What We Do

We create innovative, safe, nurturing, compassionate, peaceful, and inclusive environments that break down barriers for adults with disabilities and crack open new possibilities for friendships, employment, and protection. Too often, special needs adults are needlessly forgotten and left without foundational support and necessities. We offer practical solutions for everyday challenges, as well as emotional support during times of distress or uncertainty. Recognizing that the pathway to inclusion is filled with unexpected twists and turns, we take a multi-prong approach to preventing the isolation of special needs adults and encouraging full engagement within their communities.

Our programs are designed not only to help these individuals with special needs, but also to underscore the need for community participation in their long-term success, happiness and confidence. For services like ours to be successful, participation must extend from inside the home to the halls of government. Inclusion is ongoing and essential work.

Identifying The Problem

No two experiences are identical, but there are common issues that pervade the special needs community. Step one of the Inclusive Environments process is identifying the specific problems a disabled adult is facing, whether it’s the struggle to maintain close friendships or difficulty in finding stable and rewarding employment. From there, we offer recommendations for programs and activities that will empower these adults and their families. We don’t want quick fixes–we want sustainability.

The Barriers

  • Misperceptions: Individuals with disabilities want to be isolated. They have no interest in being a part of their communities.
  • Bullying: A majority of individuals with disabilities experience bullying, and created a mindset of low-self esteem and worthlessness.
  • Depression: In the disabilities population is significantly higher than the general population due the loneliness, low self-esteem and a sense of being unwelcomed in their communities.
  • Social Awkwardness : In many adults with disabilities it hinders their ability to navigate social settings and have negative effect on interaction with their peers.
  • Gap in the Number of Activities : Adults with disabilities can participate in with their non-disable peers. This gap prevents them from adequately satisfying their fundamental need for social inclusion.

The Results

  • Loneliness: As the loneliness progresses, clinical depression can set in.
  • Isolation: A consequence of barriers.
  • Failure and Separateness: A sense of failure and of separateness from the world.
  • “Poverty of Relationships”: Without the opportunity to form reciprocating friendships or fulfilling relationships.
  • Lack of Opportunity: Little or no opportunities for personal growth or development through new challenges.