Programs & Services

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Carolina Living & Learning Center

The Carolina Living and Learning Center (CLLC) is an integrated vocational and residential program for adults with autism located in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The CLLC is part of Division TEACCH and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to being a treatment program, as part of the University, the CLLC is involved in training professionals and has an active research program. Located on 79 acres of land just north of Pittsboro, North Carolina, the CLLC currently has one home for 5 adults and a second home for 10 adults with autism. Both homes are certified as Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF-MR) and the primary source of operating funds is Medicaid.

The residential program emphasizes the development of independent skills in a wide variety of areas. Communication skills, social, leisure and vocational skills, self-help, domestic and cooking skills are addressed in activities both at the CLLC and in the community.

Vocationally, the CLLC emphasizes a gardening and landscaping curriculum.  In addition to the residents of the CLLC, several individuals with autism from the community participate in the vocational program.  The individuals with autism work collaboratively with the staff members to build and maintain vegetable, herb and flower gardens.

Most work tasks are set up on an individual basis, where the client can work at his/her own pace. Outdoor activities include mowing, raking, weeding, planting, watering, building compost, and harvesting produce. Individuals with autism working at the CLLC also enjoy indoor activities such as making pesto or salsa, soap-making using dried herbs from the herb garden, and making potpourri.

Residents and day participants are active in preparing harvested vegetables for consumption at the CLLC, or for sale to staff members, friends, and family.  

In addition to taking care of the landscaping needs at the CLLC, the program runs a mobile landscaping crew that earns money building gardens, weeding, raking and mowing lawns in the community.

Admissions

The CLLC does not have any openings for residents at this time. If and when an opening becomes available, applications are made through the individual's local TEACCH Center.

North Carolina residents who wish to be informed about future admissions may leave their names and contact information with their local TEACCH Center.

Employment Opportunities

The CLLC's staff members work directly with the residents with autism to improve the quality of their life and to maximize their ability to function as independently as possible in the community.

Employees frequently find that their work experiences at the CLLC provide an excellent foundation for future advanced studies in a variety of fields (e.g. Psychology, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Special Education). The CLLC hires individuals who are interested in learning more about autism and who have skills and interests in recreation, farming, or landscaping.

Individuals interested in full-time or part-time employment should contact:
Tom Wiebe (919) 542-1910 fax (919) 542-0978 for information about current openings

The CLLC also hires individuals for full-time summer positions. CLLC employees are considered employees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which is an equal opportunity employer.

Professional Training

The CLLC provides training to professionals who are interested in applying the TEACCH methods in their work with adults with autism in residential and/or vocational settings. A weeklong training course that combines didactic information with hands-on training with adults with autism is offered each fall. Also, a two day course in winter.

The next training will be held in Pittsboro, North Carolina
March 15th - 16th, 2007

The next weeklong course will be held in Pittsboro, North Carolina

September 17th- 21st, 2007

Contact Linda Clark, Training Coordinator, for an application and additional information.
(919) 542-1910

International Internships

The CLLC is also available as a training site for international interns who are interested in an extended period of training. Interested applicants should write to:

Nancy Reichle Ph.D.
Director of the Carolina Living and Learning Center
Carolina Living and Learning Center
Division TEACCH, Campus Mailbox 7180
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7180
Telephone: (919) 542-1910 Fax: (919) 542-0978

Monthly Tours

Each month the CLLC sets aside one afternoon to accommodate visitors who are interested in tours of the program. For more information about visiting the CLLC, contact: Jill Cagle, the TEACCH Visitor Coordinator at (919) 966-8180.

Carolina Living and Learning Center
325 Russet Run Pittsboro, NC 27312

Contact us:

Mailing Address
Carolina Living and Learning Center
CB# 7180, 100 Renne Lynne Court
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7180
(919) 542-1910 Fax: (919) 542-0978

Linda Clark
Office Manager
lwclark@email.unc.edu

Nancy Reichle, Ph.D.
Director of the CLLC
fsnreich@med.unc.edu