“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one!’” – C.S. Lewis
DELAWARE — Everyone needs friendship, but for some, finding that right group is easier said than done.
It can be especially difficult for people with special needs to find the right group that they click with, feel safe with, feel welcomed with and can just have fun with. The same can be said for a parent whose child has a disability.
But a group of parents with special needs children is pushing back against these narratives. The Loop-Delaware is a nonprofit organization for teens and young adults with disabilities run by Andrea Seymour, Lauren Bossetti and Lizzie Hall.
Bossetti was one of the first moms to join The Loop. She’s an Autism advocate with a background in education and the nonprofit’s vice president.
Her daughter has Autism spectrum disorder.
“Being a parent of a child with Autism, or any special need, something people have to understand is that there’s a lot of isolation,” Bossetti said. “The transition from the school year to summer is really tough on our kids. They’re going from a full schedule, seeing their peers every day, to basically nothing.”
Seymour also has a daughter with special needs and is the current president of The Loop. Like Bossetti, she was one of the first moms to join. She works as a clinical nurse manager of surgical services at Grady Memorial Hospital.
“Some of the Loopers, like my daughter, are limited verbally,” Seymour said. “She can’t say, ‘Hey, I want to go see so and so.’ Or, ‘I want to go to the park.’ She, and others, are not able to express that.
“Even though they are not able to tell you that they’re lonely or that they want their friends, you see it. They’re mopey, they’re just not their happy selves.”
Hall is an intervention specialist with a focus on Autism at Delaware City Schools’ Dempsey Middle School and the nonprofit’s secretary. She previously had both Seymour and Bossetti’s daughters in her class, and essentially started The Loop before the name.
“Last year I picked up [Bossetti and Seymour’s] kids, I had a car full of children, like six of them in the back,” Hall said. “We just went to Wendy’s and the library.”
That’s how it all started: Hall simply doing what she always did. But for Bossetti and Seymour, it was life-changing for their kids.
Both moms recalled how their kids came home that night full of energy and excited to see their friends again.
From there, they were all in agreement: They had to make the outings a regular occurrence.
Since then, the Loop has grown into so much more.
“I don’t necessarily think that what we’re doing is what we set out to do; it’s much more than what we had planned,” Bossetti said.
In August of last year, the group planned its first event – a back-to-school pool party at Wesleyan Woods Pool. The event came together with just a week of planning.
“We ended up having 42 people show up,” Bossetti said. “We were like, ‘Oh my God, there’s a big need for this.’ All of the parents were just like, ‘We’ve been waiting for something like this.’”
Now, the trio hosts one free event per month for about 30 children and teens with disabilities and their families. Events range from kayaking, a cookout, bowling, arts and crafts, to the group’s second-annual pool party and everything in-between.
The social club doesn’t have a formal home base. Its main source of communication is its Facebook page.
But through the generosity of its volunteers and donations like the Fraternal Order of Eagles Delaware chapter’s recent $10,000 pledge, the nonprofit is putting on events that bring joy to those who truly are just like everyone else.
Photos courtesy of The Loop-Delaware. Story continues below.
Creating confidence through community
The group said parents consistently report that their children feel accepted, included and excited to attend monthly events.
“Many have shared that The Loop is one of the few places where their child truly feels like they belong without judgment,” Seymour said.
“We have observed increased confidence, social engagement, and willingness among many Loopers to interact with peers over time.”
In their own words: What parents are saying about The Loop
- “As my son approaches his teen years, it’s so important to me that he has a sense of community, where he feels he belongs. All the fun/wonderful activities are a great incentive to get him out the door, which can be a challenge.”
- “My daughter looks forward to The Looper social gatherings! She sees friends from high school and gets to try new experiences, like kayaking!”
- “My daughter may be limited verbally, but I know she loves the Loop. She requests friends and walks around our house with her Loop Christmas photo card still in July. We all want friends!”
- “I appreciate that The Loop-Delaware is a place where older teens can have fun, build new friendships, and be in a community that truly accepts them. Seeing my son thoroughly enjoy himself and look forward to the next event is something I’ll always be grateful for.”
- “Before The Loop, inclusive events and activities were few and far between. We would have to drive to the Columbus area, and by the time we got there, my son would be so overstimulated and over it. With The Loop, we have inclusive events closer to us that my son enjoys for almost the duration of the event. Our whole family joins in when we can. It has been so impactful and meaningful for our family!”
- “It’s great to have something nearby for those who are aging out of a lot of autism and special needs programs. We’re new to The Loop, so we can’t say a lot yet about before and after experience, but we appreciate the opportunity to meet parents and friends going through the same challenges and having a chance for our loved ones to connect and feel included. This age group can really struggle with isolation after graduation. So far, it’s been a blessing!”
While The Loop’s primary aim is bringing smiles to those with disabilities, it also has had a massive impact on families’ well-being.
For parents, who often feel isolated themselves, The Loop is a place for creating friendships and informal support networks.
These relationships then serve as places where parents exchange resources, encourage one another and create experiences outside the monthly events for their kids.
“Siblings have benefited by participating in inclusive activities that strengthen family relationships and foster a greater sense of community,” Seymour said. “Success is reflected in the smiles, conversations, confidence and connections we witness at every event.
“When a Looper who was once hesitant begins initiating conversations, when siblings feel included, when parents exchange phone numbers and build friendships, or when families tell us they finally feel like they have found their community, we know The Loop is accomplishing its mission.”
