Our Mission
To provide adults with developmental disabilities the opportunities to grow personally, develop socially, and enjoy community as they experience life together.
Creating Opportunities. Changing Perceptions.
Located in Nashville, TN, Friends Life Community believes in the power of inclusion and connection to build community and improve quality of life for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Here individuals with disabilities are given the opportunities and support they need and deserve through a holistic personal approach of instruction and support. We serve to connect individuals with disabilities and their caregivers to community.
When individuals with IDD age out of high school and other traditional support programs, there are few places to turn to with resources that can help them continue to grow and be challenged to live their fullest lives.
Our services provide participants with opportunities to achieve their full potential and become empowered to live as independently as possible.
We meet participants where they are to help them pursue personal and vocational goals step by step so that they can live their lives to the greatest potential.
On our campus and throughout the greater community of Nashville, our program offerings in life skills, service learning, and the arts are customized for each participant, maximizing hands-on experience, creativity, and self-advocacy.
WEEKDAY PROGRAM
Helping Friends grow in self-advocacy, social awareness, safety, and daily living skills.
ADVOCACY THROUGH THE ARTS
Visual and performing arts build skills in self-advocacy, self-expression, and confidence.
COACHING
We match an individual and their unique needs with one of our highly-trained professional coaches for customized, 1:1 support.
SOCIAL CLUB
From pizza & movie nights, to bowling, to local hiking trails, activities are designed to be laid-back and relational.
A sense of belonging and personal fulfillment come together when there is a safe and supportive environment where every participant is encouraged to find their voice and practice self-advocacy, giving them the dignity to pursue their dreams.
“Since Jon was born, we’ve had to create everything that he’s ever needed. So, we had to create Friends Life. We want him to have a future as normal as possible, the same life we have.”– Russ and Rhonda Phillippi, Founders
Our History
Founded in 2008, by four families of individuals with IDD and a community leader, FLC began as an after-school program in the basement of Hillsboro Presbyterian Church.
FLC became a five-day-a-week program in 2011 and relocated to 4414 Granny White Pike, where the program continues to reside today.