For adults who have disabilities and are 22 or older, Eden Supportive Living provides the dignity of independence as well as the enrichment of social connection. Eden Supportive Living sponsors group activities that help its residents to connect with others and build community.
For some adults with developmental disabilities, the intricacies of social interaction are difficult to learn. This may stem from difficulties processing language, which translates to challenges in understanding spoken communication and an inhibited ability to carry on a socially conventional conversation.
In other cases, social discomfort results more from problems with perception. Whereas the neurotypical individual naturally picks up on and integrates norms such as eye contact, personal space, and turn-taking in verbal interaction, a person with perception difficulties may not notice such things and as a result may act in a way that others see as in appropriate.
Programs that serve adults with disabilities can address some of these deficiencies by providing opportunities for structured social interaction. Such opportunities are important even for those whose social difficulties are not related to their disabilities, but rather resulted in a lack of practice due to earlier social isolation.
With structured interaction, adults with disabilities can practice conversing on an everyday level. This teaches them not only what to say in response to another person, but also how to be approachable with a smile, a confident posture, and otherwise friendly body language.
If a group has the same people involved for longer periods of time, participants can begin to build long-term friendships. With guidance, they can learn how to show their caring and regard for one another, while developing an understanding of relationship as a mutual effort.
