New York, NY —May 7, 2026 — Best Buddies International, the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), will launch its first inclusive Independent Living Residence for Neurodiverse Adults in Manhattan. In collaboration with Future Centered Care (www.futurecenteredcare.com ), a custom case management company that supports neurodivergent adults and their families now and into the future, the program will see its first residents move to the premier NYC location this month.

The initiative, part of the Best Buddies Living program that is already thriving across the country, addresses a significant gap; an estimated 1 million adults nationwide with IDD live with aging caregivers, often facing uncertain housing options as aging caregivers can no longer provide support. In high-cost markets like NYC, the shortage of integrated, community-based housing options is even more dire.

The Manhattan location is intended to serve as a scalable model for inclusive housing across the five boroughs, aligning with broader city and state efforts to expand supportive housing and improve long-term outcomes for neurodiverse adults. The model, which places neurodivergent adults with varying support needs to live alongside neurotypical residents, includes full-time, on-site staff, weekly community dinners, monthly social events, and structured programming that promotes independence, social connection and community integration.

“Best Buddies recognizes the urgent need for inclusive, dynamic and safe housing options that support independent living for neurodiverse young adults— especially in a city like New York, where access can be limited,” said Holly Goshin, Senior Director of Best Buddies Living. “This living residence reflects our commitment to creating communities where neurodiverse people can thrive as active, connected New Yorkers.”

Future Centered Care will offer individualized, person-centered supplemental support tailored to each resident, including ongoing case management, benefits and resource navigation, life skills coaching and long-term future planning to promote housing stability and sustained independence.

“Our focus is to guide neurodivergent adults and their families in building actionable plans for the future — providing parents with the peace of mind for the future. A crucial step is often supporting these adults in transitioning out of the family home, giving them access to and overseeing support systems and allowing parents to step back into their natural role, rather than serving as the case manager. This program also presents a meaningful opportunity for real estate communities to champion inclusion and help change the stigma surrounding neurodivergence — particularly as neurodivergent individuals represent a growing share of the Gen Z population," said Allison Kleinman, Founder and CEO of Future Centered Care.

“For many of the adults we work with, the jump from living at home with parents to independence can feel daunting. Best Buddies creates a supportive in-between,” said Liza Freed, Senior Director of Client Services at Future Centered Care. “Through this transition, our clients will work with their FCC Case Manager to consider how moving out will impact other areas of their lives – including employment, relationships, and state benefits – to ensure they are set up for long-term success.”

Learn more about Best Buddies Living and help create inclusive communities for neurodiverse adults by supporting Best Buddies programs today.

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies^® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ 12 formal programs — Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living and Eunie’s Buddies— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 45 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly one million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About Future Centered Care
Future Centered Care (FCC) connects neurodivergent adults and their families with teams of support, while identifying communal anchors that create belonging and purpose. We provide proactive and adaptive care planning that is person-centered and highly customized to meet the evolving needs of your family.

For media inquiries:
Best Buddies International
Nicole Maddox, Communications
NicoleMaddox@bestbuddies.org

For inquiries about Best Buddies Living:
Holly Goshin, Best Buddies Living
HollyGoshin@bestbuddies.org

For inquires about Future Centered Care:
Alex LoPinto, Future Centered Care
Alex@FutureCenteredCare.com