Building strong communities is more critical than ever, especially in a world that can feel disconnected. Strong communities provide a sense of belonging, support and shared purpose for everyone. For people with intellectual disabilities and autism, the risk of isolation is often high. Our vision should not be just to include people with disabilities in the community but to foster neighbourhoods where diversity is not just welcomed but celebrated.

This is the vision that Starfire, an organisation based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been championing since 1993. Starfire works to break down barriers of isolation for people with developmental disabilities by focusing on building genuine relationships and fostering a sense of belonging. They have moved away from traditional service-based models to create opportunities where every individual is known and valued within their community.

This online workshop is an introduction to a series of 4 online sessions that will cover a variety of topics including:

community building strategies
discovering strengths
affirming gifts

We will dive into:

Real stories that spark connection and collective action.
Proven strategies to build inclusive, lasting community efforts.
Fresh ways to recognise strengths....and shift the narrative beyond disability.
Creative tools to grow relationships and energise community involvement.

You can attend just this introduction. If interested, you can then participate in the online series which will run during October, 2025 (more information to come).

This introduction and series will be beneficial for people with disabilities, families, direct support workers, service providers and community members who want to foster genuine belonging and connection.

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