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Pure Friendship for Individuals with Special Needs
Tzvi Schectman
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23 Special Needs Organizations to "Like" on Facebook

You probably already know that Facebook can be a great  resource for special needs families. There are hundreds of special needs organizations providing help, support, resources and products for families with children who have special needs. So you don't have to we spent some time scouring Facebook for some great special needs pages.Below we provide you with 23 Special Needs Facebook pages to follow. Hope you "Like" them all!

1. American Association of People with Disabilities

The American Association of People with Disabilities promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities.  Their Facebook page posts news, and a regular collection of online resources. The organization occasionally posts relevant questions for forum-type discussions.

2. American-Speech-Language Association

The American-Speech-Language Association is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 150,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Their Facebook page advocates for their cause with regular and timely posts on the latest resources, technology and relevant political news.

3. Angelman Syndrome Foundaition

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation's mission is to advance the awareness and treatment of Angelman Syndrome through education and information, research, and support for individuals with Angelman Syndrome, their families and other concerned parties. The Angelman Syndrome’s Facebook page posts a good deal of research features, inspirational stories, donation events, petition and political alerts plus their fund-raising walk celebrations and information.

4. Asperger’s Awareness Community

The Asperger’s Awareness Community is an online community with 68,000 members. They are a member-focused organization and their Facebook page is organized as a forum for expression and discussion for all things Asperger’s. It’s a well-organized group; the page administrator sends out a discussion topic every evening and is met with enthusiastic responses, including views, comments and personal messages.

5. Autism Awareness

Autism Awareness is an online community primarily dedicated to spreading the word about Autism. Their Facebook page promotes apparel and products that promotes Autism awareness and raises money for Autism research.

6. Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism. Autism speaks raises public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society. On Facebook, their organization posts about events, and lists relevant online information. They are an online source of support for parents, and regularly promote and  celebrate their fundraising events online.

7. Autism Support Network

Autism-Support-Network is an open support community. Their goal is to abbreviate the struggles individuals and families shoulder when faced with autism – whether that means the initial diagnosis, the day-to-day living and coping needed, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information.  ASN’s Facebook page creates a forum by asking popular questions. The organization also posts numerous online resources and inspirational community stories.

8. Autism United

Autism United is a resource of information that helps people to develop a better understanding of Autism and what people are experiencing. Their Facebook page posts questions and invites a forum environment, while also providing timely informative posts on autism-relevant technology and media coverage.

9. Best Buddies

Best Buddies is a non-profit that works to create a global movement of opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their Facebook page focuses on support and calls for inspirational personal stories. Their local chapters are very active on the site, and regularly promote and celebrate their individual fund-raising or awareness events.

10. Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association

The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America maintains a mission to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia so that each child is afforded their best opportunity to develop speech. CASANA has an interactive Facebook page. They promote involvement, state chapter events.

11. Easter Seals

Easter Seals provides support and services to ensure that people living with autism and other disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. Their online community uses Facebook to post information; inspiration stories and it also function as an informative online resource.

12. Friendship Circle of Michigan

Friendship Circle is a non-profit organization that provides programs and support to the families of individuals with special needs. In addition to assisting individuals with special needs, the Friendship Circle enriches its vast network of volunteers by enabling them to reap the rewards of selfless giving. Friendship Circle uses its Facebook page to provide resources to families with special needs, collect feedback from families and for the occasional giveaway contest.

13. National Down Syndrome Society

The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome. As a national organization, the NDSS Facebook page posts the achievements and activities of their state chapters, their national fund-raising events, details on its awareness campaign, and pertinent information on educational opportunities.

 14. NICHCY

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities or NICHCY, is a national source of information on disabilities in children, special education laws and effective educational practices. Their Facebook page is very informative and focuses on posting numerous resources for parents, school administrators and teachers. The organization maintains relevant posts which inform their community about new technology and online resources.

15. People With Disabilities- Rock

People With Disabilities- Rock is an enthusiastic and supportive Facebook page meant to entertain, inspire and show the potential in each person, disabled or not, to rock. Note: People With Disabilities- Rock is not an non profit organization.

16. Special Olympics

Special Olympics provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization has a strong online following – their Facebook page promotes the many competitions happening nation-wide while it celebrates the success of its many athletes. The organization uses Facebook to discuss their fund-raising events, voting contests – they also include a great deal of inspirational or supportive personal profiles.

17. Stop Discrimination Against Special Needs

Stop Discrimination Against Special Needs is an online community. Their Facebook page is for families and friends of special needs to post links about discrimination on Facebook and in general society against special needs. Their page provides its members with the relevant and current international and global stories and links, research.

18. Spina Bifida Association

The mission of the Spina Bifida Association is to promote the prevention of Spina Bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected. SBA has a network of affiliates and local chapters who advocate using education, advocacy, research, and service. Their Facebook page functions as an online resource for information, relevant media posts, and research project promotions. The page is also heavily used as a forum for encouraging and inspirational stories.

19. Spread the Word to End the Word

Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing campaign by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and other supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed).” The organization encourages people to pledge to stop using the R-word. Spread the Word to End the Word’s Facebook page is dedicated to posting inspirational stories, accounts, and video coverage of efforts to end the use of the R- word.

20. The Autism Society

The Autism Society is a non-profit committed to meaningful participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Their Facebook page functions as an information hub– they post advice, opportunities, and many links to online resources.

21. The Arc

The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. The Arc’s Facebook page posts timely online resources for their community and maintain an active link to disability-related media and political actions.

22. United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a variety of disabilities. Their mission is to advance independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through a supportive network of affiliates. The Facebook page for UCP has success stories, inspirational support resources, and advocacy information. The organization also keeps their page updated with up-to-date news and political posts.

23. Williams Syndrome Association

The Williams Syndrome Association is a non-profit organization that strives to enrich the lives of individuals and families affected by Williams syndrome, and similar conditions, through support, research and education. Their Facebook page focuses on helping families or individuals increase public awareness research, and understanding of this condition. The local chapters are very active on Facebook and post pictures, promotions and alerts for their awareness and fund-raising events. Did we miss anyone? Tell us in the comments below.

WRITTEN ON December 24, 2013 BY:

Tzvi Schectman

Tzvi Schectman is the Family Coordinator for the Friendship Circle of Michigan and the Editor of the the Friendship Circle Blog. You can connect with Tzvi on LinkedIn and Google+