We Are Not “Dolls That Are About to Break”: Spirituality and Adults with Mild to Moderate Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

In 2024, five non-profits in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, along with the Centre for Civic Religious Literacy, began a study to understand spirituality among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). An earlier phase investigated how staff viewed their roles in supporting adults with IDD to explore their spirituality. The phase discussed in this article engaged with individuals with mild to moderate disabilities. We highlight six insights gleaned from interviews and co-analyst meetings with participants who participated in experiences that supported the exploration of their spirituality. In addition to the six insights, we conclude that participant engagement supports the model of spirituality as connections to self, others, nature, and the transcendent, points to the need for spirituality to be included in the Canadian social determinants of health, and highlights the need for organizations in the community living and disability service sectors to provide more opportunities for the people they serve to engage with and express their spirituality. The study also highlights how adults with IDD reject narratives of fragility and resist hierarchical controls that make decisions for them and prevent them from exploring and expressing this aspect of their lives.