Participants

Join The Fun... Participate!

Friends Connect Foundation provides opportunities for individuals with special needs to develop bonds with local peers.

Participants with special needs are assigned to at least one volunteer “Buddy” on the day of an event based on similar interests. The pairing process ensures that both kids will have a good time together and develop a natural friendship!

Guardians of the participants must stay at each event. Throughout the hour, they will witness the special interactions between their child and the participant’s new Buddy from the sidelines!

Participants can apply to an unlimited amount of events. However, we have a priority system in place that generates a roster of accepted participants based on the number of times a child has applied for, been accepted to, and attended events.

FAQ Flyer

A Special Needs Participant's Experience Includes...

New Friends! (between 1 and 5 volunteer buddies)
New Skills
Awesome Memories !
High Fives and Awards at the Friendship Ceremony
Snacks and Beverages

Friends Connect Foundation creates unforgettable experiences for special needs participants and their families. We hear stories after every event about how a participant has built confidence to try new things and form new friendships. Many parents also see new opportunities for their children that they did not previously consider possible.

Snacks and beverages are available at our events.

If your child requires a special diet, please plan accordingly. We are not able to serve family members, so please make appropriate accommodations.

About our Participants

We currently serve individuals between the ages of 12-21. However, we’ve been known to stretch that lower limit. Our programs are inclusive meaning that we do not serve a specific special needs group nor do they limit or control who we serve.
Our volunteer training aids volunteers in understanding and becoming more aware of some of the particular challenges that accompany our participants’ special needs. This way, our volunteers are better prepared to be as a host, guide and friend of their special needs participant.
All buddy pairs will engage in the same general activity at our events, however, each buddy pair is organized into one of several groups with modified instructions and difficulty-levels. As a result, individuals with or without restrictive needs are able to participate at all of our events.
We serve individuals with developmental, physical, injury or illness induced challenges such as Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Phelan McDermid Syndrome, Fragile X, Cystic Fibrosis, hearing or vision impairment, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, cancer, etc.

OUR CAPACITY

Capacity for all Friends Connect events is limited for safety, so spots fill up fast. Our database has a priority system in place that creates our participant rosters based on parameters such as the amount of events registered for, accepted to, and attended for each applicant. Since space is still limited, please join our mailing list today so you will know when our registration links will be available.

Want to Join? Register a Participant in our Database!

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW LONG ARE EVENTS?

1 HOUR

Events are one hour long for participants. Parents of participants must stay at the event.

Is there an age requirement for participants?

Participants must be at least 10 years of age, but we have been known to stretch the lower limit. Please Contact Us for more information.

How do I sign up?

Register as a new user in our database! View the table of events and click on View Event and Registration Details. Then, follow the on-screen prompts.

Can my child participate if they have very restrictive needs?

All programs are available to all participants regardless of ability! At each event, our Activity Leaders and Instructors organize friendship pairs into small groups based on the participant’s ability. Each group engages in modified versions of a common activity. This way, all participants can learn a common skill at varying difficulty levels.

How long are the events? Can I arrive late or leave early?

Each event is one hour for participants and two hours for volunteers. Information regarding start and end times are included in the email confirming participant acceptance into a program. We ask that our participants arrive promptly and stay for the duration of every program’s events to ensure that every participant and volunteer are matched and enjoy the entirety of the event.

New situations can be troubling for my child, any advice?

Talk to your child about what they should expect prior to the event. The event description located in our database and the email confirming participant acceptance into a program will provide many details regarding what the day will entail. The volunteer “Buddy” (or Buddies) that your child is paired with will also be patient and supportive, making the day a bit less unsettling.

I don’t live in New Jersey, can I still participate?

Our programs are presently hosted at various locations in New Jersey, but we welcome participants and volunteers that live out-of-state to join us!

Once I drop off my child, am I required to stay?

Once your child is with us, they will be matched with a “Buddy” volunteer. Parents must stay at the event where they will have the opportunity to watch their child interact with their new friend from a distance.

What should I bring/wear?

Dress appropriately for what the weather forecast predicts for the day of the event. However, no specific attire is needed unless otherwise stated under the event description. For spring or summer outdoor events, be sure to bring water and sunscreen!

Is food included?

Yes, but we can not make special accommodations for dietary restrictions. Please plan accordingly.