The Friends Life Community is a day program in Nashville, TN that provide opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to grow socially, gain independence, and be active members of society. To learn more about what their program entails, please see the frequently asked questions answered below.
Program Information
The weekday program runs on a trimester system with class rotations so participants can try different classes and discover their interests.
Each participant will receive an individual program plan to help determine their interests and goals while in the program
Throughout the day, they have a morning meeting, classes in the morning and in the afternoon, and lunch, with various outings during the week such as exercise classes, volunteer opportunities to gain job skills, grocery store outings, etc.
Class topics include:
For more information on what each topic entails, click on their corresponding links!
There is transportation options for participants who live within 6 miles of the community.
Yes, if a participant is interested in finding a job, the Friends Life Community can help with finding a job, along with providing job coaching during the process.
*Since finding a job is not the main goal of Friends Life, they accept participants who might not want a job and can support them for as many years as they want.
It is located in Nashville, TN at 4414 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204.
Friends Life is open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm excluding holidays.
No, participants can join the day program from two to five days per week depending on preference and availability.
Participants can also attend for half days if that works better with their schedules.
Friends Life Community has around 35 participants each day.
No, participants are required to bring their own lunches.
Private sessions where participants can work with a professional coach to establish their specific needs and goals and help them achieve them.
Initial Session: $120/session, Coaching sessions: $40/session
Sessions that use techniques such as projective play, storytelling, and purposeful improvisation to help participants set new behaviors, practice relational skills, and develop flexibility.
Sessions: $70/session
The Friends Life Community puts on two to three events per month for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community.
Friends of 615: A social club with a monthly membership fee where group members choose the activities. Through active participation, members can build long term relationships with each other.
An ice cream truck run by the participants of the Friends Life Community at events and pop up markets. This is a great opportunity for participants to gain important job skills while also getting paid for their work.
The Friends Life Community may be a good fit for you if:
You are looking to improve your independence
You are wanting to participate in the community while also socializing with peers
You are wanting to go to college or get a job but feel like you need some more independence skills before doing so
You want to continue living at home while having activities throughout the day
You are interested in acting, art, or other artistic programs
You may not have the desire to get a job or go to college after graduating and want to have other activities to do during the day
You live in the Nashville, TN area
To qualify for the Friends Life Community, you have to be:
At least 18 years old
Have a documented intellectual or developmental disability
Independence with feeding and toileting
Safety awareness while in a community setting
Call (615) 730-9370 or submit a program enrollment request at https://friendslife.org/pages/program-interest-form to set up a tour.
Once you have come for a tour, they will have you fill out an application.
Potential participants will complete 2 assessment days to see if they are a good fit for the program.
They will sit in on classes, spend the two days with the participants, and join all of the activities that other participants are apart of to get the full experience of what it would be like as a Friends Life participant.
There is an application fee that covers the two assessment days.
$48-$80 per day, depending upon schedule chosen
They do offer scholarships on a case by case basis.
If you are interested in a scholarship, contact the program director at (615) 730-9370.
There also might be the ability to be reimbursed for services through ECF Choices.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
If you still have unanswered questions, you can contact:
Patsy Webb, Program Director- patsy@friendslife.org, (615) 730-9370
Where can I find more information?
You can find more information from their website at: https://friendslife.org/
Can I take a tour of the Friends Life Community?
Yes! Having a tour of the community is the first step towards applying for their program. Reach out by phone at (615) 730-9370 to set up a tour.
Do they have social media I can follow to learn more?
Follow the Friends Life Community on Instagram @friendslifecommunity and like them on Facebook at Friends Life Community!