Posted on April 28, 2025

By Elizabeth Sites, CQL Director of Organizational Excellence and Lindsey Moore, CQL Project Coordinator

In the work we do at CQL, we often see bowling or van rides as a default “community outing” applied to everyone, regardless of interest. So, let’s consider what there is beyond just bowling and scheduled “whole house” activities for people with disabilities that will really provide people the chance to develop a connection to their communities.

In this Capstone, we’re sharing tips and guidance for supporting people to be more engaged in the communities of their choosing. You’ll learn about the importance of discovery and how that ensures you’re honoring individual preferences and desires when it comes to community. Then, we explore how we can help people find their community through the Three E’s: Education, Experience, Exposure.

While identifying, exploring, and engaging in community is an integral part of our lives, it is not always present in the lives of people with disabilities who receive services. In looking at data from CQL’s Personal Outcome Measures® Benchmarks: 2024 report, we find that community-related outcomes and associated supports aren’t often present in people’s lives. This demonstrates why it’s so important to provide responsive services that support people in this area.

Discovery

According to clinical and community psychologist David McMillan, a community is defined by four criteria: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. A great place to begin understanding how each person defines community is through use of CQL’s Personal Outcome Measures® (POM), a person-centered discovery tool. There are specific indicators within the POM that speak to the four criteria above: 

• People Perform Different Social Roles
• People Have Friends 
• People Live in Integrated Environments 
• People Participate in the Life of the Community 
• People Interact with Other Members of the Community
• People Have Intimate Relationships

When using the POM, there are questions that can help us identify interests and values: 

• What do you enjoy doing? 
• Are you passionate about art, music, sports, volunteering, or something else?
• What are your values? Do you care about social justice, environmental issues, or a particular cause?
• What kind of community do you want? Do you prefer a small, close-knit group or a larger, more diverse one?
• How much interaction do you like to have with other people?
• Are you interested in exploring online communities?
• What is something that you have never done that you would like to do? 

Having a basic understanding of people’s interests, values, and past experiences can then help supporters know where to begin educating people on opportunities that exist.

The Three E’s: Education, Experience, Exposure

Throughout our lives, we all encounter new situations, face fresh challenges, and make various decisions that affect us in different ways. When navigating these circumstances, we may reflect on past events, gain new knowledge, or try a variety of options to help us with informed decision-making. CQL frames this under the Three E’s: Education, Experience, and Exposure which are extremely relevant when it comes to community.

Education

Education is one way that we all learn about life. There are many ways to find out what is happening in the world. First, consider how you personally learn about what is going on.

• Use online platforms like Meetup, Facebook groups, or event websites to find groups and events related to areas of interest 
• Explore volunteer opportunities based on the person’s preferences and desires
• Identify local resources to experience – events, markets, shows, festivals, concerts, etc.
• Consider the person’s cultural and identity preferences. Depending on where one lives, there may not be a lot of offerings locally specific to one’s preferences. In that case, what might be some online options to meet this need? Are there options in other physical communities nearby? What online communities exist? 

Experience

Experience is about supporting people to try new things, act on their choices, and see what they think. 

• Partner with volunteer organizations and colleges/schools
• Explore community programs like the YMCA and other nonprofits
• Check out local community centers for workshops, classes, and events
• Look into libraries which host events, book clubs, and other activities that can help facilitate meeting like-minded people 
• Engage with churches and religious/spiritual organizations if the person expresses interest in religion and/or spirituality 
• Explore local businesses and see if they host events 
• Get involved with a local neighborhood association or join groups like Nextdoor to connect with neighbors and participate in community events

Exposure

Exposure involves helping people explore different options beyond just trying one thing, one time. Don’t hesitate to try multiple approaches and strategies – even multiple times – when helping someone have a new experience. The more visible a person is, the more chances they have of connecting.

The Mere Exposure Effect speaks to the idea that “Sticking with what we know limits our exposure to new things, ideas, and viewpoints. This minimizes the range of choices we are able and willing to consider when making future decisions.” With this in mind, consider the following: 

• Don’t be afraid to start conversations with people in one’s physical or online community 
• Be open to meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures 
• Pair people with a support staff with similar interests/experiences 
• Help people make an effort to stay in touch with people they connect with 
• Assist people to include others in their life by inviting them to join in on activities/events
• Be patient. Building a community takes time and effort

Enhance The Process

Provider organizations have some amazing direct support staff. What agencies need to remember is not all direct support staff have found their community in their own lives. Therefore, support staff may need some additional help in this area. Providers should educate support staff in areas such as: 

• Building and maintaining personal relationships
• Developing meaningful social roles
• Increasing social capital based on interests
• Supporting people to have Dignity of Risk

Organizational staff should recognize and celebrate small steps and new experiences. Additionally, they should acknowledge and address the struggles that may be faced: 

Staffing Shortages

Are there non-paid supports, family, acquaintances in a person’s life that can use their own social capital to help people receiving services in lieu of paid staff? 

“To try and count on one person to fill all of your emotional and psychological needs is not a good thing,” says Gillian Sandstrom, a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex. “There’s research showing that you thrive more when you have lots of people to fill up various emotional needs.” Becoming a member of communities helps build this social diversity. However, finding community is much different from just making friends.

Transportation Barriers

Is there access to public transportation, car share services, or non-paid supports that can also be used to assist with transportation?

Communication Barriers

What adaptive technologies exist to help people communicate? If the discovery to find what works best for a person is still in process, then it is important that support staff learn how to translate for the person while engaging others. The most important thing in regard to communication support is that we don’t just jump in and speak for people without first giving them the opportunity to respond in their own way. This is a basic tenet of dignity and respect.

More Resources For Building Community

All of this is feasible through partnerships with local resources, flexibility in traditional models of service, utilization of technology, identification of organizational and individual barriers, and the use of Appreciative Inquiry to overcome those barriers. Aren’t people worth the effort?

Here are a number of different resources that can help you in supporting people to be actively engaged in their community.

• Moving From Community Participation to Inclusion and Integration
• Practical Tips To Support Social Roles
• Increasing the Social Capital of People with Disabilities
• HCBS Guide: Your Right To A Community Life
• HCBS Guide: Supporting The Right To A Community Life
• Beyond Compliance: Embracing The Values of the HCBS Settings Rule
• Social Capital and Quality of Life Infographic
• Richer Connections, Richer Lives: Social Capital and Quality of Life
• Natural Supports Improve Every Area of Quality of Life