Friendship Circle organizes activities for young people with disabilities

Parental support is a key factor in children with intellectual or developmental disorders creating friendships that mirror friendships of typically developing children, according to a 2016 study in the Journal of Developmental Disabilities. 

Friendship Circle of Dallas helps these parents by facilitating social activities for children and young adults with special needs. The nonprofit, an affiliate of Chabad of North Texas, came to Preston Hollow in 2016. There are over 60 chapters worldwide that partner with local Jewish Hasidic groups.

“I’m an ordained rabbi, and my wife has been involved with people who have disabilities her entire life,” Levi Dubrawsky, Friendship Circle of Dallas director, says. “A very important part of Judaism is loving your fellow man as yourself. We can’t as a society fulfill that commandment or responsibility if there is a group of people who are excluded from a lot of the programs and events that we do as a community as a whole.”

Friendship Circle of Dallas pairs trained teenage volunteers with children with special needs for at-home visits, winter and summer camps, holiday programs, outings for various special needs and more. Teens and young adults are exposed to social outings with sensory breaks, therapists and other accommodations. 

“Every real friendship should be a circle. You shouldn’t have one person who’s benefiting more than the other and (it’s) something that’s a give and take — it’s an actual relationship,” Dubrawsky says. “You might be hanging out with someone who’s not verbal, but they’re extremely loving and kind and smiling. A true friendship.”

The Dubrawskys have grown Friendship Circle from a few kids to a community of friends, even adding employment to their programs. Last year, they started a sourdough pop-up set on raising funds to employ teens with special needs. The pop-up, Sour On Dallas, makes kosher bread for events around the metroplex, like Chanukah at the Park.

“In one of our programs, the first thing you see is there’s a lot of joy and happiness,” Dubrawsky says. “People are very appreciative and very humble to be where they are. We’re thankful for what God has given each and every one of us.”

Friendship Circle also hosts parent workshops, sibling circles and therapeutic, educational and recreational activities. Teens in 6th to 12th grade can sign up at friendshipdallas.org to participate in activities and volunteer, becoming part of the circle’s more than 500 service hours, 45 volunteers and 25 families served to date.