Founded in 2006 , the Newport Beach group is part of an international organization that started in 1994 in Detroit and now boasts 81 chapters from the U . S . to Canada , the U . K ., South Africa , Australia and beyond . The goal is to foster friendship and inclusion for those with special needs through social , recreational and educational programs , and to offer support for their families .

The Newport chapter has more than 325 volunteers and over 500 participants with conditions ranging from autism to cerebral palsy , Down syndrome , epilepsy , severe attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder and social anxiety . A wide range of programs include winter and summer camps , soccer and basketball classes , Birthday Club and Friends at Home , where teen volunteers spend time with a child at their own home — the environment that ’ s most comfortable for the kids — either playing games , baking cookies , doing art projects , singing or reading stories .

“ It ’ s incredible to see the progress and improvement of the children with special needs as well as the impact it makes on the teen volunteers ,” says Chani

Mintz , director of the local Friendship Circle nonprofit , which is funded by donations and a few grants . All of the programs are offered for free , except for the camps , but scholarships are available if needed .

A building for the Friendship Center for Special Needs , located on the edge of the Back Bay , was acquired in 2014 and underwent extensive renovations to create therapy rooms including an art studio , instructional kitchen , teen lounge and multisensory space , which was completed last August .

In the new kitchen , cooking classes are offered . Participants learn to make everything from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to pizza as well as covering food safety and how to use a knife . After preparing their dishes , the group enjoys eating together . The organization is also preparing to offer a culinary academy to help train the students for restaurant jobs .

The Snoezelen Multisensory Room includes colored bubbles moving inside clear columns , a ball pit , colored light ropes and a bean bag that vibrates to the beat of music . This technology helps children with special needs to achieve a calm state of mind that ’ s needed to absorb cognitive and other types of therapy . Time spent in this space also has been found to drastically increase their focused attention span . One piece of equipment allows projections to be displayed on the floor where a seated child can interact with the images , activating sounds and

pictures with the slightest gesture , which encourages new movements and boosts muscle strength , especially for kids with cerebral palsy .

“ Many of our children have increased their functionality and some higher functioning kids have been mainstreamed into regular schools and other programs as a result of the various Friendship Circle programs ,” Mintz says .

During the pandemic shutdown , Friendship Circle quickly moved programs online with Zoom sessions offered all day . Now , with in-person sessions back in full swing , kids may come for a partial or whole day of activities , providing enrichment and social time for them and a break for moms and dads . Support programs help parents connect with each other , too .

Volunteers also find the program worthwhile . Many sign up to satisfy a community service requirement for school , but often make lasting friendships and learn a lot . Mintz says some volunteers choose a local college to stay near their buddy in the program and some even go on to work in special education . “ It ’ s a real connection , and the difference they ’ ve made is unbelievable ,” Mintz says , adding that the teens use what they learn back at their own campuses .

Through Lunch Buddies , the teens invite those who seem lonely to join their table for lunch . “ Our goal is to make inclusion a normal thing — not just at Friendship Circle ,” Mintz says . NBM

COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE