our beginnings

In 2002, several families gathered in an Edmond, Oklahoma Sunday School class at Henderson Hills Baptist Church to talk about a problem with no current solution: how do we create an environment that gives our children with developmental disabilities a space where they can learn, grow and find deep meaning in community when they’re adults?  

“We became aware of ‘if something happens to me, what’s going to happen to my child?’ when we met a couple in their 80s who had a 55-year-old special needs son. Both parents had cancer, and they were frantically trying to make a plan for their son.

Sometimes you think you have a plan, but it’s not the right plan.

We’re hearing this and realizing after high school there’s nothing for our children here in Oklahoma. They need social and health care and a work plan. [We] felt really blessed that we moved to Edmond and found HHBC, because they had a special ministries program where this issue fell. That was like God’s special stoplight to tell us we needed to pause and focus on this.” -Founders Gary & Shouna Olson

This group of individuals had a like-minded burden to limited opportunities that lie ahead after high school for their child with developmental disabilities.

The long-term concern was universal: “who will care for our adult children when we die?”  

The group gathered, established a vision statement, name and a final goal. Thus, Wings was formed and today includes 78 members  aged 18-63, welcomes more than 100 individuals to its monthly Social Club and is powered by 70 program volunteers and hundreds of special project volunteers whose passion is routinely poured into the vibrant programs and people at Wings.

wings founders

• Sheri Babb

• Joe and Charlene Cole

• Derle and Janis Hatchett

• Sheri Kraemer

• Jean and Patty Leger

• Barbara Lumpkin

• Joe and Karan McDonald

• Gary and Lynn McGhee

• Gary and Shouna Olson

• Margo Price

• Janis and Bob Ricks

• Jacque Ross

• Bill and Amy Wolfe

“Looking forward, we are gaining momentum with what we can offer. We know the needs will continue because this problem is not going away. We know mentally/physically our members are healthier when they are socialized, feel good about themselves, working and that impacts their entire family. That has always been our True North since our founding, and no matter the growth or needs that increase, that will remain our focus for the future.”

— Cheri Weaver, Executive Director