Circle of Friends is a school inclusion program for students with special needs that takes place at lunch on 17 campuses all over the Imperial Valley.

This program breaks down barriers as students learn that we all want the same things: to be accepted and to develop genuine friendships.

Students with developmental and physical disabilities are often isolated, ignored or invisible on school campuses, eating lunch alone or at segregated tables thus limiting their opportunities to interact with non-disabled peers.

Circle of Friends helps solve that as it builds a circle of non-disabled peers around each student with special needs. Starting with weekly lunches, everyone gains an understanding that we all are more alike than we are different. These groups share common interests, support each other and just have fun together!