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!
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.
True Friendships Project
Building Friendships Learning Session
Values Into Action’s True Friendships Project is hosting an opportunity to learn more about building friendships. If you are interested in helping people with disabilities and their families explore using the LifeCourse Framework as a guide to expanding social connections, this session is for you!
Audience:
People with developmental disabilities, families, direct support professionals, school administrators and teachers, service providers.
Agenda will include:
Supporting Social Connectedness Presentation
- What is Charting the LifeCourse
- Foundational concepts
- Identifying useful tools
- Framework and tools in action
Draft Charting the LifeCourse “Friendship Portfolio” Sneak Peek!
- Review and gather feedback
Date: October 22, 2025
Time: 3:30PM-5:00PM
This session will be held virtually on Zoom. Below is the registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5aiOPpfHSX2KSGCEoOMHsA
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.