Peer support is wonderfully flexible and adaptable. It can be structured, involving regular meetings with a peer facilitator, or spontaneous, when people discover they’re dealing with the same issue and offer each other information, advice, and companionship. It can occur online or offline. It can be tailored for people in a specific age group or those dealing with a specific condition. Or it can be open to individuals with any kind of physical, mental, or developmental disability.

Great inventions often come about because a creative person sees a need and finds a solution that improves the lives of many others. Our Therapeutic Day Program (TDP) had a similar start. Designed by a mother to meet some of her daughter’s special needs after high school, it not only achieved that goal but has also helped dozens of other young adults with developmental disabilities in the Atlanta area.

Nearing the end of a year in high school, young people with disabilities — just like their non-disabled classmates — dream of a summer full of fun and friendship. Warm weather and long, sunny days create a universal need to mark this season as an exciting break from the fall-through-spring routine.

At Great Prospects, we meet these needs with our Summer Friends program for individuals with developmental disabilities aged 16 to 21 who are still attending high school.

“Take your nonsense opinions elsewhere as I have exactly zero time for your anonymous, ableist nonsense.”

– Adam Pearson replying to an online troll who made a cruel remark about the disabled actor’s presence at the 2025 BAFTA awards

“I feel like this world could use a little more kindness and acceptance, and each of us can … have a daily spark to make that happen, sharing … appreciation and acceptance of people and their differences.”
Victoria Inman, author of Spark Acceptance, a book about more than 54 exceptional people

Your average weekday probably goes something like this: You get up on time, shower, brush your teeth, use deodorant, groom your hair, dress, make breakfast, and head to work using your car or public transportation. Then you spend the day interacting, often at a fast pace, with coworkers, customers, computers, phones, and whatever special equipment you need to complete your tasks…

…These basic skills and activities, essential for everyone, are especially important for young adults with disabilities. They are the keys that open doors to full participation in the life of their community as independent, self-reliant individuals.

The young adults with developmental disabilities who join us at Great Prospects experience a sense of community in three ways. They share activities and make friends with their peers in our Therapeutic Day Program. They explore the Atlanta area where they live and participate meaningfully in civic life. And they learn about the arts, cultures, people, and animals that make up the wider world to which they also belong.

For young people (21-40) with disabilities who are finding their path and voice as increasingly independent adults, training in life skills and supporting physical health and fitness are essential. Nurturing the soul is equally important, and that is why, at Great Prospects, we offer music therapy, art therapy, and speech therapy, all led by certified and licensed therapists.

As anyone who has navigated young adulthood knows, the transition from high school to life as an independent, contributing member of the community can be quite a challenge. It’s even more of a struggle when you have special needs.