Creating a judgement-free space
By tracking participation and engagement through attendance records, family feedback and post-event surveys, The Loop has documented success in more ways than one.
The average attendance at events has doubled this year, with an emphasis on retention.
With an event at a different place each time, community collaborations have formed with local businesses, which raises community awareness.
“Our greatest measure of success is hearing families say that, for the first time, they have found a community where both their child and their entire family feel welcomed, understood, and connected,” Seymour said.
“That sense of belonging is at the heart of The Loop’s mission and continues to guide everything we do.”
Another sign of the Loop’s lasting impact is that newfound friends are getting together outside of the group’s monthly events.
Bossetti and Hall recalled a Looper who was turning 15 and had never had a birthday party before. But thanks to The Loop, that kid made friends who wanted to come to his party. So he had his first birthday party — a childhood joy that so many take for granted.
“It’s one of those things that’s great, but it makes you go, ‘You’ve never had a birthday party, that’s so sad.’ I’m just so glad that we could do that for him and can do it for others,” Hall said.
The number of volunteers who are eager to help also speaks to the nonprofit’s impact. From The Eagles to The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Coach House Creative, Seymour said The Loop always has plenty of help.
“We intentionally create welcoming, sensory-considerate environments where youth with exceptionalities can participate without fear of judgment,” Seymour said. “Our activities are designed to encourage meaningful social interactions in Delaware County rather than simply gathering in the same space.”
The Loop’s greatest challenge? Public awareness
Solid organizational skills are key to just about anything in life, and The Loop certainly is no different. The group said they had to learn this the hard way.
“As The Loop grew, we realized that regular communication and frequent planning meetings were essential to keeping everyone on the same page,” Seymour said. “We also learned that it’s better to focus on simple, achievable goals rather than trying to do everything at once.”
Seymour also stressed that it is OK to ask for help.
“Whether it’s volunteers, donations, partnerships, or advice, people are often willing to help – you just have to be willing to ask,” she said.
Some challenges are easily overcome, but others still exist. The organization is relatively new and getting the word out about The Loop hasn’t been easy.
“Many families who could benefit from The Loop simply don’t know we exist yet, so outreach and building partnerships with schools, community organizations, and local businesses remain ongoing priorities,” Seymour said.
While big wins like The Eagles’ grant are huge, Seymour said they’re still figuring out how to keep the nonprofit sustainable.
“Securing ongoing funding, recruiting and retaining volunteers, and developing future leaders are essential to ensuring that The Loop can continue to grow and serve families for years to come,” she said.
The Loop leaders say they see challenges as opportunities for growth in programming, partnerships and understanding the needs of the families The Loop serves. Seymour said The Loop would love to add a social skills specialist to the program.
“Having an expert involved would allow us to incorporate more evidence-based strategies into our activities while helping participants build communication, relationship, and social interaction skills in a natural, supportive environment,” she said.
“Combining fun, community-based experiences with professional guidance would enhance the impact of our program and ensure we’re offering the best possible support to our Loopers and their families.”
What’s next for The Loop?
The three women said their dream is to create a dedicated agency for individuals with disabilities after they graduate from high school.
Bossetti explained that, as of May, the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities has identified 178 teens with disabilities who will graduate or age out from high school in the next five years.
Day programs for adults with special needs often offer field trips, activities and may have a job coach on staff.
“But, there aren’t enough of these programs,” Bossetti said.
“And there are waitlists on all of them; you’re lucky to get into one right now,” Hall added.
Without enough day programs, all three women said young adults with special needs may end up sitting at home with their parents all day and fall back into that loneliness and isolation.
“If you have someone like my daughter, who has a one-on-one [aide] and requires more behavioral help . . . your options are very limited,” Seymour said.
This phase of life for a person with special needs is often referred to as “cliff jumping,” Hall said.
A child and their family may go years surrounded by resources and friendships — but when the child turns 18, those resources and friends are suddenly less available. Yet the special needs are still there.
“We want to bridge that gap by providing a place where they feel welcomed, valued, and excited to be every day,” Seymour said.
Our vision is to offer structured, purposeful programming that focuses on building social skills, increasing independence, encouraging community involvement, and developing job readiness skills. Participants would have opportunities to volunteer, explore employment, learn life skills, participate in recreational activities and build lasting friendships in an environment designed specifically for their needs.
Andrea Seymour
Like The Loop, the idea is to have a program that supports families almost as much as it supports those with special needs.
“Our goal is to provide peace of mind [for families], knowing their loved one is spending each day learning, contributing, forming relationships and truly belonging,” Seymour said.
The idea is for this to be a community more than just a program — a place where individuals can keep growing and find their strengths.
Want to create a loop of your own?
Seymour said the biggest thing someone needs to know if they are looking to start a community like The Loop is who their audience is.
“Spend time getting to know the individuals you hope to serve, listen to their interests, and create activities based on what they genuinely enjoy – not what you think they should enjoy,” she said.
“When people feel seen, included, and excited about what’s being offered, they’re much more likely to participate and build meaningful connections.”
Most importantly, she said someone shouldn’t wait for that perfect moment to get started.
“If you have the passion and desire to make a difference, just do it. Start small, learn as you go, and let the program grow alongside the people you’re serving,” she said.
“The relationships, community, and impact you’ll create are worth taking that first step.”
