When Kim and I first moved to Edwards Place, we were walking toward the community center when I stopped to talk with Jean Edwards, the community’s founder. Kim was ready to keep going and kept urging me to come along.

I kept saying, “Just a minute, Kim.”

Finally, Jean looked at me and said, “Let her go.”

I said, “She can’t go by herself.”

Jean replied, “Yes, she can. She knows where the community center is.”

Then she reminded me of something I had never experienced before: everyone there knew Kim. They understood her, knew how to support her, and knew where to find me if she needed help.

Jean gently held my arm as I fought the instinct I had carried for 35 years—to run after my daughter and protect her from the world.

Tears filled my eyes as I watched Kim walk away on her own.

For the first time in 35 years, I realized that independence didn’t have to mean being alone. Kim could have freedom because she was surrounded by people who knew her, understood her, and would be there if she needed help.

That is what this community gave both of us: Kim the chance to live more independently, and me the confidence to let her.

Here, we look out for one another because we understand the challenges each family carries.

I am deeply grateful that Kim and I found this community. What we have experienced here should not be rare. Families raising adults with developmental disabilities deserve a place where their loved ones can belong, grow, and live with greater independence—and where parents can know they will never have to face the future alone.

That is why I hope Ohana Communities can bring this kind of community to Utah.

This kind of independence takes a community

Kim’s story was possible because people chose to build more than housing. They built a place where people knew one another, looked out for one another, and made greater independence possible.

Help us bring that kind of community to Utah.

Donate Now

Your gift helps Ohana Communities create a place where adults with developmental disabilities can belong, grow, and live with greater independence—and where their families can have greater peace of mind.

Gifts through donor-advised funds, appreciated stock, and multi-year pledges are welcome.