FC Blog

Summer is finally here so now is the perfect time to finalize family vacations and fun camps for the kids. Like most special needs parents already know, finding accessible and inclusive summer camps can be challenging. Lucky for you, we have the Friendship Circle Adventure Camp scheduled for August 23rd-26th from 9:30-12:30 pm. However, to keep your kids busy until then, here are some other inclusive summer camps to check out in the greater Seattle area. 

#1. Aspiring Youth (ages 8-18)

https://aspiringyouth.net/summer-camps/ 

Aspiring Youth welcomes all campers who would benefit from small-group settings and social skills support, including those with a diagnosis of autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, learn… Read More »

Mental health matters. This past January The Friendship Circle of Washington launched a new mental health initiative called UMatter. UMatter is designed to empower young people to take their mental health into their own hands, building a network of support around themselves, developing tools, and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. UMatter has been a great outlet for our teen volunteers and we can’t wait to continue to grow the program. Since May is mental health awareness month, we compiled a list of ways you can care for your mental health. 

#1. Know that you are not alone

Socializing reduces stress levels and we count on friendships for support and a sense of connection and belong… Read More »

After two years of virtual galas, it was so exciting to see everyone in person at Friendship Circle’s 17th Annual Heroes Gala. On Thursday May 12th, sponsors, supporters and friends all joined together at the King St Ballroom at Embassy Suites in downtown Seattle to celebrate love, inclusion, and friendship. Each of you listened to the personal stories of our honorees, families, children, and teens with special needs, and teen heroes, and were inspired to make a momentous difference. 

Because of your generosity, together, we raised over $500,000!

We offer heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making the 17th Annual Friendship Circle Heroes Gala a huge success! Your passion and commitment helped th… Read More »

Friendships with a person with special needs are no different than friendships with anyone else. You hang out and do fun activities together, you support each other, you tell each other about your likes and dislikes, and work together to get through times of conflict. However, being a friend to someone with special needs does require paying attention to underlying assumptions and stereotypes that could come across as harmful. Here are some tips for how to maintain healthy and mutually satisfying friendships between a “typical” person and a person with special needs. 

#1. Make sure events and activities you do together are fully accessible

When you don’t have to worry about accessibility, y… Read More »

Behavior support specialists are vital to our programs as they provide coaching and support to our teen volunteers, help our participants meaningfully engage in activities, and create a stress-free environment. 

We have three amazing behavior support specialists: Sofia Carregha, Miranda Akins, and Anna Nguyen.

 

It’s time for another volunteer spotlight. This week on the blog we’re highlighting Maggie Rojas. Maggie is a junior at Mercer Island High School and has been volunteering with Friendship Circle for 3 years. Her personality is as bright as her hair and she always brings such a positive attitude to every program she attends. Thank you for all of your hard work Maggie! We couldn’t be more thankful to have you as a volunteer. 

Interview questions 

What school do you go to and what grade are you in? 

I go to Mercer Island High School and I’m a junior. 

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I play soccer in the spring and I am a part of a club called Best… Read More »

This week on the blog we’re highlighting FC volunteer David Kohorn! David is a junior at Issaquah High School and has been volunteering at Sunday Circle for about 4 years now. He is always so engaging with the participants and loves to participate in all the activities Sunday Circle has to offer. We’re so happy to have a volunteer as great as David! 

Interview Questions  

What school do you go to and what grade are you in? 

I’m a junior at Issaquah High School. 

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I play for the Issaquah Gunners club soccer team. I’ve been playing soccer since I was seven so it’s a pretty big part of my life. 

How long have you bee… Read More »

We’re starting up the volunteer spotlights again! This week we’re highlighting Marina Prossin. Marina is a sophomore at Sammamish High School and has been volunteering with us for 5 years. Her big smile and positive attitude are so contagious and we love how compassionate she is with the participants. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication Marina! We’re so lucky to have you. 

 

Interview Questions 

What school do you go to and what grade are you in? 

I go to Sammamish High School and I’m a sophomore. 

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I’m on the swim team and I’m a part of Key Club. It’s a community service club. 

How… Read More »

All of our Friendship Circle parents are amazing. Being a parent of a child or teen with special needs is extremely challenging and requires patience, sacrifice, and humility. Our FC parents tackle these challenges with such grace and sometimes they forget how incredible they are. That’s why we’ve created a list of things that every special needs parent needs to hear. 

#1. You are not alone 

There probably will not be another parent that has a child with the exact same diagnosis as yours. However, we are sure there are parents experiencing similar challenges. So, make sure to find those parents. Look on Facebook or join support groups. Just make sure to create a network of people who can support you … Read More »

It’s that time of year again where we wipe the slate clean and make a list of things we want to achieve in the new year. For parents with children and teens with special needs, they often forget to prioritize themselves in their New Year's resolutions. Having a child with special needs takes a lot of time and energy and requires someone to be selfless. However, if the parent is not at their best, then their children won’t be either. That’s why for this year we have come up with some resolutions that will prioritize the parents and their needs so that everyone in the family will have a happy and healthy new year.

#1: Make a list of backup babysitters/caregivers

Are you worried about what you&rsquo… Read More »

As the eve of 2022 is upon us, let’s take a look back and reflect on what an amazing year we have had here at the Friendship Circle.

January 

Zoom Sunday Circles

In January we welcomed in the new year. Even with COVID still going on, we managed to start off 2021 on the right foot. We couldn’t have Sunday Circle in-person. However, we continued doing it over Zoom. Our participants and their teen buddies got to experience the magic that Sunday Circle brings from their own homes. From music with Wendy to Kung Fu with Sifu Kim, our participants and buddies still had a great time.

February 

Purim Deliveries

In February we delivered delicious treats and goodies. This year the holiday of Pu… Read More »

This week on the blog we’re highlighting FC volunteer and leadership board member Dalia! Dalia is one of our veteran volunteers and has been involved with us for 7 years now! Her commitment to this organization shines through and we know that she is going to make a great impact in our community. We are so lucky to have her a part of our circle. 

Interview 

What school do you go to and what grade are you in?

I go to the Bush School and I'm a senior. 

What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

I’m involved in a lot of things. For sports, I run cross country, I play ultimate frisbee, and I do cross country skiing. I am a part of three clubs and I co-lead two of t… Read More »

This week on the blog we're highlighting FC volunteer and leadership board member Molly Rojas! She has been involved with The Friendship Circle for four years now and her commitment to this organization is outstanding. Her passion for helping others and her great energy make her an amazing volunteer. We love having her apart of our circle! 

Interview 

What school do you go to and what grade are you in? 

I go to Mercer Island High School and I’m a junior.  

What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

I’m on the leadership team for a club at my school called Best Buddies which is similar to Friendship Circle. We pair up students in the school with students who have … Read More »