Expanding access to housing choice, individualized services, job opportunities, clinical care, and community.

We are implementing a comprehensive approach that surrounds neurodivergent adults with opportunities to flourish in a future community called Cato Springs.

a future where Neurodivergent adults can thrive

our vision

Along with impact partners, SLS Community’s vision is to orchestrate an effort that brings together support and services, a continuum of housing options, job opportunities, clinical services, and community options in a supportive, inclusive neighborhood. These resources will be integrated throughout a 230-acre development in south Fayetteville called Cato Springs, a project that brings together a residential neighborhood, commercial spaces, and recreational areas to enhance the quality of life of the NWA region, as well as the neurodivergent community.

Our goal is to create a community that surrounds neurodivergent adults with opportunities to thrive through independence and choice and fuels each individual’s ability to contribute their skills, explore their dreams, have relationships, and find purpose in everyday living.

Through strong partnerships, SLS Community is creating an inclusive neighborhood that offers:

  • A variety of housing choices

  • Job opportunities and skill development

  • Integrated clinical care

  • A true sense of community

An Inclusive Community

SLS Community will  be fully integrated within the Cato Springs development as its future home.

Cato Spring Renderinf

Cato Springs is more than a development. It’s a 240-acre ecosystem designed around health, connection, and inclusion. Inspired by the Ozark landscape, it brings together housing, trails, clinics, workforce opportunities, and public spaces—all integrated into the natural environment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CATO SPRINGS

This is one of the most significant economic development projects to ever come to the City of Fayetteville… because it’s striving to tackle a significant issue and that is ensuring that our neurodivergent residents get the health care, job skill training, employment, and housing opportunities that they deserve.

Mayor Lioneld Jordan
Mayor Lioneld Jordan
Mayor, City of Fayetteville, 2009-2024

A Collaborative Project

SLS Community + Cato Springs

SLS Community will integrate into Cato Springs in a collaborative, community-based approach that achieves impact for neurodivergent adults, and NWA broadly, along live/work/play themes.

  • Live

    Create access to a continuum of high-quality and affordable housing for neurodivergent adults within a thriving community.

    For many neurodivergent individuals and their families, independent living in high-quality housing outside of the home is economically impossible. SLS Community will include safe, supportive housing options for neurodivergent residents, interspersed throughout the Cato Springs development.

    Learn more about our current residential services

    Supportive Services

    SLS Community is a Medicaid waiver provider and provides individualized services that are grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and whole health, with an emphasis on nutrition, movement, maximum community engagement, and social opportunities.  Cato Springs will provide a venue for us to scale as a service provider. We will ensure every Community Participant can thrive with individualized support and independent skills training for both residents and non-residents.

    Learn more about our current services

  • Work

    Employment opportunities that are aligned to the diverse abilities of neurodivergent adults through a network of partner businesses in the Cato Springs development and in Northwest Arkansas.

    In anticipation of this, SLS Community has launched Program Forge: an individualized vocational equipping and job accelerator program to support neurodivergent adults towards employment. This Supported Employment program includes education, training, and support for both employer and employee for sustained success in the workplace.

    Learn more about our Flourish Center program

  • Play

    Cato Springs will have a host of community and recreation options, events, and opportunities for neurodivergent adults to integrate and socialize with the broader community.

    From inclusive events to active recreation, our current programs help break isolation and foster belonging and friendship.

    Learn more about our current initiatives:

    EventsSLS Dash

What is Universal Design?

Designing for Everyone, from the Start

Simply put, universal design is intentionally including as many people as possible from inception to construction. It is not a specific adaptation for a minority group; instead, universal design takes as many people’s needs regardless of age, size, or ability to ensure maximum enjoyment by all.

  • The Problem

    Our world should be a playground for all. But too often, poor design, limited transportation, and inaccessible spaces leave many people excluded, watching from the sidelines instead of participating.

  • Our Commitment

    At SLS Community and Cato Springs, we believe accessibility should be the default not the exception. From infrastructure to programming, we're designing a neighborhood where everyone can participate fully, freely, and with dignity.

  • Why It Matters

    When everyone can join in, everyone benefits. A truly inclusive community doesn’t just support, it helps people flourish. As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, the Cato Springs Project ensures that growth is welcoming to people of ALL abilities.

What is Universal Design?

