Moving Out

Lauren Bryant has osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is caused by a defect in the synthesis or processing of type I collagen. It is characterized by a greater risk of bone fractures and decreased bone density. Additional symptoms include blue sclerae, which is a blue tint to the whites of the eyes, dentinogenesis imperfecta, which is a genetic disorder that affects the development of dentin, the layer of tissue beneath the enamel in teeth, short height, and deafness in adulthood.

She has used a wheelchair since she was a child. She works part-time and has two degrees. Unfortunately, at 29 years old she might have to live in a nursing home. 

Lauren had been independent while she was in college. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a unique residental program for disabled students. Beckwith Residential Support Services provides accessible housing and around-the-clock care for disabled students. “It is a community that is specific for students with severe disabilities,” said Mari Anne Brocker Curry, director of housing information and marketing for university housing at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Lauren has exhausted all options. Accessible housing through a nonprofit, which required her to be more independent, and a room at a state-supported facility under the Illinois Supportive Living Program were not options either. 

“It’s for those 18 to 64 with physical disabilities who need help with their activities of daily living. They have caregivers on site 24/7,” said Bryant, “and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is perfect!'” Bryant was turned down by an Illinois Supportive Living Program manager, who claimed she had too many care needs. They suggested she look into living at a nursing home. 

Even nursing homes have turned her away. “[They say]: ‘Well, you know I’m not sure if our activities will be appropriate for you. It’s a lot of bingo,'” Bryant said. “It should not be this hard.” Bryant also worries that she’d end up depressed living in a nursing home.

There are far too many disabled young adults who are in similar situations. In fact, 6,594 disabled people under 30 live in nursing homes as of September 2023. 

Nationally, accessible housing is very difficult to find. Apartment List conducted a study in February 2020 utilizing data from the American Community Survey and the American Housing Survey. According to the study, only 9% of households with a disabled family member reside in an accessible home. Even though more than 15% of American households have a member who is physically disabled, just 6% of homes are accessible.

Making matters worse is the national caregiver shortage. The caregiver shortage in the United States is projected to reach 151,000 by 2030 and 355,000 by 2040. The shortage also means there are more unpaid family caregivers. According to AARP, more than 53 million people nationwide are unpaid family caregivers.

Housing is an essential part of life. All people should have access to affordable, accessible, and safe housing. The right type of housing allows disabled people more freedom and independence. 

Sources:

Barron, Martin J., et al. ‘Hereditary Dentine Disorders: Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Dentine Dysplasia’. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, vol. 3, no. 1, Nov. 2008, p. 31, https://doi.org/10.1186/1750-1172-3-31. 

Miller, Korin. “National Caregivers Day Is Feb. 21. Here’s How to Offer Support.” Yahoo!, Verizon Communications , 19 Feb. 2025, http://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/national-caregivers-day-is-feb-21-heres-how-to-offer-support-152857700.html.  

Subramanian, Surabhi, et al. “Osteogenesis Imperfecta.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 6 February 2023.

Siddiqui, Aazim A., and Allen O. Eghrari. ‘Blue Sclera’. Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology, edited by Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth and Thomas Kohnen, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2016, pp. 1–3, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_578-1.

Shapiro, Joseph. “A Hospital Is Suing to Move a Quadriplegic 18-Year-Old to a Nursing Home. She Says No.” NPR, NPR, 22 Feb. 2024, http://www.npr.org/2024/02/22/1232463580/teen-hospital-lawsuit-disability-rights.

Victory, Lauren. “Chicago Area Woman with Disabilities Keeps Getting Denied Options for Housing.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 15 Apr. 2025, http://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-area-woman-disabilities-denied-housing/.