6 Enjoyable Community Activities for Adults With Disabilities
Engaging in community activities enhances everyone’s quality of life, including adults with disabilities. Participating in recreational programs helps promote an active lifestyle. Everyone with a disability deserves proper support and opportunity to enjoy the community's offerings.
Discover six activities that promote skill development and social relationships.
1. Join a Book Club
Reading together is an excellent way to provide meaningful opportunities for social interaction and lifelong learning opportunities. Regular sessions help improve vocabulary skills, comprehension and memory. It’s also a way for people to bond over shared interests.
Several book clubs offer alternatives for those who cannot read print books, such as braille, screen readers or having someone read for them. These added services help create a more inclusive community where everyone can benefit from the book club experience.
2. Attend a Music Class
Music is a universal language. Singing or learning how to play an instrument are effective self-expression strategies for adults with disabilities. These activities provide satisfaction and a sense of self-accomplishment. Music classes also help improve fine motor skills and benefit the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
Adults with disabilities can also enjoy more time with their friends and meet new people thanks to music, expanding their musical abilities and social circle.
3. Enjoy Adaptive Hiking
Adaptive hiking promotes inclusivity so people of all abilities can enjoy being with nature. It’s essential in a community because it allows all people to participate in outdoor activities. It enables them to develop self-confidence and independence while enhancing physical and mental wellness.
Joining an adaptive hiking community can be a great way to gain resources and support before traversing the paths. Many trails embrace inclusivity, so you’ll never run out of options. For instance, there’s Everglades National Park. It has 1.5 million square acres of tropical and subtropical habitat with several accessible trails, such as the Gumbo Limbo Trail and Anhinga Trail.
The key to finding suitable paths is a smooth surface. Ensure also to use hiking poles and all-terrain wheelchairs to navigate uneven terrain.
4. Go Gardening
Planting flowers, vegetables and trees in a community garden can help improve psychological healing and physical skills. Gardening is a calming experience on its own and having the support of fellow gardeners makes the activity more worthwhile. Giving people with disabilities the ability to breathe fresh air and surround themselves with nature helps them better appreciate the world around them.
Gardening programs also provide participants with lessons about sustainability and nutritious eating. They also offer easy and safe experiences through activities that prevent stooping and bending.
5. Sign Up for Cooking Activities
Cooking programs allow adults with disabilities easy-to-prepare meals and kitchen safety, promoting a sense of accomplishment and confidence. It can also be a form of self-care, allowing you or a loved one to embrace the calming effects of preparing and eating meals.
When choosing the right program, ensure that the kitchen setting caters to your or your close relative’s needs. For instance, benchtop storage such as tiered racks or shelving are helpful alternatives to drawers and cupboards. Look for classes promoting assistive technology, such as custom cutting boards, touch button timers and specially designed utensils.
6. Participate in a Fitness Class
Exercise programs support every adult with disabilities, including people who use wheelchairs. Fun and inclusive activities can boost overall fitness, develop hand-eye coordination and improve mental health while surrounded by others, allowing adults to socialize with peers.
Contact a local gym or fitness studio to discuss your or your loved one’s specific circumstances and needs. Common activities include yoga for mobility, wheelchair dancing and seated aerobics. Reap the benefits of exercise with at least 150 minutes of physical activity weekly.
Engage in These Community Activities Today
When signing up for an activity, choose which programs best fit you or your loved one’s condition. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, choose physical and mental pursuits such as hiking and gardening. Sensory activities like cooking are ideal for adults whose disabilities affect motor skills.
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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.
