Friendship Ventures dba Children's Disability Service

We’re excited to participate in the Bremer Give-to-the-Kids Challenge. Please support us by making a donation through the Bremer Give-to-the-Kids Challenge Project Page http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Bremer-Kids-Challenge-Children-s-Disability-Service. Only donations made through the Bremer Give-to-the-Kids Challenge Project Page between 8am Tuesday, September 28 and 4pm Tuesday, October 5 are eligible to be matched by The Otto Bremer Foundation.

Help a family like Ellie’s!

As told by Ellie’s mom, “FRIENDSHIP VENTURES gave us a close, caring, welcoming and best of all relaxed atmosphere to take our daughter. By relaxed, I mean that when I said ‘she head bangs when she gets mad…or sometimes when she is happy’…the counselor said ‘OK, we can handle that.’ When I said ‘she needs a special bed to sleep in and we made one for her out of pvc pipe and mesh,’ they said ‘whatever you’re comfortable with, we can work with that.’ So then I said, ‘she needs one on one help and that help might mean being bit or scratched or getting their hair pulled.’ The people at Friendship Ventures said …’oh yeah, that sometimes happens.’ Are you kidding me? None of the fears I have about leaving my daughter with them seemed to faze them!!! This place is nothing less than a Godsend! I signed her up for camp immediately .”

Mission: Enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities, their families and other caregivers, by providing services that educate and support individuals in achieving their highest level of self-worth, independence and participation in the community.

Programs Respite and family services - provides a break from the daily demands of caring for a child or adult with special needs through the respite care program. This program offers children and adults a home-like setting to relax and re-energize. The sojourn program and other family orientated services are offered throughout the year in which entire families and other caregivers can enjoy the healing and supportive environment of children's disability service association/friendship ventures. Education and training services - provides experiential learning and environmental education services for schools and other nonprofit groups and transitional employment and work related training for people with and without disabilities. Resident camp - provides opportunities for people with and without disabilities to enjoy the benefit from year-round, outdoor recreational and leisure activities located at Camp New Hope, Camp Friendship, Eden Wood Center and camp adventure (a highly structured resident program for children with attention deficit disorders -add/adhd). Traditional camp and resort activities and specialty programs help teach new skills, build confidence improve self esteem and promote understanding, Ventures travel - program offers a variety of small group vacation experiences on a year round basis. Vacationers cooperatively plan the details of their trip assisted by specially trained travel guides. Both in and out of state trips use public recreation and community facilities.