20+ Day Program Activities for Adults with Disabilities

Life isn’t always easy for adults with disabilities.

But with our list of day program activities for adults with disabilities, folks with learning disorders can easily take ownership of their life.

Jerry, living with a disability and a father of four children, excitedly said:

‘I’m not expecting the world to revolve around me. I’m ready to adapt – and I’ll!’

To help you or your loved one be like Jerry, we will outline the best activities to enhance adaptation. 

In this article, we will help adults with a disability focus on what they can do – outdoor and indoor activities for adults with disabilities!

23 Simple Day Program Activities for Adults with Disabilities

1. Card Games

Rao believed so much in card games. 

She believes card games are remarkable for addressing stereotypes, as it emphasizes ability rather than disability.

In fact, Rao uses card games to improve children having trouble with grammar and other vital academic skills.

There are card games that help with good relationships and communication.

You can find some here in this article. 

2. Language Classes

Nguyen Thi Loc, a 79-year-old, benefits immensely from such language classes.

She often joins a group of seniors to study English at a center in Hanoi. 

With what goal? To keep her brain sharp and to help her socialize!

Learning a new language is one of the heartwarming indoor activities for adults with disabilities. 

It strengthens and enhances the ability to speak, recall information, and improve critical thinking.

And it’s so soothing to know that practicing or learning languages deter dementia in seniors.

3. Lego Games

This game engages players for hours. Yes, that’s the goal!

A player, an adult with disabilities, can spend hours figuring out the challenging puzzles and connecting those pieces.

These mind-blowing games are reputable for developing cognitive thinking in those with disabilities.

Excitedly, you can find different forms of Lego games on the market today.

4. Board Games

Board games like Charades and Cranium Cariboo are awesome day program activities for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

With board games, adults can develop jaw-dropping writing and story-telling skills.

5. Outdoor Group Hikes

Hiking might not be for all adults with disabilities. 

Nonetheless, it’s one of the exciting social activities for adults with disabilities. 

If your circumstances allow it, you will enjoy it! 

It’s more encouraging to go in groups. 

It’s also vital to ensure a balanced mix of people, consisting of both adults living with disabilities and those not living. 

This option allows monitoring and limits risks.

Organize this event with folks who don’t view disability as limiting to prevent impacting the well-being and mental health of those with disabilities.

6. Going To An Amusement Park

Who doesn’t find amusement park fun?

Here’s how Kenrick Bautista feels about amusement parks: ‘I don’t just like them, I love them!’

Bautista is a big fan of amusement parks. He explained that he could visit there every day. 

The benefits? Hear him express it nicely here:

‘Amusement reveals the side of me I never knew. My visit there always makes me feel alive!’

From roller coaster rides to water fountain rides, amusement parks will always be exciting and reveals the inner child.

Undoubtedly, adults with disabilities will be thrilled to spend a day at one of the best amusement parks. 

And more bonus? It adds to both their mental and physical development.

7. Visiting The Museum

Visiting a museum is therapeutic and exciting for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

It’s easy to engage in this outdoor program. The only constraint is if there is no museum nearby.

Artifacts and nature-theme art displayed in the museum rekindles the desire of an adult with disabilities to learn more about their surrounding.

Have several museums? Get involved today!

8. Outdoor Group Picnics

Adults with disabilities crave bonding! And what better way to enjoy this?

Outdoor group picnics allow participants to enjoy the beautiful scenery offered by nature. 

It is also beneficial for mental and emotional health.

By spending quality time in the sun or enjoying any physical activity accompanying this, adults or even children will enjoy a boost in their health.

Some activities enjoyed by individuals with disabilities offer the muscles a workout. 

Moreover, through Vitamin D, adults can improve bone health.

You can search for locally accessible parks near you. Give your health the worthy boosts it deserves.

9. Nature Walks

Botanical parks, beaches, or other natural locations have calming and therapeutic effects.

Hence, nature walks, one of the best day program activities for adults with disabilities, is an excellent move!

The calming effects of nature are sufficient to invite you or your loved ones to a safe space where they are less agitated and relaxed, keeping their mental health in check.

