Frequently asked questions: Friends
What is Friends?
Our Friends section is a really easy way to reach out to special needs families in your neighborhood. You can find individuals and families with similar life situations, live chat with logged in friends and set up play dates or social activities for yourself or your child, teen or adult with disabilities. You can even do a keyword search of interests.
How does Friends work?
In order for Friends to work the way it's intended, registered users fill out their personal and family profie. To do that, cilck on your profile link at the top right of the page and then update your interests, family info and photo. There's even a place to let others know if you need help or can give help on a particular topic.
To search, click on Community in our main menu and select Find friends. You can perform a search without entering any information. The search results will display all One Place for Special Needs members closest to your home and then outward. You can click a member's profile details to learn about the member and his or her family. You can also search using an age range, gender or any keywords such as a diagnosis or special interest (e.g., Barney, Titanic).
Will my personal information be kept private?
Yes. Only your username is shown on our website and you have the ability to hide your gender, age and location. Only birth years, gender designation and interests are used for your children. Any contact with members is done through our mail system to keep your email address private. The only way for a fellow member to obtain specific personal information is if you include it yourself in the text of your profile. You have control over how much or how little information you would like shown.
We do have the ability for your personal friends to find you through a name or email search. For instance, you might have told a friend about this website. After they register, they could use your name or email in a Friend search to see if you pop up.
I really need help. Can I ask members for advice?
Yes. The interests section in your profile lets you tell fellow members what questions or topics you need help with. You can also check off a box that puts up an "I need help" icon on your profile. Members can even search for all members who have this icon in order to give them advice. You can even search for members who offer help to see if they might assist you.
I'd like to help other families on this website.
If you are a knowledgeable member regarding a particular disability or topic, you can let others know about it in the Interests section of your profile. Check the box that puts up an “I can help” icon on your profile. Members who need help can even search for all members with this icon and ask for your advice.
Can professionals be part of the Friends directory?
The Friends directory is limited to individual/family members. However, we are allowing professionals to appear ONLY if they are open to sharing their expertise with families. To do that, go to the Interests page in the Account section and let others know what topics you are knowledgeable about. Then check the box that puts up an “I can help” icon on your profile. Members may then contact you via our email for your assistance.
I’ve found someone I want to contact. Now what do I do?
You’ve clicked on someone’s profile and now you would like to introduce yourself. In the person’s profile, next to their photo, you can click on Email this member. When you send this form, the person will receive an email letting them know they have a message. Then they can contact you back.
How do I make someone my friend?
Click on the person’s profile. Next to their photo, you can click on "Add to friends." Here you can email a brief message. When you send this form, the person will receive an email letting them know they have an invite. They can then accept or deny your invitation to become a friend.
If the person does become your friend, they will now appear in your Friends list. Your friends appear on your Start page after you log in.
Chatting with a friend
Once you have added some friends, you can live chat with them if they happen to be online at the same time.
Open their profile and click on Chat with this member. A little box will appear on your screen. You can send your friend a message. This will open a box on your friend's screen and you two can converse. If your friend is offline, the box will have the message, “Other party is offline. Pease try to contact them later.
While you can live chat one-on-one with friends who are online, you are unable to do a group chat with all your friends. You may wish to create a group on our site for all your friends. This allows everyone to live chat together.
What can I use friends for?
Here are some suggestions for using our Friends feature:
- Set up play dates for your child
- Start a local play group
- Encourage social activities for your teen or adult with disabilities
- Set up a local social group
- Reach out to families in your neighborhood
- Create your own personal circle of friends for support
- Invite a parent out for coffee
- Organize a local mom’s night out
- Organize a local special needs group
- Organize a school district parent group
- Invite area families to a local outing
What do the icons in Friends lists mean?
Awesome
member: This member is helping One Place for Special
Needs continue its work in finding services, organizations and
resources for special needs families. You
can help, too!
I
need help: This member needs help or advice from other
One Place for Special Needs members. Click the Details link to
see what questions the member has.
I
can help: This member is knowledgeable and willing to talk
to other members. Click the Details link to send an email.
Bookmarked:
You have bookmarked this member.
Viewed:
You have viewed this member's profile since your last login.
Online Online: This member is online. Click the Details link to chat with the member.
New New: This member has registered since your last login.
Updated Updated: This member has updated their profile since your last login.
Click here to learn all the ways you can use Friends to benefit your family and community.