Medina Creative Housing Opens First “Lifestyle” Housing for Developmentally-Disabled Adults In Middleburg Heights
We celebrated the opening of our new 16-unit housing development and program center for developmentally-disabled adults in Middleburg Heights with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony and Open House on Friday, October 1, 2021.
“We greatly appreciate our partnership with all of the organizations involved in our first project in Cuyahoga County,” said CEO Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty. “This project is a true testament to governmental and non-profit organizations working together to enhance the community and create opportunities for a segment of our population that is underserved.”
Once the site of a long-shuttered YWCA, the Cuyahoga Land Bank demolished the dilapidated structure in the Fall of 2019 to make way for the energy-efficient housing units and adjacent 3,000 square-foot Office and Day Array Program building. Residents will be able to attend a day program right next to their homes, and easily take part in additional educational and social activities. These expanded programs and serves will extend to individuals with developmental disabilities in Middleburg Heights and surrounding communities.
We launched this “lifestyle” concept in Medina, where wrap around services include vocational training, educational, recreational and therapeutic opportunities. Vocational options include the Grande Café and Roastery, Medina Creative Pet Play, and Medina Creative Produce hydroponic greenhouse, Creative Therapy Horse Ranch and Creatively Tagged Boutique. Another Café is in the works.
Funding for Middleburg Heights Creative Living came from many partners which included the Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga County Land Bank, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Finance Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank, First Federal Bank of Lakewood, and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. Speaking at the Ribbon Cutting & Open House were partners and civic representatives including City of Middleburg Heights Representative Robert Downey , Ohio 14th District Representative Bride Rose Sweeney, Ronn Richard of the Cleveland Foundation, Gus Frango from the Cuyahoga Land Bank, Diana Turoff of the Finance Fund, Brooke Smith of the Federal Home Loan Bank, Jeffery Patterson of CMHA, and MCH Board Member David Palmer shared their enthusiasm for the finished facility and expressed a willingness to support future projects.
“I have a 31-year-old developmentally disabled daughter,” said one resident’s family member in attendance “and I constantly worry about her safety and happiness when I’m gone. This is a blessing for many, many families.”

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Each week consists of structured, comprehensive and continually supervised educational and social activities that emphasize client choice and are intended to meet the individual needs of the persons served.
- Life Skills Training
- Social Skills
- Exercise
- Friendships
- Self Esteem
- Responsibility
- Confidence
- Finacial Literacy
- Increased Independence
The PURPOSE of our program is…
to help children and adults with cognitive and functional disabilities stabilize, increase and/or sustain their highest level of functioning so that they can maintain the skills needed to live independently as possible at home and in the community.
The OUTCOME of our program is…
helping individuals reach their goal of independent living with support in a community setting
Check out our Summer Brochure, Camp Application, and MCTR Application (Must be filled out if riding with camp)
Check out our Spring Break Brochure and Application
Check out our Life Steps Christmas Camp 2017 Application and 2017 Christmas Camp Brochure
Educational and social activities include:
- Developing cooking skills and kitchen safety
- Increasing social skills
- Performing group activities such as arts, crafts and games
- Meal planning and healthy eating skills
- Maintaining the home, cleaning and lawn care
- Safety
- Money skills
- Community field trips
- Transportation
Program Fees
- The cost of Life Steps is $325.00 for the week. (A day rate is also available at $65.00 per day) Family rates are offered for $275.00 for the week, per family member.
- Level One and IO Waiver, Supportive Living, Extended School Year and Family Support Service Programs and other funding resources are available to cover the cost of Life Steps. Check with your Case Manager at the Medina County Board of DD to see if you qualify.
- A limited number of scholarships are also available to help defray the cost of attending.
Every week, twice a week, at Life Steps, our attendees will get the unique opportunity to experience therapeutic horseback riding at our Medina Creative Therapy Ranch. This PATH certified program is supervised by a certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor.