New Vista Community serves intellectually disabled

The New Vista Community provides for adult Las Vegans with intellectual disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.

"Our mission is to provide equal opportunities to anyone of any age that is intellectually challenged, so they can live life to the fullest," says Michelle Jackson, director of development.

The nonprofit organization's primary focus is residential. New Vista Ranch houses 60 people, 24 of whom live in group homes on 15 acres at 7875 N. Rainbow Blvd.

"Mostly, it's not that parents can't take care of them anymore," Jackson says. "A lot of the adults we support reach a point in their lives where they want independence. They don't want to live at home with Mom and Dad.

"They want to have their own place, they want to have a roommate."

New Vista also provides in-home and respite care to approximately 600.

But the need for its services vastly outweighs what it can provide, Jackson says, estimating the waiting list at 2,000.

"It's probably higher than that," she says. "I think the last time I talked to the state about that number was two years ago."

And those are just Las Vegans who are 18 or older. Jackson estimates that more than 400 intellectually challenged kids are floating in the system who would be better served by New Vista.

"They end up in different areas when they become wards of the state -- places like Child Haven, where, unfortunately, a lot of the people aren't trained to work with the intellectually challenged."

New Vista, which employs 55 staff members, operates on an annual budget of $2 million. The state provides 75 percent, private donations and special events the rest. It was founded in 1984 by three sets of parents whose children had Down Syndrome.

"They were concerned what would happen to their kids when they passed away," Jackson says. "Who would take care of them? Where would they live?"

People who wish to know more about the organization can contact New Vista at 645-7432.