Champions Place in Roswell is a first-of-its-kind shared residence facility that helps young adults with physical disabilities live independent lives. Their mission is to significantly improve the lives of young adults with physical disabilities, enabling them to reach their full potential as self-reliant, productive and fulfilled citizens of the community.

Southwyck Homes Involvement

Southwyck Homes is committed to outreach, and they proudly partner with Champions Place. The company’s owners Tad Braswell and Edward Pease are dedicated to build better, stronger and tighter knit communities through service. Southwyck Homes’ Principal Edward Pease serves on the Champions Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. He and Braswell have been involved throughout the development and opening of Champions Place.

Southwyck Homes handled site selection, zoning, pre-development, architectural design and construction management for the facility. Genoa Construction of Atlanta was the general contractor. Southwyck takes their commitment to Champions Place one step further. The builder makes a donation toward the annual expenses at Champions Place for each home they sell.

Pease says, “I’m proud to be involved with the only special needs Google Smart Home in the country, and I’m proud of the contribution that Southwyck Homes made to building the home.

Champions Community Foundation Titans

Champions Community Foundation is a non-profit serving more than 80 physically challenged young adults called the Titans. They launched the vision of Champions Place in 2014. The Titans meet bi-weekly for friendly sporting competitions through the Wheelchair Sports Program. Champions Place is a safe, accessible, and affordable residence for people with physical disabilities. It serves up to 16 young adults between the ages of 18-35 who want to learn how to live independently separate from living at home with parents or in other facilities.

Major Partners in Champions Place

The Champions Community Foundation has welcomed Google, Georgia Tech, Brenau University and Tommy Hilfiger as major partners in the project. Google provided the community with adaptive assistive technology products throughout each home. These products enable residents to perform daily tasks with greater ease and accessibility. Google utilizes voice technology so residents can independently operate entertainment features in the home such as TV streaming, music, audio books etc. It also controls light switches, fans, can open and close blinds and place video calls to friends and family. The technology is useful for staying in touch with family, but also being able to communicate and interact with others within the community. The center also doubles as a Google user-testing site. Champions Place is a hub for testing new ideas and product improvement. Google provides assistive technology to the residents who, in exchange, test the products and provide feedback to Google – helping to improve the lives of people across the country living with disabilities.

From the very beginning of the project Georgia Tech’s College of Design provided input related to accessible design and Georgia Tech’s Tools for Life provided input related to assistive technology. Another major contributor to the innovation at Champions Place is fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. Hilfiger provides the community with Tommy Adaptive clothing so residents can further their independence and self-reliance. Designed to deliver a more effortless way for people with disabilities to put on clothing, while keeping up with the latest fashion trends. Some of the clothing features magnets instead of buttons and velcro and magnetic zippers. The residents help give back to Hilfiger by providing feedback on which clothing items work and which don’t. Hilfiger also donated the facility’s furniture.  Brenau University’s College of Occupational Therapy utilizes Champions Place as learning lab where students apply what they learn firsthand and the residents receive 1:1 skill development and group cooking and exercise classes.

About Champions Place

Champions Place is also the new hub for monthly social event serving the 80+ Titians across Atlanta. The community has large open spaces and TVs for movie nights and family dinners where residents can enjoy a meal with friends. An accessible kitchen and outside grill offers a place for residents to try their culinary skills and learn cooking skills. Feeling like chatting with friends? A fire pit is available for social gatherings and s’mores. For those who are more competitive, a bocce ball court is the place to play!

The community is a first in independent living for young adults with physical disabilities. The Champions Community Foundations continued participation in research and new technology testing will help improve the lives of people living with disabilities across the world.

For more information on Champions Place or the Champions Community Foundation, visit their website championscommunityfoundation.org.