July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the history, achievements, and experiences of people with disabilities. More than one in four adults in the U.S.—over 70 million people—live with a disability. This month calls on everyone to promote inclusion and ensure that people with disabilities are accepted exactly as they are—without conditions.

At Orange Habitat, we are committed to building a world where everyone has a decent place to live. As we build homes in Weavers Grove, we’ve created intentional partnerships to make our work more inclusive for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

With support from the Beloved Community Volunteer Engagement Grant, we’re proud to launch Building Belonging—a new initiative to make our volunteer sites more welcoming to individuals with I/DD. This includes site adaptations and a digital resource library to support volunteers and expand this program’s reach.   Additionally, we are implementing training programs to help our staff and volunteer leaders better support all abilities. To design this thoughtfully, we’re working closely with local disability inclusion experts, occupational therapists, and assistive technology specialists who are guiding us on best practices and meaningful adaptations. Thanks to this collaborative work, we expect to begin welcoming volunteers through Building Belonging this fall.

This focus on inclusion extends beyond volunteerism. Within Weavers Grove, we also announced last fall a partnership with HOPE NC (Housing Options for People with Exceptionalities), a Triangle-based nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive communities. Orange Habitat will sell ten homes to HOPE NC, who will rent the units to adults with I/DD so they can live independently. Meanwhile, B3 Coffee will bring social and vocational opportunities to the community center—offering future residents the chance to live and work in one inclusive neighborhood.

This month and every month, we’re building homes—and a community—where everyone belongs.