You're With Us!

You’re With Us! is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) service provider which seeks to create better communities by harnessing the benefits of inclusion for the disabled. We believe that not only do people with disabilities need inclusion opportunities in order to thrive, but also that these opportunities allow them to contribute to their community in ways that have gone unrecognized in the past. You’re With Us! does this by identifying and training college clubs, groups, and teams to be welcoming and supportive peers to the disabled. The college group then creates and supports a Positive Experience Design (PED) customized for the young adult to help him or her transition from school to an adult life in the community. Our Mission Statement You’re With Us! is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates inclusion opportunities for young adults (18+) who, because of their disabilities, are not part of a group, community or activity that would be typical of their abled peers. Social connections are a basic human need. Benefits of this inclusion flow in both directions. People with disabilities have the potential to influence those around them -- a special ability to open people up to compassion, empathy and leadership. Further, You’re With Us! seeks to change the perceptions of disabled young people who believe they are separate and excluded by helping them become part of the communities centered on the activities that they enjoy. In turn, their new peers in these communities, who may have thought of children with disabilities as different, now find them to be friends, teammates and even family. All people are healthiest when they feel safe, supported, and connected to others in their neighborhoods and communities. The inclusion of people with disabilities in these communities provides the essential social skills and leadership tools to allow them to lead a full life.