The Next Chapter Book Club is committed to providing adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities literacy and social interaction experiences that encourage friendship and lifelong learning within a community-based setting.

Description:
The NCBC is designed to promote literacy, social connectedness, and community inclusion. The premise is simple. A group of 5 to 9 people with intellectual disabilities, regardless of their reading skills, gather with two volunteer facilitators in a local bookstore or café to read and discuss a book for one hour a week. Much like members of any other book club, NCBC members choose the book they want to read, as well as how they would like to structure their book club. Members are learning and making friends and having a lot of fun doing it.

History:
A group of parents, professionals, students, and individuals with disabilities founded the NCBC after a discussion about the prevailing assumption that people with intellectual disabilities are not readers, nor are they interested in lifelong learning. The group also discussed the isolation and segregation experienced by so many adults with disabilities who are living in, but not a part of, their communities. The local Boise chapter of the NCBC was founded after a generous donation by the Boise Bench Lions Club enabled us to receive the training needed to start our own Next Chapter Book Club.

Contact people:

Kelly Hall, (208) 703-1657, (email) Shannon Dunstan, (208) 703-1660, (email)

Address:

910 S. Owyhee Boise, ID 83705 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.nextchapterbookclub.org