Adult Social Encounter Program

"Different Interest," ILAN’s adult social encounter program, grew out of the Youth Encounter Program, as its teenage participants entered adulthood and, especially now that they were out of school, began to feel an even greater need for an adapted framework that would alleviate their social isolation. Like the Youth Encounter Program, “Different Interest” enables these young adults to meet new friends their own age, both disabled and not, and to enlarge their social circle. In addition to regularly scheduled encounters and other social activities, “Different Interest” also sponsors meetings and workshops with guest lecturers, where young adults have the opportunity to discuss “life skills” issues, such as how to find a job and a place to live, social communication, independence, and intimate relationships.