Prolific readers know the power and enjoyment of being able to pick up a book and enter its world. For developmentally disabled adults – who are too often excluded in many aspects of social life – the joy of sharing book discussions in traditional book clubs has been out of reach, one more barrier to participating in the community.

The Next Chapter Book Club, created in 2002 under the auspices of the Ohio State University Nisonger Center and with 250 individual book clubs across America, Europe and in Israel, provides adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity maintain reading and literacy skills beyond high school while participating in a “coffee club culture” in a public meeting place.

Next Chapter Book Club members meet once a week for an hour in bookstores, cafes or libraries. Program manager Jillian Ober said, “We include people who don’t read at all or who need help with every single word on the page. The facilitators keep things moving and fun. It’s not meant to be a class.” The Next Chapter Book Club can help you join or start a club in your area.