Photos: Kennique Reynolds

One month into 2018, how many of us are sticking to our New Year’s resolutions? Many have probably long since given up on pledges to exercise more, eat better, or take up a new hobby. Maybe the targets were too daunting or were just arbitrary promises that were easy to ignore. But some women and men I know made equally challenging resolutions for this year and are well on their way to achieving them. 

At YAI, we work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and empower them to reach their goals. A couple of years ago, photographer Kennique Reynolds came to us with an idea for the Resolution Project, an effort to highlight the hopes and dreams of the people with I/DD who receive support from YAI. Kennique recently asked some of these amazing individuals to share their goals for 2018 during a photo shoot at our 34th Street Day location. 

As you can see from the pictures, their resolutions ranged from going to the movies and singing and dancing more to watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve and going out to a restaurant for a birthday dinner. People often take these activities for granted, but for people with I/DD, each of these milestones represents another step towards independence and inclusion. Their resolutions are about much more than just this year: they are about making the most of their lives. As Kennique so aptly put it in describing this project, “These are adults with dreams, determination and confidence.”  

Year after year, YAI and other community support providers throughout the country work relentlessly to turn these dreams into reality by empowering and supporting individuals with I/DD in their daily lives. These networks provide services as diverse as the people they support, including transportation, personal care, job coaching, accounting, and occupational and physical therapy – all aimed at promoting community inclusion and independent lives. Each resolution kept is an individual achievement, driven by their determination and supported by a network of staff who provide assistance and bolster confidence. 

The individuals who shared their resolutions with us this year have already made tremendous strides, and they are not alone. YAI serves more than 20,000 people in the I/DD community, and thousands of other organizations across the country help support the millions of Americans with I/DD. Every day, these individuals are keeping their resolutions and making new ones. They are dancing more and going out to dinner. They are finding jobs, moving into their own homes, and learning to drive. They are meeting their neighbors and volunteering in their communities. 

For those of us who have already abandoned our grand personal plans for 2018, hopefully the Resolution Project serves as an inspiration. Sometimes the best goals we can set for ourselves are the ones others take for granted. Think about the little things you do every day – going for coffee, seeing a movie, grabbing lunch – and how much better they would be with company. Reach out to a community support provider in your city and town and learn how you can help people with I/DD lead more empowered, independent lives. 

There’s plenty of time to make a new resolution for 2018. Maybe yours can be to help others keep theirs.