Designing for Everyone, from the Start

Simply put, universal design intentionally includes as many people as possible from inception to construction. It is not a specific adaptation for a minority group; instead, universal design considers the needs of as many people as possible regardless of age, size, or ability to ensure maximum enjoyment by all.

  • The Problem

    Our world should be a playground for all. But too often, poor design, limited transportation, and inaccessible spaces leave many people excluded, watching from the sidelines instead of participating.

  • Our Commitment

    SLS Community believes accessibility should be the default not the exception. From SLS Community infrastructure to programming, we're designing spaces where everyone can participate fully, freely, and with dignity.

  • Why It Matters

    When everyone can join in, everyone benefits. A truly inclusive community doesn’t just support, it helps people flourish. As the tide of Northwest Arkansas continues to rise, we must all ensure that growth is welcoming to people of ALL abilities.

A collective Impact Model For all

SLS Community is innately collaborative in creating a holistic approach to supporting neurodivergent adults. Achieving our mission or aggregating critical resources within the canvas of Cato Springs, and beforehand as we scale, requires integrating "impact partners" across sectors to work together in a structured manner.

Future Impact partners will include an array of organizations within the scope of the Cato Springs project, to include organizations in the I/DD space already, as well as businesses interested in partnering with us to hire neurodivergent employees in the development and more broadly in NWA.

Past and current Impact partners of the SLS Community/Cato Springs Project Include:

Are you interested in becoming an Impact Partner for the SLS Community/Cato Springs project, now or in the future?

We are interested in any organization that would like to ally with us in tackling these issues and creating an environment for neurodivergent adults can flourish. The opportunities are endless.

Ecosystems of Health South Cato Springs

Cato Springs Masterplan

The architects behind the masterplan for the Cato Springs concept, New York-based firm Office of Strategy + Design, was internationally recognized for their outstanding work by winning the Urban Design (Concept) category in the Global Architecture and Design Awards in 2023.

"As Northwest Arkansas undergoes significant growth, we believe new development must find a way to enhance the quality of both the human experience and the natural environment. South Cato Springs presents an exceptional opportunity to create a new paradigm for inclusive living where neurodivergent adults can live and thrive in harmony with nature and the broader community, while honoring and revealing the beauty of the Ozarks."
SIMON DAVID
Founding Principal and Creative Director, OSD.

In The News...

  • Local nonprofit surveying to understand work opportunities for neurodivergent adults

    SLS Community is hoping to get responses from businesses, coworkers, and neurodivergent employees.

    READ MORE
  • New study seeks insight into neurodivergent workers’ needs in Northwest Arkansas

    SLS Community, which provides services for neurodivergent adults, has teamed up with Startup Junkie to launch a regional workforce study, according to a news release. The goal is to learn more about what challenges these adults face at work, and what opportunities exist to support them.

    READ MORE
  • Startup Junkie Foundation, SLS Community to study workforce neurodiversity

    The Fayetteville-based organization said the project will gather insights from employers and neurodiverse employees — those with autism or other atypical behavior patterns — to identify trends, opportunities and challenges in the workforce.

    READ MORE
  • SLS Community holds Cinco de Mayo festival

    SLS Community holds Cinco de Mayo festival.

    READ MORE
    SLS Community holds Cinco de Mayo festival
  • Crafton Tull Article

    South Cato Springs 230-Acre Development Will Benefit Neurodiverse Adults and Broader Community

    READ MORE
  • Arkansas Democrat Gazette – June 26, 2023

    Groundbreaking kicks off project to develop community for neurodiverse adults in Fayetteville

    Ground broken on community focusing on neurodiverse adults

    READ MORE
  • The Architect’s Newspaper – June 27, 2023

    In the Ozarks Work begins on OSD-planned community with focus on neurodivergent adults in Northwest Arkansas.

    READ MORE
    The Architects Newspaper
  • KNWA Fox 24 – Feb 26,2024

    Nonprofit plans to bring neurodiverse community to Fayetteville.

    February 2024.

    READ MORE
  • NWA Democrat Gazette – October 2, 2022

    SLS Community in Fayetteville hopes to make ‘collective impact’ on neurodiverse residents.

    Read Full Article

    READ MORE
  • Talk Business & Politics – June 27, 2023

    Groundbreaking kicks off transformative mixed-use project in Fayetteville

    Read full article…

    READ MORE
    Groundbreaking kicks off transformative mixed-use project