One Life, Live it!: Sólheimar Ecovillage and the Importance of Neuro-Inclusive Communities

A marvelous description of what is possible when community supports those with neuro-diverse backgrounds. Full of wonderful ideas, examples, and lovely photos of inclusive community at work and play. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in communal living, architecture, ecology, arts and crafts, as well as those who wish to improve the quality of life for people with Down's Syndrome or Autism. Also of interest to those who like the work of Rudolph Steiner.

For many years now I have wondered how I want to live and thrive in my golden years as I've have followed Chuck's many books on Co-Housing. In recent years, Chuck's communities aspire to match the social consciousness of a given group and thus, creates community and a harmony that can live on and thrive. Sólheimar Ecovillage in Iceland, a pioneering community that integrates sustainability, social responsibility, and inclusivity, is his best yet! Through this lens, Chuck examines the profound impact of neuro-inclusive environments on individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This wonderful book sets the stage for this thriving community; what an amazing read!

Our neighbor Alice was the first here to read it and shared her thoughts: This stunning book drew me in from start to finish and blew past my unwavering bedtime. The spectacular and engaging photographs demanded my attention and carried me through to the credits.The book illuminates Iceland’s compassionate neuro-divergent Solheimar EcoVillage in ICeland and Chuck intimately reflects and highlights the love and joy there.This renowned author brings his extensive cohousing development experience to Solheimar as well as his innate empathy toward his fellow world rumblers there — “others” he seldom hangs with though he vulnerably includes himself as other.Chuck contextualizes this neuro-inclusive community with others in Europe. He lists concrete steps toward seriously considering inclusivity in our residential communities and includes economics and management steps for every emergent visionary seeker.Also, he honors and lifts up historic neuro-inclusive communities in Europe and the U.S.Chuck deeply and creatively opens a less-considered view of life to us.

Maxine Greene, educational philosopher, author, and social activist wrote: “This is what we shall look for as we move: freedom developed by human beings who have acted to make a space for themselves in the presence of others, human beings become ‘challengers’ ready for alternatives, alternatives that include caring and community… We want to discover how to open spaces for persons in their plurality, spaces where they can become different, where they can grow. It is important to hold in mind … that the person – that center of choice – develops in [their] fullness to a degree [they are] a member of a live community.”Charles Durrett’s most recent book, One Life, Live It! brings Greene’s words to life. Through Sólheimar, he describes an example of how the power of intentional community enriches lives, provides opportunities, and creates space for people to simply be who they are.It is also important to note that this is not just a case study, but a telling based on Durrett’s experience with building and supporting dozens of cohousing communities. He shares decades of learning about what works in sustainable community living.Although this is a book about creating neuro-inclusive communities, it is really a story for all people and the power of community. Cohousing is a model that has the capacity to bring people together to address a variety of social problems: isolation through connection, climate change through sharing of resources, aging in place through community support, and degradation of democracy through participatory decision making. As we see in this book, Durrett also shows how cohousing can be a way to support bringing diverse people together in and through community.A sense of community is healing, and our world is a better place because Sólheimar and cohousing communities exist. Let’s make more of them!

It should be no surprise that Charles Durrett’s devotion to cohousing would spread to the Neuro-Inclusive population. His investigation and research into the 94-year-old Icelandic community of Solheimar presents an inspiration and a model to be repeated. Solheimar is not a lonely warehousing of disabled but an opportunity for supportive interdependence with useful purpose for an intentional, select group of people. This optimized environment for mainly the autistic and Down Syndrome affected, includes rituals and routines based on program needs and goals including activities such as handcraft workshops with gallery, theater, cooking, maintenance, gardening and forestry. The contribution of work efforts gives purpose and confidence to the individuals at a softer and safe pace and the results show in the smiles and participation levels. I can imagine the relief of family members when their loved one settles into this location with confidence of their lifelong care from a stable staff.Architectural design supports the intentional community with expansive acreage, multiple buildings all within walking distance, no cars needed. Individuals walk between buildings to visit friends, dine, create pottery, and self-selected work assignments. Truly an inspiration to see an alternative to walled off boxes of humans. Surely, this can be replicated.