Developmental Inclusion Programs (DIPS) at BDIPS Address Diverse Needs through Adaptive Fitness

Better Days Integrated Programs (BDIPS) CEO Darryl Sewell is no stranger to navigating systems in order to find the best way to support his child, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age.

The challenges in finding resources across education and health systems Sewell faced is part of the reason BDIPS launched Developmental Inclusion Programs (DIPS).

“My personal experience is the foundation of DIPS. It centers so much around hope. My son is now in college and I was told that he would never walk or talk. It was lots of learning that my child and myself are more resilient than we were led to believe,” Sewell shared. 

“He had the opportunity to be a kid and not a science project. So, I encourage parents to let their children breathe and tune out the outside noise, and their children will thrive,” Sewell continued.

The purpose of DIPS is to encourage families to consider wellness through a nontraditional lens. The program provides different modes of therapy that differ from traditional modes such as talk therapy. The Health and Wellness Department at BDIPS offers movement therapies such as therapeutic boxing, therapeutic yoga and adaptive fitness.

All services can be adapted to meet the specific needs of individuals. DIPS offers weekly sessions that can be hosted in a client’s home, at one of BDIPS’s sites, and are flexible to include family members of choice.

“[One coach] worked with an individual with diverse needs, and they had a session where the client presented as more agitated than usual. The coach decided to adapt the therapeutic boxing by switching roles and offering the individual to coach her,” explained Vivian Phan, Community Engagement & Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager at BDIPS.

Part of DIPS also includes supportive services for caregivers and parents of children with diverse needs. BDIPS hosts monthly caregiver/ parent support circles called “Helping the Helpers” for families, as well as adaptive groups, mental health counseling, case management and psychological assessments.

“Caregivers/ parents of children with diverse needs hold the family system together. They are often in service of others with limited support for themselves. Our monthly support circle offers a time and space for BDIPS to pour back into families,” Phan said. “They are given the opportunity to share their story and ask questions, while BDIPS staff lead activities with the children. The intent of the group is to create a safe space and to build a sense of community as families navigate life with a child with diverse needs.”

Monthly caregiver/ parent support circles are led by Sewell and welcome expert guests who can answer questions people may have, and operate as an overall shared space for a community of caregivers/ parents who face similar experiences and challenges.

“Being a parent of a child with diverse needs, I truly understand the need for a safe space that allows for the freedom to be open without judgement. Because everyone in the group, in some way, has a shared experience we all understand: what misinformation and judgement feels like when it’s directed towards us,” Sewell said. “All group facilitators and guest facilitators are vetted to ensure they also understand the need for a person-centered trauma informed space.”