AdventHealth University Students Build Meaningful Connections at Quest
Quest’s Training Centers provide opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to build greater independence through engaging activities and community experiences. Volunteer partnerships play an important role in that mission, creating space for participants to build skills, gain confidence and strengthen their sense of belonging.
Over the past seven years, students from AdventHealth University have partnered with Quest through volunteer and fieldwork experiences. What began as a learning opportunity has grown into a dependable partnership rooted in a shared commitment to helping individuals of all abilities thrive.
Creativity, Connection and Community
Most recently, students from AdventHealth University’s master’s program in occupational therapy led an origami and jewelry-making workshop at Quest’s Training Center in Apopka. Beyond the joy of handmade crafts, the activity allowed Quest participants and AdventHealth University students to interact, learn from one another and build genuine connections.
Activities coordinator Clement Daniel shares one of the most rewarding aspects of the workshop.
“What stands out most is how naturally the students connect with the individuals we support,” she says. “They are kind, patient, respectful and genuinely interested in getting to know each person. The interactions feel comfortable and positive, and the students do a great job helping everyone feel included.”
Experiences like these not only support social interaction and skill-building but also reinforce the importance of inclusion and belonging within the broader community.
The partnership between the students and Quest is a natural extension of the values that draw many people to occupational therapy. While the students were not providing direct therapy during the workshop, the experience gave them an opportunity to engage with individuals of different abilities while reinforcing the importance of empathy, communication and community inclusion.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and abilities to help them participate more fully in everyday life. According to Hannah [Wilson], service chair for her cohort in AdventHealth University’s occupational therapy master’s program, volunteer experiences like these offer an opportunity to see those principles in action, developing skills and perspectives that cannot always be taught through coursework alone.
“Going out in the community and making an impact is helpful to understand and refine that spark in a way,” Hannah says. “That is what occupational therapy is, and it’s why I chose this profession, because I get to help people and see the smiles on their faces.”
Inspired by the positive response to the workshop, Hannah’s cohort is already preparing for its next chance to volunteer with Quest. The experience highlighted the power of community partnerships to bring people together through shared experiences and mutual learning. While participants left with handmade jewelry and origami creations, the lasting impact came from the connections formed between Quest learners and AdventHealth University students.
To learn more, visit Quest’s Training Centers or volunteer opportunities on our website.
