Three Delaware County women launched a nonprofit last year after one of them loaded six kids into her car for a trip to Wendy's and the library. That spontaneous outing became The Loop-Delaware, which now hosts free monthly gatherings for about 30 children, teens and young adults with disabilities and their families across the county, including Powell, Lewis Center and Liberty Township.

Andrea Seymour, Lauren Bossetti and Lizzie Hall founded the organization after watching their own children light up from that simple afternoon together. Seymour, a clinical nurse manager at OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital and parent of a daughter with special needs, serves as president. Bossetti, an autism advocate with a background in education and parent of a child with autism, is vice president. Hall, an intervention specialist focused on autism at Dempsey Middle School in Delaware City Schools, is secretary. She previously taught both Seymour's and Bossetti's daughters.

"Some of the Loopers, like my daughter, are limited verbally," Seymour told Delaware Source on Aug. 3. "She can't say, 'Hey, I want to go see so and so.' ... Even though they are not able to tell you that they're lonely or that they want their friends, you see it. They're mopey, they're just not their happy selves."

The group's first formal event was a back-to-school pool party at Wesleyan Woods Pool in August 2025, planned in about a week. Forty-two people showed up. Average attendance has doubled in 2026, and events have included kayaking, cookouts, bowling, arts and crafts and a second-annual pool party. All events are free.

The need is real. According to Bossetti, the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities has identified 178 teens with disabilities who will graduate or age out of school services in the next five years. She and Hall say existing adult day programs in the county all have waitlists, leaving families with few structured options after graduation. In the disability community, that sudden loss of support at age 18 is called "cliff jumping."

One participant who turned 15 had never had a birthday party before joining The Loop. After making friends through the group, he celebrated his first one. Another parent reported that before The Loop, inclusive events meant driving to the Columbus area, where her son would become overstimulated before activities even started. The Loop keeps those events closer to home.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Delaware Chapter recently pledged $10,000 to the nonprofit. The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Coach House Creative also support the organization as partners.

The founders' long-term goal is to open a dedicated day program for individuals with disabilities after high school, offering structured programming in social skills, independence, community involvement and job readiness.

Families in Powell, Lewis Center and Liberty Township can connect with The Loop-Delaware through its Facebook page, where the group posts upcoming event details. The page had 567 likes as of Aug. 8. The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities also offers up to $1,000 per person in Family Support Services funding for 2026; families can contact information and referral specialist Lindsay Fitzsimmons at [email protected] or 740-201-5888.