Building social relationships through valued roles: three older adults and the community membership project

The experiences of three older adults with developmental disabilities highlight ways in which social relationships can be nourished through the establishment of community roles. Members of the Community Membership Project of the Center on Aging and Community used paid community builders working individually with older persons who had developmental disabilities in order to help them obtain positive, valued social roles and relationships with nondisabled community members. As a means to this end, participants were supported to engage in community activities corresponding to the interests and talents discovered in an initial period of exploration. Stories of these community builders' work illustrate the intentional strategies and concerted effort necessary to create community connections and meaningful relationships.