Rutgers logo
The Community Living Education Project (CLEP)
Rutgers logo
The Community Living Education Project (CLEP)
Rutgers logo
The Community Living Education Project (CLEP)
Rutgers logo
The Community Living Education Project (CLEP)

The Community Living Education Project

The Community Living Education Project, usually referred to as CLEP, works with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers to create lives of choice by exploring the possibilities of community living.

fingers holding a compass set against a blurred sky

Our Mission

Our mission is to assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in New Jersey to live lives of choice within their communities.

sunshine glinting through the window of a house cut-out held against the sky

What is Community Living?

Community living values each person’s strengths and abilities and supports them in pursuing their own goals and aspirations. Person-centered supports and services enable people to establish a valued presence in their communities.

hands holding a paper cutout of people walking in a row. in the middle of the cutout is a wheelchair user

Why Community Living?

Community living includes everyone and creates diverse neighborhoods that benefit us all. All people have the right to choose where they live, close to the people and things they care about. When person-centered approaches are used, everyone lives a life of choice.

a cluster of small wooden houses painted in bright colors

What We Do

We provide education, training and resources regarding the possibilities of community living within New Jersey.  These include living independently with needed supports, living in a provider-managed setting or remaining in the family home. All services are offered free of charge.

two men with their arms around each other in a classroom setting

Who We Serve

We serve New Jersey residents living in the family home, independently with supports, in provider-managed settings, developmental centers, or nursing homes. We also serve young adults transitioning from the Children’s System of Care (CSOC) to the Adult System of Care (The Division of Developmental Disabilities, DDD).

sidewalk leading up to the front door of a home with a welcome mat reading "there's no place like home"

Why It Matters

A self-determined life matters. Years ago, there were limited choices for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The philosophy of self-determination began with a group of committed family members who knew there was a better way to support their loves ones in a community setting of their choice.

Language Matters

When communicating about disability, it is important to acknowledge that some people find identity-first language preferable (for example, autistic), and others prefer person-first language (for example, person with autism). While both forms are completely acceptable, as an office, we choose to communicate using person-first language. 

We acknowledge that identity-first language can be an effective tool for individuals, particularly self advocates, to assert pride in their disability and reclaim it from being seen as a negative dimension of their identity. However, the majority of our staff do not identify as disabled. Many of us are also parents of children with disabilities and for this reason choose person-first language as a way of placing emphasis on the person, not their disability. 

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