In 2018, the founder of Every Step of the Way Resource Center for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ESW), Tiffoni T. Stepney, realized there were limited programs & resources in her area for her autistic daughter after her daughter exited the special education system at the age of 22, despite living in one of the largest populated cities in the United States. The limited programs & resources she did encounter were either not individualized, for high-functioning adults, subpar in regard to the education her daughter had received in the past, not in proximity, unaffordable, or only had part-time hours. Tiffoni soon realized that she was not the only parent with the same unfortunate circumstances of caring for an adult child with a lifelong disability, which does not cease at the age of 22. In 2022, Tiffoni decided to utilize her credentials, experience as a certified elementary & special educator, & lived experiences as a parent of a child with a disability to create ESW. ESW's mission is to provide comprehensive resources &/or referrals in regard to recreation, education, health (mental & physical), social & daily living skills, & behavioral intervention to adults with mild to profound, intellectual disabilities ages 20 & up by focusing on their individualized areas of need through a parent & client-centered approach.In 2024, ESW opened a free out-of-home respite care program for intellectually disabled adults & families due to the overwhelming need for respite care once they graduate from the special education system & no longer have access to full-time programming. Respite care gives parents/caregivers a much-needed break to execute essential & self-care tasks independently, which will ultimately rejuvenate their mental health & caregiving abilities. While at the respite program, the respite care participants engage in social, recreational, academic, & community-based activities with their peers, which decreased or ceased after graduation.Please help ESW continue to improve the quality of life of intellectually disabled adults & their families through essential resources & programming in their areas of need.