Client Success Stories
Get to know the people who call HIL home...
Since moving to HIL - Autumn in May 2026, 22-year-old Noah has achieved remarkable progress toward his personal goals. Prior to finding his home at Autumn, Noah resided in his own apartment at HIL - Poplar, spent time at HIL - Transitions North, and grew up in Rhinelander, where his mother served as his primary caregiver and he received special education services through the local school district.
Noah truly thrives within a structured routine and a supportive environment. Thanks to the calm, consistent approach of his staff and management team, who seamlessly integrate sensory programming into his daily schedule, previously documented behavioral challenges have decreased significantly. Noah continues to demonstrate wonderful growth, particularly in his willingness to try new foods and his enthusiasm for outdoor physical activity.
A young man of diverse interests, Noah finds joy in listening to music, watching his favorite TV shows and movies, playing computer and matching games, reading, and playing basketball. He also responds positively to deep pressure input, high fives, and sensory-rich activities such as using Play-Doh, swinging, pacing, resting on his bean bag chair, and taking relaxing baths or showers.
Maintaining close ties with his family is incredibly important to Noah. He looks forward to his FaceTime calls and in-person visits with his mother and grandparents, whose ongoing connection remains a cornerstone of his well-being.
The entire Autumn team is deeply committed to supporting Noah’s continued success. By focusing on expanding his life experiences, introducing new opportunities tailored to his unique interests, and fostering his ongoing development, we are dedicated to helping him reach his full potential. Noah is a cherished member of the HIL family, and we look forward to celebrating his future achievements!
June 2026 marked the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for Morgan! For three years, Morgan’s world was centered around her dorm at the Southern Wisconsin Center, where she had very limited opportunities to explore or engage with the world around her. But her devoted parents envisioned a brighter, more vibrant future filled with community adventures, rich experiences, and true independence. Determined to unlock her full potential, her support team connected with Homes for Independent Living (HIL), and the rest is history!
Knowing that transitions can be challenging, the teams at Southern Center and HIL joined forces to design a personalized transition plan. HIL staff visited Morgan in her familiar surroundings to learn her unique routines, preferences, and personality. To build excitement, Morgan visited her new home at Dopp ahead of the big move. The HIL team worked hard to prepare her space, custom decorating it to create a warm, welcoming home that she absolutely loved from day one!
Since making the move, Morgan’s life has completely transformed! She has built trusting relationships with her staff and is now living life to the fullest. Morgan is out in the community multiple times a week, exploring her favorite destinations from sunny park days and zoo adventures to scenic stroller walks and active sessions at the We Rock the Spectrum Gym! In her cozy home, she loves laughing along with Ms. Rachel and SpongeBob, and cherishing photos of her beloved family.
Morgan is a joyful, wonderfully silly, and vibrant individual, and it is our absolute honor and privilege to support her as she continues to thrive!
In October 2025, Dominik moved to HIL Kaufmann during a very difficult time in his life. His father had recently passed away, and Dominik had been staying at the hospital while waiting for a place to live. When he arrived, he was behind on his medical appointments and needed a lot of support.
At first, it was hard for Dominik to trust the people around him. This showed most during medical appointments, when he would refuse to get out of the car. To help him make friends and get out more, staff tried to sign him up for a day program at Paragon. However, Dominik struggled to get up in the morning and refused to get on the bus. Even when staff drove him there directly, he would not get out of the vehicle. Because of this, the day program was put on hold for a while.
Over the next few months, things began to improve. Dominik established a better sleep routine, which helped him start attending all of his medical appointments without any issues. To celebrate this progress, staff started taking him out for coffee after his appointments—a great motivator, since Dominik loves coffee with flavored creamers.
By May 2026, Dominik was ready for a new step. He started attending Camp Evergreen for his day program from Monday through Friday. While he still has tough days when he deeply misses his family, the staff are always there to support him through these hard moments. Today, Dominik is doing much better and enjoys crafts, cooking, baking, and coloring. He also loves scary movies and everything about Halloween.
