OUR MISSION
Our Vision
For many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, maintaining a job or a consistent social schedule is extremely challenging without the constant support of a family member or aide. This ongoing need can become exhausting and discouraging for families.
While there are several organizations in our community that offer occasional activities, I have yet to find a program that truly provides the comprehensive, consistent support I believe our friends deserve.
My adult day program is designed to fill that gap. It offers structure, continued education, meaningful friendships, physical activity, job training, life skills, and—most importantly—a true sense of belonging.
The program serves individuals ages 18 and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are able to participate in a group setting with mild to minimal support needs.
Founder: Erin Long
Hi! My name is Erin Long.
I’ve proudly called Wilmington home for the past 29 years. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Jonathan, for 17 years, and we have two beautiful children—Brighton and Grady.
In my free time, I love traveling with my family, working out, enjoying long walks on the beach, reading, and, of course, sipping on delicious coffee!
I am a graduate of UNCW with a degree in Special Education. My passion for this field is deeply personal—my brother Brian has Down Syndrome, and growing up alongside him shaped my heart and purpose. After college, I spent eight years teaching in the SDA-FA classroom at Codington Elementary.
When I had my first child, I chose to step away from the classroom to focus on my family. As my kids grew, I continued working with both children and adults with disabilities in private home and school settings.
Once both of my children were school-aged, I decided I was ready to fully pursue my long-time dream: opening a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities right here in Wilmington.
As both a special educator and the sister of someone with Down Syndrome, I’ve had a front-row seat to the joys and challenges that come with IDD—for individuals and their families. I am honored to open the doors to a program that offers support, purpose, friendship, and belonging for so many in our community whose needs are too often unmet.
I love see familiar faces and meeting new ones as we walk this exciting journey together!
How it Works
Adults with disabilities are often able to find jobs in our community, but these positions are rarely full-time and typically require the support of an aide. So what happens on the days they don’t have work or structured activities? What do families do when there’s no consistent place for their loved one to go?
My adult day program is designed to fill that gap.
We offer a flexible, five-day-a-week program from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
What sets us apart is choice—participants can attend as many or as few days as they need. For some, that may be 1–2 days per week; for others, it may be all five.
🌟 Sample Activities May Include:
-
Morning Gathering & Social Meeting
-
Volunteer Opportunities in the community
-
Cooking Lessons
-
Daily Life Skills Practice
-
Shopping Trips to the mall and grocery store
-
Healthy Living Education
-
Exercise & Movement Classes
-
Lunch Outings to practice social and money skills
-
Movie Field Trips with real-world budgeting practice
-
Special Field Trip Days
-
Guest Speakers & Community Volunteers
-
Game Days & Social Fun
-
Book Club
-
Support with Personal Goals & Education
💰 Program Cost:
-
$50/day
-
Some field trips may require additional costs; these will be listed on the monthly calendar.
🍽️ Meals:
-
Bring lunch daily, except:
-
Tuesdays – Lunch is provided at the Activity Center for $5
-
Fridays – We’ll go out to lunch together!
-
This program is designed to offer consistency, community, and purpose to adults with disabilities—while also providing much-needed support and peace of mind to their families.
How You Can Help
To make this program both possible and affordable for an underserved community, I will rely on the support of generous grants and local donors.
If you are interested in making a donation, please click the link below. It will take you to the FBC Church Donation Page, where you can select “WAVES Day Program” under the “Fund” tab.
Your donation will go directly toward creating scholarships for students who would otherwise be unable to attend.
Thank you for taking the time to consider supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community. Your generosity makes a lasting impact.