Extending A Hand in Friendship: Assisting Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Build New Relationships

Description

By Andrea Ieropoli, Date of Project Submission: April 2015., Completed for: Heads Up for Inclusion; Supervising Professor: Sharon Beaucage-Johnson; Trent Community Research Centre, FRSC4890 - Forensic Community-Based Research Project, The purpose of this investigation is to identify best practices for facilitating programs that
pair young adults with intellectual disabilities with another member of the community in order to
develop a meaningful relationship between the two participants. In order to determine these best
practices, seven interviews were conducted with organizations who currently facilitate such
programs and an academic and grey literature search was conducted. The collected data was then
compared to the current Amigos in the Community program facilitated by a local Peterborough
not-for-profit agency, Heads Up For Inclusion. This comparison highlights the similarities and
differences between this program and those of other established programs. Moreover, a list of
suggested recommendations for the Amigos in the Community program has been developed for
Heads Up for Inclusion in order to improve its’ current program. One recommendation is to host
more community events so as to recruit new volunteers, increase community awareness of the
programs available, raise funds for the program and offer pairs an opportunity to spend more
time together. Another significant recommendation is to identify barriers to inclusion for
participants such as access to reliable, accessible transportation. These recommendations along
with others identified throughout this report are intended to assist Heads Up for Inclusion in
improving their current program and ensuring it meets the needs and interests of their clients.