Social and Spirituality

“Inclusivity means not just 'we're allowed to be there', but 'we are valued'. I've always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things.” - Claudia Brind-Woody

Physical, Mental, and Social

Our sense of well-being is a combination of how we feel physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. The strength of our social relationships has a profound impact on our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Being socially connected to a network of peers, family, co-workers, and friends can help us remain physically active, mentally strong, and emotionally resilient.

“Well-being” is a word used to describe how a person is doing in life. If their life is generally good, positive, safe, healthy, stable, and everything is headed in a good direction, we might say that a person is doing well in life, or their physical and mental well-being is good. If a person has been feeling depressed and doesn’t seem to be improving, or if they struggle financially, or are lonely, we could say that their overall well-being could be improved upon.

If you want to figure out some simple ways to improve your daily feeling of positivity and boost your well-being, check out this article titled: Simple Ways to Boost Your Well-Being Throughout the Day

School can be a wonderful place to make friends.

We see the same people every day, we go to classes together, ride the bus, or walk home together. It is natural to form groups of friends with whom similar interests are shared. There are various clubs, after-school activities, service groups, and other options to get involved in high school and make friends should you choose to do so. Sometimes, after high school, making friends takes a little more effort. We have to find new ways to socialize. It is important to expand our social groups and be willing to meet new people, try new things, and find the community where we fit in and feel comfortable.

What about Dating?

Like all young people, you are probably excited to explore social relationships through dating. Your disability might present some unique challenges when it comes to dating, but it doesn’t mean dating is out of the question. Like other situations, you will need to be creative, flexible, ask for support if you need it, and probably try more than one thing to find out what works best. Learn more at EasterSeals

Dating and “hanging out” with friends can be fun as long as you take a few steps to make sure you are always safe. Refer back to the safety suggestions in the red section of the Teen Workbook for ideas on how to keep yourself safe in social situations.