About the True Friendships Project
Values Into Action PA was awarded the Authentic Friendships grant by the PA Developmental Disabilities Council. We are calling this the “True Friendships Project”.
The True Friendships Project hopes to make it easier for people with disabilities to make and keep friends. The True Friendships Project is focused on creating opportunity and capacity for friendships for all.
The True Friendships Project is led by the Project Advisory Workgroup (PAW) that includes people with disabilities, family members and professionals in the disability community. Robert Zotynia and Jamie Lisberger, Self-Advocates, and Kristina “Tina” Steinbacher are the Project Coordinators who oversee the Project Advisory Workgroup.
Robert Zotynia is a 36-year old artist, self-advocate and change maker. Robert was born with cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, communication challenges, and a visual impairment but he will never let these labels define him.
Jamie Lisberger is a Co-Coordinator of The True Friendships Project’s Advisory Work Group. She graduated high school in 2010, and attends classes at DCCC. Jamie like animals, reading comic books, and watching movies/ TV shows. She hopes to inform and help educate people about all different types of disabilities. Jamie would like to help individuals with or without disabilities form friendships.
Kristina “Tina” Steinbacher is the Co-Coordinator (with my friend Robert) of the True Friendship Project Advisory Workgroup. She’s been with Values into Action for 5 years as a Supports Broker and 3 of those years also as the Participant Directed Services Liaison.
True Friendship Project Partners
- Open Future Learning,
- PA Education for All Coalition (PEAC),
- Disability Pride PA,
- The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
Relationship Resource Guide
We are excited to share our NEW Relationship Resource Guide!
This guide is made for self-advocates, their families, and the professionals who support them. We are grateful for all the people both on our team and from the community who worked so hard to find these great resources.
Explore the guide and discover new ways to make and keep friends!
Upcoming Events
Learning Sessions
The True Friendships Project with Values Into Action invites YOU to attend our Learning Sessions!
As part of the True Friendships project, we are hosting a series of Learning Sessions on topics related to building and maintaining safe and healthy friendships. The Sessions will include presentations about the topics and provide opportunities for participants to interact with presenters and each other. For each topic, there will be a session designed for Self-Advocates and Family Members, and another for professionals.
Each session will be followed by a Technical Assistance session where participants can dive deeper into the topics.
Topic: Maintaining Friendships
Join us in the final virtual learning experience of 2024 with the True Friendships Project!
This unique session combines aspects of learning and technical assistance in a 2-hour workshop from the comfort of your home or office.
Featuring guest speakers that include self-advocates, their friends, support staff and disability advocates who will share their life experience with long-term friendships and tips on how to maintain your own!
David Pitonyak– advocate, author, consultant and trainer, (whom you may recognize from Open Future Learning modules) will be facilitating the technical assistance aspect of this exciting virtual event.
Self-Advocates and Family Members
Learning Session and Technical Assistance Session: Wednesday, November 6th, 6:00pm-8:00pm. Click here to register.
Professionals
Learning Session and Technical Assistance Session: Thursday, November 14th, 10:00am- 12:00pm. Click here to register.
Past Events
Topic: Healthy Friendships and YOU
Join us as we explore what healthy friendship looks like.
Self-Advocates and professionals will share their stories and experiences.
We will also have a chance to discuss the topic and learn from each other.
Self-Advocates and Family Members
Technical Assistance Session: Wednesday, September 11th, 6:00pm-7:00pm. Click Here to Register.
Professionals
Technical Assistance Session: Thursday, September 26th, 10:00am-11:00am. Click here to register.
Learning Session Topic: Safety
Self-Advocates and Family Members
The goal of this learning session is to help you to build safe and supportive friendships. In this learning session, we’ll talk about staying safe while making friends. We will talk about knowing how to be aware of and respond to any unsafe situations that may arise. We’ll cover important topics about safe friendships in a way that’s easy to understand.
Learning Session: Wednesday, May 15th, 6:00pm-7:30pm.
Technical Assistance Session: Wednesday, June 12th, 6:00pm-7:00pm.
Registration information will be sent directly to participants of the Learning Sessions.
Professionals
We learn about taking care of ourselves and being safe around others when we face challenges in life. When it comes to people we support, do we help them have more experiences or do we stop them from trying new things? How much risk is okay and sensible? We will explore these topics and more in this learning session for professionals.
Learning Session: Thursday, May 23rd, 10:00am-11:30am.
Technical Assistance Session: Thursday, June 20th, 10:00am-11:00am.
Registration information will be sent directly to participants of the Learning Sessions.
Communication = Connection Learning Sessions
In these sessions, we will discuss the many ways people communicate and some of the barriers to communication and how to work around them. Additionally…
- We will learn about how to be a good listener to friends, family, and people you work with.
- We will also look at some tools you can use to help build connections and friendships for and with people with disabilities.
- Finally, we will have a chance to test out some of the new skills we learn and connect with one another.
There is a session designed for Self-Advocates and family members, and a session designed for professionals, with information and learning opportunities unique to each group.
We will also hold Technical Assistance sessions for each group that will dig deeper into the tools, tips, and tricks for building friendships through communication.
**Please note you can only attend a Technical Assistance Session if you went to the Self-Advocate/family session or professional session. The registration form for the Technical Assistance Sessions will be sent out after February 12th.**
Schedule of Events
Learning Session – Thursday, February 8th, 2024; 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Professional Session
Learning Session – Monday, February 12th, 2024; 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Self-Advocates, Family & Friends Session
Technical Assistance Session – Wednesday, February 21st, 2024; 630 PM – 7:30 PM: Self-Advocates, Family & Friends Session
Technical Assistance Session – Thursday, February 29th, 2024; 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Professionals
Day at the Museum
The True Friendships Project is excited to announce a new free in-person event! We and our partners at Disability Pride PA are hosting a Day at the Museum. Below are the details of the event:
WHEN: Wednesday, August 14. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
WHERE: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
DESCRIPTION: We will have a private tour of museum exhibits. After the tour, we will have lunch together. Please note you must either bring your own lunch or bring money to buy lunch at the museum cafeteria.
Capacity is limited! Please only register if you can join us. Anyone under 18 must have a guardian with them. Support staff and guardians must also register to attend.
Get Involved
Tell Us What You Think
We are asking for people to complete a survey on friendships. Your responses will help us to create Learning Sessions to help create capacity for making and keeping friends.
Share your perspective and experiences on friendship by taking the True Friendships Survey!
Scan the QR code with your smart phone to access the survey or click the button below.
Share Resources
We are creating a Relationship Resource Guide that will soon be made public. You are invited to submit resources that you find useful for meeting and making friends.
This project is funded by Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council.
Photo attributed to Disabled And Here project. Photo was taken by Chona Kasinger.