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This misunderstanding has real consequences. It isolates adults with disabilities from the friendships, responsibilities, and purpose that every human being needs to thrive. It turns community into charity—and robs everyone involved of the mutual blessing that friendship brings. But here’s the truth: Wonder is mutual. So is friendship.

At Wonderfully Made, we’ve seen a different way. Our Wonder Makers are not just participants in a program. They are bakers, artists, teammates, prayer warriors, and friends. They remember birthdays. They offer hugs. They laugh easily and forgive quickly. They show up with joy and expect you to do the same.

One of our Wonder Makers calls her friends at Wonderfully Made her “family of the heart.” That phrase captures the spirit of this place. Here, we don’t treat adults with disabilities as projects to be helped. We live together as people to be known. And that knowing goes both ways.

When we let go of the old belief—that people with disabilities are only here to receive—we make space for something new. We discover the wonder of mutual friendship. We find ourselves transformed—not by what we give, but by what we receive in return.

HOW TO SHIFT FROM SERVING TO SHARING

Start with presence. Instead of trying to “help,” come alongside. Ask a question. Share a story. Let yourself be seen too. Mutuality begins when we stop performing and start connecting. When we make this shift, we experience what every heart longs for: a sense of belonging. Our Wonder Makers remind us that being fully known and fully loved isn’t a reward—it’s a right. And it’s available to all of us, if we’re willing to wonder together.

Why this shift is here to stay

The old way—seeing people with disabilities through a lens of limitation—is crumbling. And good riddance. A new way is rising: a community of shared joy, honest friendship, and everyday wonder. Come be part of it. You might arrive hoping to make a difference. But don’t be surprised when you discover the greatest gift is what you receive.