Community is more vital than ever for adults with intellectual disabilities
Eating cookies with friends is better for you than eating broccoli alone, and the science backs this up.
According to a 2023 report published by the U.S. surgeon general, our nation is facing a crisis of loneliness, with growing isolation and lack of social connection impacting millions of Americans.
Loneliness is more than just an unpleasant feeling; it has serious health consequences. People without a community experience increased risk of noncommunicable diseases, including stroke, dementia and heart diseases, and their odds of premature death are heightened by 60%.
The research points to what we know all too well. We need social bonds to thrive. Without this sense of community, the quality of life suffers. While the loneliness epidemic affects us all in similar ways, it is felt even more strongly among adults with intellectual disabilities.
Intellectual disabilities are conditions that affect a person’s ability to learn, communicate and interact socially. These disabilities vary widely, from mild to profound and often impact how a person processes information or understands social cues. You may recognize Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder as examples.
Invest in communal spaces outside of work and home
Around 6.5 million Americans have intellectual disabilities, and approximately 226,000 families living in Georgia care for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
These individuals frequently experience barriers to social inclusion, especially after they turn 22 and “graduate to the living room” when public support for education and programs end. With fewer structured activities and limited support, they struggle to find purpose.
Factors such as sensory sensitivities, difficulties in communication and challenges reading social cues make it hard for them to join activities that others take for granted. These relational barriers can leave them isolated, without a network of friends and prone to feelings of loneliness.
In supporting this population of adults, crucial strides have been made in connecting them with job opportunities that help them gain self-sufficiency. There are several organizations across the country and many here in Georgia, such as the Bobby Dodd Institute, Frazer and GiGi’s Playhouse, that focus on this effort, and with great success.
However, supportive services for adults with intellectual disabilities shouldn’t end there. While most adults have the agency to seek out community, adults affected by Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and other intellectual disabilities are hamstrung due to no fault of their own. We need to invest in communal spaces outside of home and places of work where these individuals can gather, socialize with others and sow the seeds for friendship.
‘Our hope is to inspire a movement that spreads to other communities’
Last fall, after recognizing the growing isolation among this population, Kitty Correll, Betsy Brown and I decided to launch Wonderfully Made, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to cultivating community for those with intellectual disabilities. Our goal is to exemplify how to combat this isolation through best practices that build bonds through a dynamic day program for adults aged 22-65.
Every week, our group of program participants, or Wonder Makers, come together through inclusive and enriching activities like arts and crafts, sports, games, music and baking. We recently opened the Wonderfully Made Bakery, which features cookies baked fresh by our Wonder Makers. From baking cookies together to playing basketball, the heartwarming moments we’ve witnessed since the start of the day program are innumerable.
Through peer support networks and mentorship from program leaders, Wonder Makers build relationships with others through shared experiences and fostering a sense of belonging. They are discovering the joys of good company.
In addition to fostering connection among adults with intellectual disabilities, another cornerstone of our mission is to spark “productive collisions” where people without disabilities – from the church and greater Atlanta – come together with the Wonder Makers to learn from one another, share stories and have fun.
We are intentional about opening our doors to a diverse array of people in our community who Wonder Makers can interact with in the same ways they interact with each other. Our volunteers are involved in every part of the day and really make a difference in enhancing the socialization aspect of our program.
We are also exploring ways to form alliances with government programs and other organizations that aim to support these individuals. Combatting the loneliness epidemic will require collaboration across agencies, ages and abilities to restore our missing connections. Our hope is to inspire a movement that spreads to other communities, where support for adults with intellectual disabilities goes beyond job placement and extends into helping them create vibrant social lives too, because we all deserve fellowship.
Together, we can create a brighter, more connected future for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Atlanta and beyond.
Kelly Kannwischer is a co-founder of Wonderfully Made and a nonprofit leader, working to solve the loneliness epidemic among adults with intellectual disabilities.
