedicated to inclusion.
In October 2024, Riverflow opened our first therapeutic home with four founding Friends. We have begun site planning for the second house, which we hope to open in 2027. Families and prospective Friends who have submitted interest forms through the website have been added to a pool of potential applicants. The Riverflow Admissions team will accept four Friends from this pool who will move into House #2.
As of Spring 2025, Riverflow Admissions is closed as we have exponentially more applicants than we have space for. Please check back early in 2027 when we will reopen the Admissions pool for one of the openings in House #3.
Riverflow is a social therapeutic community which includes adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, known at Riverflow as “Friends”. There is no limited catchment area. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
Applicants should be at least 21 years of age. Under extraordinary circumstances a person under the age of 21 may be admitted if it has been determined by the relevant education authorities that this individual will not benefit from any further academic education and the requisite emotional maturity has been developed to warrant placement in an adult setting.
People can remain at Riverflow for as long as the above requirements hold true and as long as they continue to meet the initial admission criteria. Thus, placements may vary in length from stays as short as a year to others that last a lifetime.
An initial telephone conversation with a member of the Admissions team will establish whether or not an interview and trial visit are appropriate. Riverflow considers applications within an applicant pool and does not maintain a formal waiting list.
Trial Visit
If the Admissions team believes Riverflow may be a good fit for the prospective Friend and vice versa, a 2 week trial visit will be scheduled during which the person will experience every aspect of community life. Near the end of the visit, we will meet with the individual and their guardians to share about the experience.
During the trial visit, every effort is made for the applicant to spend crew, studio, and meal times with all members of the community. After the visit, the hosting householders complete the trial visit report and share it with the Admissions team. Once a decision is made, the Admissions team will reach out to the applicant and family/guardian/advocate within two weeks.
Please note that Riverflow is not currently accepting applicant interest forms and the portal has been closed for now. We will reopen the interest form portal in 2027.
Prior to a trial visit, Riverflow requires the following background materials:
