Community and Rehab Care - Community Living / November 10, 2025
One person with a good idea can turn that into something special, and work “magic” to bring people together. One of those people is Shawn Bowling, who we support in New Albany, IN. Shawn enjoys music and he understands the importance music plays in peoples’ lives. That drive led him to start organizing dances for his friends and people in the local I/DD community.
Shawn realized that some of his peers don’t always have an opportunity to gather as a group, socialize, and most importantly, have fun. Instead of waiting for someone else to come up with a solution, he decided to step up and do something on his own. He saved his money and used it to buy DJ equipment, including speakers, lights, and a sound board: everything needed to help make him one of the best professional DJs I know.
Once he had the equipment, he needed a place to hold dances. Shawn formed a partnership with a local church and worked through that partnership to secure a place to host events. With that in place, he was able to organize six different dances last year, each with their own theme. There was a solid turnout at each with over 150 people in attendance, including I/DD individuals, staff, families, and community members. Every single event was well-run, upbeat, and inclusive. This isn’t a “one hit wonder” situation; these events have become something everyone looks forward to attending.
In January 2026, Shawn is launching the first-ever New Albany, IN, ResCare Prom at one of the local Knights of Columbus halls. This is an even bigger event, and Shawn has been proudly at the center of the planning, setup, decorations, and coordination. Through his initiative, he has created opportunities for social connection and worked to build partnerships in the community. Shawn didn’t just talk about making things better; he took action to make things better. Shawn Bowling makes a difference, and we couldn’t be prouder to call him our friend!
Filed under: Community and Rehab Care - Community Living, Media Hub