The places where people spend time and the experiences they have in these places are critical to the development of a sense of place and community connections. This study, based on individual experiences, reveals that adults with developmental disabilities commonly spend time in places designated for people with disabilities versus the general public, in public versus private places, and in places characterized by business transactions versus social interactions. Within the community, the research participants have a variety of experiences. They range from a sense of vulnerability to a sense of safety, a feeling of being socially anonymous or isolated to a feeling of being known, from disaffiliation to identification, from unfamiliarity to familiarity, from a sense of being rejected to a sense of being liked or accepted, and from a sense of unwillingness/willingness to provide accommodations. The article concludes with strategies that service providers and others can use to increase opportunities for positive community experiences and sense of place.
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