At a time when organized community interactions are in the midst of decline across society*, we are making sure community connections happen for our clients, parents, and DSPs**.
We have been helping our clients find peers with matching interests through our Social Groups ever since we established Partners in Autism in 2014.
One of our current Social Groups is All-Ages Bowling Night. Clients of all ages, parents, and DSPs are able to meet up for a fun time with the added benefits of building skills and, even more so, making connections.
These connections happen within each group:
Parents
Families need recreational moments together, and parents also need to be able to connect with other parents.
Being able to hang out with parents who share similar experiences builds camaraderie, celebrates joy, and rejuvenates energy.
DSPs
Staff who typically work one-on-one with their clients can grow professionally when they are able to hang out with their DSP peers.
They are able to compare strategies and techniques, exchange activity ideas, affirm each other's skills, and strengthen their pride in the services they provide.
Clients
They're our top priority for any social group, but Bowling goes beyond just the connections that can happen within the walls of the bowling alley because of the trickle-down effect of the connections between DSPs and between parents.
As clients' parents get to know each other, they are empowered to collaborate with the families and friends they meet at our bowling night to facilitate other social get-togethers.
As DSPs get to see which peers their clients connect to and get to know those peers' DSPs, they can arrange shared meet-ups to enjoy other activities as a group.
This monthly event is like a perfectly aimed "nose hit" to a front bowling pin, one connection leading to another and spreading out exponentially beyond what we could have directly reached.
We are so proud of the success of this group,
proud of our DSPs who facilitate connections outside of our event nights,
proud of our parents who seize opportunities for their kids,
and proud of our clients who engage with the community around them.
* "Bowling Alone" by researcher Robert Putnam connects involvement in community groups to social wellbeing. This research is summarized in the documentary film "Join or Die."
** Direct Support Professionals, staff who work one-on-one with clients building skills out in the community