Clarity Cleveland

My name is Cindy Hill, a freelance writer, the founder of Clarity Cleveland, and the mom to two incredible adult sons. I live in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with Benjamin, age 34. Ben’s younger brother Timothy lives in an apartment at the other end of town. 

Ben was born with Velocardiofacial Syndrome and developmental disabilities from Autism. We enjoy each other’s company, but Ben wants to follow in his own brother’s footsteps to a more independent life.

As I get older, I also want to help Ben find his Forever Home. You can learn more about the Forever Home movement in Resources soon.

Keeping the family home, Ben and I tried apartment living, together for a year, where I observed how Ben might manage in a place of his own. I wasn’t allowed to modify the environment to increase his safety.  But I could learn what was needed. 

Ben matured so fast in “his own place.”

• His eye contact increased with visitors.
• He started speaking up about he wanted and didn’t want.
• He helped me set up the space with favorite colors and comforts.
• He was more alert due to changes in his environment.

I brought Ben’s request to his Support Administrator (S.A.), Steve Mindlin, of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD).  Steve told us that if Ben wants to live on his own, he could do so – but would need a few more support services!

Ben completed a housing needs assessment with Steve in December 2019 and applied for an I.O. Waiver. He was approved! 

Ben’s I.O. Waiver services began in February 2020. But when the pandemic arrived in Cuyahoga County the next month, closure mandates halted Ben’s journey toward independence.

I began modifying the house for our new stay-at-home life – setting up a “store” in the attic, Hillshire 5 & Dime… an art studio… gathering auto-shut off cooking tools for Ben’s practice kitchen… inflating a backyard pool and staking down a tent.

By November, I realized I could speed up Ben’s journey if I modified the whole house for Ben – and I moved out!  Maybe Ben and I could design a SMART HOUSE! 

That’s what this site is about – Ben’s journey to independence and our steps along the way through blogs, pictures, free checklists and videos. Sign up for to receive monthly newsletter updates. You will receive a survey on the content you are seeking and you can email me with questions!

Mama Bear Bio

With invaluable assistance from the staff of the Cuyahoga County Early Intervention Collaborative Group (CCEILCG), several Preschool PTA moms and I launched Lakewood’s infant and toddler screening program, Bridges, after my son Ben was diagnosed with autism at age 3.

I wrote and assembled the How-To manual for Bridges to share the program with other communities. Later I joined the staff of CCEILCG, as a community liaison. There, I developed two newsletters, packed with updates, “Building Blocks” for professionals and “Bright Hopes” for parents of children at-risk for, or with a developmental delay. With newly available funding streams, I also designed our expansive public awareness campaign about the importance of early intervention for a baby’s development.

In 1995, our family moved “across the river” to Shaker Schools for its expertise in autism. Alongside Shaker staff across all school buildings, I founded “Transition Night” (1999-current) with our PTO to help students with Individual Education Plans (I.E.P.s) and their families learn about schools as they would be transitioning to – elementary to middle, middle to high school. Families learned about each buildings’ special services, programs and supports available. It lasted a decade or more!

Sharing our family’s exploration of Smart House Supported Living  is my kind of project!