Friends@Home Compatibility Tips
by Natalie Boyanovsky
V.P. of the FC Volunteer Leadership Team

Becoming close with our special friends can sometimes be frustrating, becauseso many of our friends are so different from us. As Friendship Circle volunteers, we must remember that our goal is not to change our special friends, but to work with the differences that we all have and devolop and amazing friendship. Although many of our special friends do not share all the same behaviors, there are several common situations that we all encounter which can make Friends@Home and other programs at Friendship Circle, somewhat challenging until we learn how to work with them. Here are a couple scenarios and some tips which I hope you'll find useful.

Meeting a special friend for the first time can be very difficult because many children with disabilities have a hard time warming up to strangers. Instead of giving up, keep trying your best to make sure that your special friend feels as comfortable as possible. Even if they do not show it, your friend undoubtedly appreciates your effort.

Repetitive behaviors are extremely common among several types of disabilities, which can make it frustrating to keep Friends@Home visits interesting. The important thing to remember is to not push your friend outside of his or her comfort zone, but to learn to live inside it, while still broadening the boundaries, little by little until you've expanded the comfort zone. For instance, if your friend is only interested in playing one specific video game, try bringing over books or magazines that have to do with that video game or similar ones. Remember that your efforts to expand your friend’s interests may not always be appreciated, and it is important to understand your friend’s reactions. Always remember that the Friendship Circle is a place only for fun and friendship, and no matter what you do, your friend appreciates you and looks forward to your visits!

To get your FC questions answered by a professional, remember to call the Volunteer Hotline at 718-713-3083 from 3-5pm on Sundays, or email them anytime at Hotline@fcvolunteer.com!

Do you have some Friends@Home or FC Circle tips to share with fellow volunteers? Let us know and we'll gladly feature them (and YOU) in our next issue!