Connecting with social and community activities

Who is this guide for?

This Guide has information about how to connect with social and community activities for participants (over 18 years of age) who:

are on the autism spectrum
live with an intellectual disability
live with a psychosocial disability

Other people may also find it helpful.

How can this guide help you?

Understanding how this guide is organised will help you use it.

It will help you learn about:

the supports available to help you to get involved in the things you enjoy
the type of activities you may be interested in

It is important to remember social and community participation is about doing the things you want as part of everyday life. These are activities you do for fun and can help your health and wellbeing.

We have used research to see the supports that can help with social and community participation. Research is one type of information to help you think about social and community participation. It can help you learn about what supports, programs and activities are available to you and how well they may work.

The research in this guide is in 2 parts. The first part is a summary to help you learn about the supports, programs and activities that may help you to get involved in your community.

The second part gives more detailed information about the outcomes or changes that social and community participation supports, programs and activities may lead to.

Remember you are unique, so understanding your own goals and needs is important. You may also find advice, practical ideas and direct support from your family, carers, friends, local area coordinator (LAC), NDIS planner, support coordinator, psychosocial recovery coach or support or activity providers helpful when choosing the best supports and activities for you.

We have provided some questions and a link to the checklist to help you write down your ideas.

You can then discuss these with people helping you think about social and community participation.

Research shows that connecting with social and community activities can help you feel more included, build your social skills, and improve your social and emotional wellbeing. Social and community activities can mean different things for different people and may include:

visiting your friends and family
going out to the movies or to a concert
going places for fun, like shopping or visiting a museum
active hobbies, like bike riding or dancing
playing sport, like tennis or basketball
learning new skills like art classes

The research showed a range of supports that may help you connect with social and community activities. These supports may be available through your NDIS plan, or mainstream and community supports. One or more of these may suit your needs:

Help from your NDIS planner, local area coordinator (LAC), support coordinator, psychosocial recovery coach, or other professionals you are working with should match your needs. This is a person-centred approach.
Help from skilled support workers to link you with participation opportunities that build on your existing skills and strengths.
Participating in befriending programs that match you to people with shared interests so you can make new friends.
Help from other people (peer support) in the community with lived experience of disability.
Peer support (someone who has had a similar lived experience) and mentoring for young adults to transition into post-secondary education, and for older people to transition into community participation after retirement.
Participating in community groups like a sport club, youth group, hobby group, community support group, religious group, or political groups.
Participating in physical activity that may include things like physical fitness programs, exercise or lifestyle programs, or sports training such as soccer or yoga.
Participating in art, drama and music classes that may include creating and selling artwork, presenting art, or drama and music at community performances.
Programs that help you engage with the environment like feeding and grooming animals or community gardening projects.
Nature activities or camps that involve activities like hiking, canoeing or fishing.

Download the research in detail for getting ready for social and community participation.

You can talk to your family, carers, friends, local area coordinators (LAC), NDIS planners, support coordinator, psychosocial recovery coach, service providers, or other people you know. They can help you think about the community activities you are interested in, which ones may be available to you, and the best way to join in.

These questions can help you start the conversation:

What supports, programs and activities are available for me to:
- connect to available activities I may be interested in?
- understand the new skills I may need?
What other resources do I need? for example travel, payment for uniforms, or classes.
How do I find a provider or a program that can support me to participate and work toward my goals?
Where can I find suitable activities in my area?
Are there any costs or other things I should know about?
Who can I talk to about concerns I have with engaging socially around new people?

National Disability Insurance Agency 2021. ‘Interventions to improve social, community & civic participation of adults on the Autism Spectrum or living with Intellectual or Psychosocial Disability: A systematic review. Australia. Prepared by M Giummarra, L O’Brian.
National Disability Insurance Agency 2021. ‘Getting out into the world’: pathways to community participation and connectedness for NDIS participants with intellectual disability, on the autism spectrum and/or with psychosocial disability. Australia. Prepared by L Smith, M Bennett, B Gardner, R Morello.

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