Friends Life
Programs
Description
Drama Therapy: through storytelling, projective play, embodiment, purposeful improvisation, and performance, participants are invited to rehearse desired behaviors, practice being in relationship, find flexibility between life roles, and perform the change they wish to be and see in the world. Techniques are clinically based, yet creatively implemented, transforming clients into individuals who accomplish personal victories regardless of age or cognitive functioning. Private or group session are offered by FLC's registered drama therapist, Sarah Edwards. Sarah is only one of three in the state of Tennessee with this credential.
Category
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention -
Beneficiaries
Adolescents
Adults
At-Risk Populations
Program Areas Served
Middle TN
Drama Therapy: through storytelling, projective play, embodiment, purposeful improvisation, and performance, participants are invited to rehearse desired behaviors, practice being in relationship, find flexibility between life roles, and perform the change they wish to be and see in the world. Techniques are clinically based, yet creatively implemented, transforming clients into individuals who accomplish personal victories regardless of age or cognitive functioning. Private or group session are offered by FLC's registered drama therapist, Sarah Edwards. Sarah is only one of three in the state of Tennessee with this credential.
Category
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention -
Beneficiaries
Adolescents
Adults
At-Risk Populations
Program Areas Served
Middle TN
Description
Friends Life Community Social Club is a program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) who seek to increase their independence in social settings and desire to self-direct their social opportunities. Social Club meets twice a month. Social Club members coordinate and plan their own social outings, facilitated by a Friends Life Community staff member, as they learn and apply important independent living skills, such as:Building relationshipsBudgetingPersonal space and social introductionsMaintaining a social calendarManaging and resolving group conflictUsing public transportation and rideshare services (e.g. Uber or Lyft)Engaging in healthy conversationSelf-advocacy and self-determination Social Club outings also include volunteer Peer Mentors, neuro-typical peers who build relationships with members and assist the group facilitator.
Program Areas Served
None
Friends Life Community Social Club is a program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) who seek to increase their independence in social settings and desire to self-direct their social opportunities. Social Club meets twice a month. Social Club members coordinate and plan their own social outings, facilitated by a Friends Life Community staff member, as they learn and apply important independent living skills, such as:Building relationshipsBudgetingPersonal space and social introductionsMaintaining a social calendarManaging and resolving group conflictUsing public transportation and rideshare services (e.g. Uber or Lyft)Engaging in healthy conversationSelf-advocacy and self-determination Social Club outings also include volunteer Peer Mentors, neuro-typical peers who build relationships with members and assist the group facilitator.
Program Areas Served
None
Description
Career Coaching is designed for adults (18+) with IDDs who desire to make progress in the area of employment skills and job readiness. All adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("IDDs") deserve the opportunity to work and contribute to society while becoming fully included in the broader community. We believe adults with IDDs can be successful and valuable employees with the right placement, training, and support.Friends Life Community's highly qualified staff offers community-based, individualized services at our Friends' places of employment. Coaching focuses on skill development, leading to increased independence in the workplace, which ensures successful completion of required duties while actively building relationships with employers. These stabilization and monitoring services increase rates of long-term success in the workplace.
Program Areas Served
None
Career Coaching is designed for adults (18+) with IDDs who desire to make progress in the area of employment skills and job readiness. All adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities ("IDDs") deserve the opportunity to work and contribute to society while becoming fully included in the broader community. We believe adults with IDDs can be successful and valuable employees with the right placement, training, and support.Friends Life Community's highly qualified staff offers community-based, individualized services at our Friends' places of employment. Coaching focuses on skill development, leading to increased independence in the workplace, which ensures successful completion of required duties while actively building relationships with employers. These stabilization and monitoring services increase rates of long-term success in the workplace.
Program Areas Served
None
Description
• Service Learning and Employment: Friends volunteer throughout the community, building valuable employment skills and sharing their talents and time with local nonprofits. The Friends help nonprofits expand their capacity to serve more community members. The Friends make a tremendous impact in the community while preparing for successful employment.
• Like Skills: Individuals gain the confidence to become independent at home, at work, and in the community. As the Friends grow in self-advocacy, social awareness, safety, and daily living skills, they decrease their dependency and are able to take greater personal responsibility for their own lives.
• Advocacy Through The Arts: Advocacy Through the Arts uses visual and performing arts to build three main skill areas: self-advocacy, self-expression, and confidence. Through creative expression, the Friends learn skills needed to be successful in all areas of their life; they have the opportunity to explore who they are.
Beneficiaries
People with other disabilities and/or are neurodivergent
Adults
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Program Areas Served
None
• Service Learning and Employment: Friends volunteer throughout the community, building valuable employment skills and sharing their talents and time with local nonprofits. The Friends help nonprofits expand their capacity to serve more community members. The Friends make a tremendous impact in the community while preparing for successful employment.
• Like Skills: Individuals gain the confidence to become independent at home, at work, and in the community. As the Friends grow in self-advocacy, social awareness, safety, and daily living skills, they decrease their dependency and are able to take greater personal responsibility for their own lives.
• Advocacy Through The Arts: Advocacy Through the Arts uses visual and performing arts to build three main skill areas: self-advocacy, self-expression, and confidence. Through creative expression, the Friends learn skills needed to be successful in all areas of their life; they have the opportunity to explore who they are.
Beneficiaries
People with other disabilities and/or are neurodivergent
Adults
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Program Areas Served
None
Description
Coaching provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to grow personally and develop skills through individualized and innovative services. Our staff deliver in-home and community-based services, focusing on the development of functional life skills so the client can increase their independence, prepare for independent living, and work to achieve personal goals. Areas of focus include (but are not limited to): self-management and self-care, grooming and hygiene health and safety, wellness and nutrition cooking, housekeeping and chores, financial literacy, social skills, organizational skills, transportation problem solving and decision making, Living with others, using technology. Life Coaching is for adults (18+) with IDDs who desire to make progress in the areas of personal development and life skills. Regardless of diagnosis, all adults with IDDs deserve opportunities to build relationships, gain independence, and participate in the community.
Beneficiaries
People with other disabilities and/or are neurodivergent
People with physical disabilities
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Program Areas Served
None
Coaching provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to grow personally and develop skills through individualized and innovative services. Our staff deliver in-home and community-based services, focusing on the development of functional life skills so the client can increase their independence, prepare for independent living, and work to achieve personal goals. Areas of focus include (but are not limited to): self-management and self-care, grooming and hygiene health and safety, wellness and nutrition cooking, housekeeping and chores, financial literacy, social skills, organizational skills, transportation problem solving and decision making, Living with others, using technology. Life Coaching is for adults (18+) with IDDs who desire to make progress in the areas of personal development and life skills. Regardless of diagnosis, all adults with IDDs deserve opportunities to build relationships, gain independence, and participate in the community.
Beneficiaries
People with other disabilities and/or are neurodivergent
People with physical disabilities
People/Families with of People with Disabilities
Program Areas Served
None
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| People with disabilities are often invisible to society. Lack of awareness and education around the individual's abilities and value creates gaps in systems, and these gaps leave people with IDDs undereducated, unprepared for employment, dependent upon caregivers, and without sustainable resources for inclusive participation in the community. There is a need for education and skill training for individuals with IDDs to learn social and functional skills for independent living and employment. Such skills increase their opportunities for community inclusion. At the same time, active members of society must be educated and taught how to adapt environments and systems to successfully integrate all members of the community. |
