Friendships and Community Connections Between People with and without Developmental Disabilities.

(Ed.), Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes, 1993, 386 pages, $29.00, soft cover.

Friendships and Community Connections Between People with and without Developmental Disabilities provides an excellent overview of all aspects involved in developing and maintaining friendships between people with and without developmental disabilities. Literature on the subject of friendship and disability has become more abundant within the past five or six years, resulting in more collaborative efforts. This book is a thorough, yet concise reference to aid both professionals and advocates alike in building a bridge between people with developmental disabilities and the communities in which they live.

Twenty chapters are divided into three sections: 1) Dimensions of Friendships, 2) Stories of Friendships, and 3) Strategies for Building Friendships. In section 1, the concept of friendship is examined from a variety of angles. The eight chapters in this section cover issues related to loneliness, gender and sexuality. The idea of friendship as a gift, and befriending as a call is proposed within the context of spiritual foundations of friendships. Natural pathways to friendship are offered, and the validity of "staff" and "clients" becoming friends is discussed. For people with developmental disabilities, loneliness can become a barrier to reaching full community living. Friendship can eliminate the isolation and loneliness so often experienced in institutional and group home settings. Gender is discussed in terms of the current research available, particularly within social and cultural contexts, with definable reasons as to why women are more often involved in friendships than men. This discussion is extended to people with developmental disabilities. The importance of sexuality as part of the whole person's identity is stressed, with particular emphasis given to relating intimacy and bonding as a need of all people, and incorporating this concept into the more traditional sex education curricula which currently emphasize subjects such as disease, contraception and "the facts of life" instruction. In another chapter, a spiritual backdrop gives way to the understanding of friendship as a gift for both parties involved and that, in the spirit of hospitality, we are all called to join openly and acceptingly into friendships. A chapter is devoted to the concept of developing natural friendships as opposed to inventing technological human service agency "fixes" that seem plausible, but in reality do not take true human nature into account. Finally of considerable importance is a chapter devoted entirely to "staff" and "client" friendships that will inevitably develop within the field of human services. This chapter explores the importance of such friendships and underscores the benefits for the consumer and the professional, promoting the idea that true advocacy begins when a real human connection is achieved.

Section 2, which contains 7 chapters, is perhaps the most heartening section, as individual stories are illustrated. The true connection between people with and without disabilities is told through the eyes of people who have experienced and have achieved the bond of friendship. This section provides the emotional component that is crucial to understanding the Dimensions of Friendships as described in section don 1, and Strategies for Building Friendships that are delineated in section 3. Stories include that of a reporter's advocacy for his friend in an institution, issues of transition between high school and college as observed by parents of a daughter with a developmental disability, and people with developmental disabilities and their friends, shared experiences as part of a self-advocacy group.

Section 3 has 5 chapters and focuses on Strategies for Building Friendships. One chapter includes different categories of approaches to support friendship, community participation, and community connections. Nine different reasons are given as to why working to support friendships is important. The information in the final chapters is intended to assist human service agencies, families, community organizations, and others who want to assist people with developmental disabilities and provide concrete ways in which friendship can be promoted. Particular strategies for exploring options within communities are offered. In addition, work as a possible place to establish and maintain friendships is discussed, eliciting professionals and employers to recognize work as a place for gaining additional social support.

Friendships and Community Connections Between People with and without Developmental Disabilities is an incredible resource for anyone hoping to create a bridge of social support and understanding within communities. Not only does the book provide documented research and adequate literature on the subjects of friendship and disability, but the added element of the human factor is explored with dignity and integrity. It is so true that people with and without disabilities need nurturing relationships to foster and grow. People in the field of human services should be particularly attuned to this human need and rise to true advocacy by opening the hearts and minds of people in communities so that all involved can benefit from the gift of friendship.