Furthermore, nature walks allow adults and people with disabilities to understand their environment and develop good memories. 

They relish exciting memories when it’s the time!

And irrespective of age, everyone everywhere loves what will allow them to enjoy Mother Nature. 

During the nature walks, you can set up a scavenger hunt that will allow you or your loved one to find many objects.

Examples of Nature Activities Adults with Disabilities Can Enjoy

• Seeing Birds
• Plants – Varieties, colors
• Trees
• Insects
• If you live in one of the development lands, you’ll find camps with therapeutic horseback riding. 

The options available for outdoor activities are numerous. Search for the one that will benefit you the most. 

10. Bowling

Mobility activities like physical exercises help adults with disabilities to obtain mental and physical potential.

Bowling is undoubtedly one of the fun activities that’s part of the mobility interest and day program activities for adults with disabilities.

Bowling is fun, and it involves knocking down pins. While exciting, it also raises the adrenaline that keeps the adult moving!

In addition, when bowling, several body parts are involved. How does this help?

The coordination between the brain and the other body parts develops.

11. Puzzle

Brain games help reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. 

Puzzles, as one of the intellectual activities for adults with disabilities, exercise the brain and enhance problem-solving skills and memory.

Puzzles require that you search for patterns and pay keen attention to details.

Adults with disabilities can enjoy jigsaw puzzles, word search puzzles, or even simple crossword puzzles – altogether, they stimulate memory and keep the brain active.

Why is the jigsaw puzzle one of the most popular indoor activities for adults with disabilities? It’s simple and easy to understand!

12. Socialization

Don’t just think: “Why is socialization mentioned here?” Well, socialization is an incredible tool for staying mentally sharp or active.

The truth is that socialization is the primary idea for social activities for adults with disabilities.

It makes sense to remember names, stay up to date with current events, and avoid loneliness and boredom.

All these will keep the mind engaged.

Is your loved one living in assisted living community? Allowing them to interact with other adults and staff is a  boost. 

In this activity, everyone involved wins – learn together and feel dignified.

13. The Card Matching Game

Adults with down syndrome might have difficulty developing practical skills.

They might have problems remembering things. Moments like this can make it tough to engage in their day-to-day activities.

Hence, the card-matching game comes into play. This day program allows adults to increase their memory skills.

Card matching games can be played with a group or alone. 

The requirements? A pack of cards, a table, and willingness.

14. Trivia Games

I was first introduced to trivia games in 2020 on a website.

Guess what? I won lots of prizes and gifts. 

Trivia games are one of the games I hope I’ve known before now. Well, that’s by the way. 

Adults who require recall skills while engaging with others will enjoy this activity fully.

It motivates players to use their memory and work to recall past events and facts. 

Isn’t this going to be beneficial for adults with disabilities? Absolutely!

15. Wheelchairs Activities

There are many community outlets with several activities for folks in wheelchairs. 

Check for meetups of wheelchair tennis or basketball. 

There are many activities that people in wheelchairs can perform either by self-propelling inside their wheel or by any other adaptive equipment. 

You’d also desire aquatic exercises, the famous type of aerobic physical activity.

16. Group Cooking Activities

To stimulate the mind of those with disabilities, crafts, and arts are great tools.

Group cooking activities isn’t mainly about constructing things; it’s simply fun and an undertaking that grants participants instant reward.

A simple pasta dish or noodle is enough to get the work done.

While, often, you can do this indoors, it can also be an excellent outdoor program you’ll enjoy.

Group Cooking Activities

Group cooking activities are fun for most people.

The menu doesn’t have to be an exotic or complex one.

Just a simple dish like noodles or pasta can get the work done.

You can pair adults with disabilities in groups of three or even two. 

Hand them the required ingredients and let them prepare it!

The team approach is no doubt beneficial and fun.

17. Music And Podcasts

Music is good for the soul. Listening to it is a sensory activity.

What is more, it is therapeutic and has calming effects.

Getting music for an adult with disabilities might appear simple.

But it’s essential to verify what choice of music they like, keep a playlist, and have it saved.

