Friends - Welcome to F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome/Special Needs

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F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
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Families
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  Healthcare Information GuideWhat is Down Syndrome?Down Syndrome and Sleep
- Scholarship Application
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- FSC Dance
Donate
- How Donations Are used
- Our Sponsors
Resources
- Community Partners
  - Agency for Persons with Disabilities
  - The Arc
  - HUGS
  - Buddy Cruise
  - Easter Seals
  - Family Network of Disabilities
  - Lolo's Play Place
  - Global Down Syndrome Foundation
  - National Down Syndrome Adoption Network
  - USF Early Learning Steps
  - Boundless Global
  - Costumers With A Cause
  - We Rock The Spectrum Brandon
  - We Rock The Spectrum Largo
  - K Peas Place
  - Take A BReak Babysitting
  - Florida Unique Abilities
  - Florida Unique Abilities Social Media
  - Bright Eyes Family Vision
- Education
  - Florida Special Education Schools
  - What is Special Education
  - Livingstone Academy
  - Pepin Academies
  - BSAC -Trident Program
- Fitness
  - Dancing For Donations
  - Mark Oliver's Specially Fit
  - BUDDY UP TENNIS! TAMPA
- Guardianship
  - Medicaid Waiver
  - Hillsborough Counsel - Laurie E. Ohall, P.A.
  - Pinellas Counsel - Steve Hitchcock, P.A.
- Hillsborough County Resources
- Parent Packets
- Videos
- The Able Act
- National Down Syndrome Society
- National Down Syndrome Congress
- Down Syndrome & Dental Care
Calendar
Buddy Walk

Transform

A Child's Life

Donate Today Click here to learn about our F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Events.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Families, Respect, Inspire, Education, Networking for Down syndrome & Special needs

Expectant Parents

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is here to assist Learning that your unborn baby has Down syndrome can be very difficult to hear. This unexpected news may generate a wide range of emotions and questions.
READ MORE

New Parents

CLICK READ MORE FOR PARENT PACKS The parent packets are delivered to the Labor & Delivery, NICU, and to the hospitals Social Workers to ensure they are available to you.

READ MORE

For Physicians

Learning the Diagnosis This is extremely difficult for parents and should be handled delicately. Physician’s please watch the attached film

READ MORE

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT FRIENDS EVENTS

Latest Inspiring Stories & More

All
Blog

14 April 2019

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO WATCH F.R.I.E.N.D.S. VIDEO

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. has put together a video at our Easter Picnic (2019) to help us raise funds for
THE FRIENDS CENTER - A Special Needs Center that will offer all our current programs and also provide a desperately needed daycare, after-school program, and adult day program for all special needs individuals.
Please share the video.Click Here to watch the Video

11 March 2019

Read our Letter from DEO

Congratulations on your recognition as a Florida Unique Abilities Partner. We are excited you have become our partner in providing career and financial opportunities to individuals with unique abilities.

Click here for PDF

01 March 2020

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. VIRTUAL DANCE

PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES AND COME TO OUR FANTASTIC DANCE PARTY!!

You don't want to miss it, we have such a great time every Friday night at 6:30pm.

ZOOM LINK Meeting ID 966 3520 4604 Passcode is... Please IM or call Ann Foyt to receive the passcode.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You will need to contact me Ann Foyt via IM/Email/phone to receive the pass word to enter the Dance.

Ann Foyt, (813)245-2782

If you are new to F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and would like to join our Dance, you will need to send me a "friend request" on Facebook or call me to get the meeting ID and Password. Sorry for the inconvenience but we are trying to keep everyone safe.

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Signup For Our Volunteer Programs

VOLUNTEER - Thank you for your interest in volunteering for F.R.I.E.N.D.S. We are always in need of great volunteers who are hard-working, organized and who love interacting with our families. As a volunteer, you are essential and play an important role in making our events so special for our families.

*Approved by Hillsborough County to offer volunteer hours to students working for Bright Futures scholarships.

Signup Today

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. VIDEOS

Laurie E. Ohall-Meyer has some good advice for Hillsborough County parents who have special needs children who are about to turn 18yrs old and are thinking about obtaining a Guardianship or Special Needs Trust. Thank you so much Laurie.

Thank you FRIENDS Volunteers.

Friends has put together a video for the Ellen DeGeneres & Cheerios One Million Acts of Good promotion. We are raising funds to open THE FRIENDS CENTER - A special needs daycare. Thanks to everyone who participated, we had a lot of fun taping it. Please share the video. Thanks so much! Wish us luck!