The Friendship Circle of San Diego, a Chabad-Lubavitch organization that serves individuals with special needs by pairing them with volunteers from the local community, has been recognized as one of the most innovative programs in the country for enriching the lives of individuals with autism.

The honor was gained as part of a competitive application process conducted by Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism. The "AFAA Applauds" program is a national initiative recognizing high-quality support for adults living with autism spectrum disorders.

The Friendship Circle of San Diego was selected for results-oriented community life programs and has been featured in a video presentation prepared by the AFAA. Community life includes social skills, transportation, recreational, safety, spirituality and other services that improve daily experiences and future outcomes for those living with autism.

AFAA will promote the winning programs as cutting-edge models for other organizations across the country. The goal, they say, is to meet an increased demand for effective services, as well as to provide accurate information on promising practices and generate awareness about a range of disorders.

To that end, AFAA has produced a video detailing the award-winning work of the Friendship Circle of San Diego, in the hope that their efforts will serve as a role model in the creation of similar programming around the nation.

The Friendship Circle of San Diego pairs individuals with special needs with volunteers from the local community, supervised by expert professional staff.
The Friendship Circle of San Diego pairs individuals with special needs with volunteers from the local community, supervised by expert professional staff.