Wayfaring Band Inc

THE MISSION OF THE WAYFARING BAND IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, BUILD AWARENESS, AND FOSTER GENUINE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, SOCIALIZATION, AND TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL.

THE WAYFARING BAND TRAVEL PROGRAMS ARE NOT TYPICAL VACATIONS. THEY ARE UNIQUE, INNOVATIVE, AND DESIGNED TO MEET THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD). FROM OVERNIGHT GETAWAYS TO WEEK-LONG ROAD TRIPS AND EVEN LONGER INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES, THE BAND'S TRAVEL PROGRAMS ARE MIND-EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH I/DD TO GAIN A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, LEARN INVALUABLE SOCIAL SKILLS, AND TEACH THE WORLD AROUND THEM TO SEE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN A NEW, MORE EMPATHETIC, AND INCLUSIVE WAY. EVERY DAY, WE CHALLENGE OUR TRAVELERS TO TAKE RISKS IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE GROUP THAT ENCOURAGES SELF-ADVOCACY. OUR PROPRIETARY ANTI-ABLEIST LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM GUIDES AN ACTIVE LEARNING PROCESS THAT IMPROVES LIVES AND CREATES A WORLD WHERE ALL DISABLED PEOPLE CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY, WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE MET, AND WHERE THEIR RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED AND UPHELD.

THE EVERYBODY IN, DISRUPTING ABLEISM TRAINING PROGRAM GUIDES AND SUPPORTS BUSINESSES, POTENTIAL CO- WORKERS, AND OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING ALLIES TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY WITH AN EXPLICIT FOCUS ON OUR NEIGHBORS WHO EXPERIENCE DISABILITIES. BY PROFESSIONALLY FRAMING THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF OUR CLIENTELE TO HELP CREATE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE SAFE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, OUR CUSTOMIZED TRAINING COURSES CREATE VIBRANT ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD CAN LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE WHILE MAKING MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHOM THEY WORK.

BECAUSE BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES ARE AFFECTED BY RACISM WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE WAYFARING BAND CREATED A DISCUSSION GROUP, THE BIPOC CAUCUS. THIS INNOVATIVE AREA OF PROGRAMMING INCLUDES BOTH CLIENTELE AND STAFF MEMBERS OF COLOR FROM THE BAND SO THEY CAN DISCUSS THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND DISABILITY IN A SAFE SPACE AMONG PEERS. THE UNIQUE BIPOC CAUCUS, LAUNCHED IN 2020, EXEMPLIFIES OUR INTERSECTIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT PRIORITIZES INCLUSIVE ANTI-ABLEIST VALUES AND ADVOCACY FOR A TRULY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.