Six Degrees of Separation…From the Developmentally Disabled

The phenomenon of “six degrees of separation” is real and focuses on the idea that every person on earth may actually be connected by as many or as few as six relationships.  Basically, all of your friends and family members have additional connections you may not know.  Then those connections have more connections and the “human web” continues considering that any one person may only be six relationships away from everyone else.

A similar concept known as the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon attempts to link the actor to every other actor in Hollywood using the same type of scenarios.  It has actually lead Bacon to create Web site, SixDegrees.org, that links actors to their favorite charities and inspires people to donate to causes online.  Does the fact that Kevin Bacon has a charitable spirit and desire to give to many worthy causes actually link us in some way? I digress…

I think the Six Degrees concept works for the developmentally disabled as well, though some people may not always think of it as such.  Yes, I have a sister who has cerebral palsy, but I have other friends and board members who also have connections to someone who is developmentally disabled.  Whether it’s a sister-in-law, daughter, cousin or even just a friend down the street, if you think about it, we are all connected to these special people, and that’s why we want to help them.  I’ve said before that my job as the Executive Director of the Heart of Florida Hope Foundation benefiting ARC Marion is to raise money for the clients at ARC Marion, but I use it as an opportunity, a platform of sorts, to share the stories of these wonderful clients.  The way I see it, when I tell their stories, who wouldn’t want to give to them?  Then everyone who gives becomes a part of the connection, that human connection that makes up a web that cannot be broken.