Experiences have shown that classical music and jazz are incredible and safe options. 

They’ve got a slow rhythm and offer calming effects.

You can explore this Article about calming activities for ADHD

Is there a music festival or concert around? Attend to get the excitement befitting adults with disabilities.

Nonetheless, if they can’t make it there themselves, accompany and watch them enjoy the event.

Be careful of where they visit. A noisy place isn’t encouraging, and it might make them uncomfortable.

Many Podcasts talk about adults with disabilities. 

Interestingly, podcasts are one of the resources for ADHD adults in this article.

Podcasts are both educative and informative. They can be excellent materials.

18. Writing

Many folks will agree that writing or Journaling is one of the easiest ways to express oneself.

I do that a lot, and I won’t stop anytime soon.

Adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities will find putting thoughts on paper easier.

19. Art And Craftwork

Drawing, coloring, and other craftwork are excellent for sensory activities for those with disabilities.

When unable to express feelings and emotions, folks with disabilities resort to art.

People with developmental and intellectual disabilities respond nicely to any therapy involving crafts and arts.

Crafts and arts are vital for inspiring creativity and encouraging adults of every age!

Adults or children with disabilities can benefit greatly from using a coloring book or quality DIY scrapbooking or card-making kit.

These inclusions create space for general learning and creativity.

Art Activities for Adults with Disabilities

Art and crafts items could be:

• Scraping book
• Making jewelry
• Coloring books

These are tasks your loved one might spend hours creating.

Here are Famous Arts and Crafts

• Beading activities
• Creating Paper Mache
• Crafting with clay
• Creating toys
• Creating with fabric
• Decorating with paint
• Creative toys

20. Gardening

Do you love gardening? 

It’s one of the activities you should consider for yourself or your loved ones who might need it. 

Gardening allows for the caring of living organisms. 

Caring for the garden allows the individual to enjoy the feeling of achievement and offers premium excitement.

21 Brisk Walking and Hiking

When done well, it results in both socialization and physical exercise. 

Several parks are offering paved alternatives for people with disabilities. 

You can carry out these activities where you’ll peer into the beauties of nature.

22. Scavenger Hunts

As one of the sensory day activities, Scavenger Hunts are an excellent option. How do you play?

Place small objects in strategic spots and allow kids or young adults to find them. 

It’s an activity they will find engaging and enjoyable.

23. Music Therapy Activities

Music therapies for kids and adults with disabilities are excellent.

Many respond well to music, and you can’t count out those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

We process music in the left and right hemispheres of a person’s brain.

Musics incorporates visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactical systems.

Music is a multi-sensory activity. It incorporates auditory, visual, tactical systems, and kinesthetic systems.

For people struggling with languages, music accomplishes a lot of goals.

Goals Accomplished  by Music Include:

• Academics– An adult or child can translate anything virtually into a song to enhance recall
• Communication & Speech – Custom songs are excellent for increasing repetition without monotony.
• Fine Motor Skill – Hand drums, for example, are incredible for addressing fine motor skills.
• Behavioral – Musical songs and stories can reinforce acceptable behavior.
• Emotional Enhancement– Songs are excellent for letting people identify feelings and utilize coping strategies when overwhelmed.
• Self-Esteem and Quality of Life – Via musical experiences, one can commemorate positive and successful experiences.

Conclusion

Stereotyping, discrimination, and stigma are challenges adults with disabilities face daily. 

Apart from their daily discomfort, they are more likely to suffer a stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer than adults without a disability. 

In fact, as of 2020, 20% of adults in the American workforce are adults with disabilities.

Therefore, these day program activities for adults with disabilities can tremendously help you or your loved ones in every aspect of their lives.

When selecting these different activities for adults and kids, focus on what they can do and not on what they can’t do.

These activities will invigorate and stimulate adults with disabilities for their well-being. 

Since adults with developmental disabilities want to be involved, these are the perfect activities!

Moreover, creating time for recreation and leisure will keep these folks fit, help them socialize, and develop cognitive abilities.

Remember to choose from this list the right day program activities your loved ones will enjoy!