The Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region South

History of The Friendship Circle The first Friendship Circle was started in 1994 in Michigan. In 2003, inspired by the work in Michigan, The Friendship Circle of the Philadelphia Region South (TFC) began with the pairing of four teenage volunteers with two children with special needs through what grew into our Friends at Home program (see below for description). Currently, there are 40 friendship pairs matched through Friends at Home. The Need for Our Programs Children, teens, and young adults with special needs have difficulty communicating and interacting with others, expressing their needs and wants, and finding a place where they belong. Often, there are no accommodations for youth with special needs in community programs. For instance, assisting a young person with special needs typically requires a customized, one-on-one approach by a knowledgeable, experienced, and caring individual who can adapt activities for the young person. Many of the activities available in the community are in group settings where this is not the model and the activities are not appropriate for those with special needs, or may be too advanced for those with limited fine motor skills.