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This unique, community website gives adults with Down syndrome a safe venue to chat, visit and learn about each other’s interests so peer relationships can develop online and in person. The primary goal of the website is to increase social support and inclusion in the community in order to decrease the social isolation identified by adults with Down syndrome.
What is the Friendship Network?
The Friendship Network is a social networking website created and hosted by the The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (DSAGC). The primary goal of the website is to create opportunities for adults with Down syndrome to communicate and connect with their peers.
If you would like to volunteer to become a moderator of the Friendship Network please contact Janet (janet@dsagc.com).
For an introduction to the Friendship Network and more information about features and how they work, download the manual.
Friendship Network Features:
Security
Reasonable safeguards have been established to make the Friendship Network as secure and safe as possible. Users of the Friendship Network are required to signup to be a Member of the website. Access to the website is available following approval by Administrators and Moderators. Sensitive, private information is not shared, public, or accessible to anyone other than DSAGC administrators. Communications between parties are contained within the system unless otherwise established.
As with any social networking website, it is recommended that personal and private information such as full name, address, and phone number not be disclosed. Additional safety precautions are available at OnGuard Online (http://onguardonline.gov/socialnetworking_youth.html).
User Profiles
To become a member of the Friendship Network, users must signup for an account and be approved by the website Administrator. The public user profile provides an opportunity for the user to customize their persona in the Friendship Network. Users may select a unique username, avatar, likes, geographic location, and enter additional descriptive qualities in a text area.
The information in the User Profile is used to make connections with other individuals that have similar likes, descriptions, and location.
Message Board
The Message Board is an area of the website where users can post messages about specified categories and topics such as Movies, Pets, and Sports. Users may suggest topics they would like to discuss with the community and post messages to other users topics.
Messages posted to the system are monitored by Administrators and Moderators.
Chatroom
Monthly chatroom sessions are scheduled that allow Friendship Network users the opportunity to meet online at a pre-determined date and time in order to meet celebrities, discuss television shows, form new friendships, etc.
All Chatroom discussions are monitored by Friendship Network administrators and moderators.
Calendar
A calendar of events is maintained by the DSAGC. The Calendar shows events, meetings, and other happenings that provide opportunities for meeting people in public. It also shows events sponsored by the DSAGC.
Links
This area of the Friendship Network serves as a reference of other websites. The links are organized by categories similar to the Message Board and Likes.
Email between users is limited to the Friendship Network system. Users may choose to be notified, via their regular email, of messages received on the Friendship Network. Users must login to read any emails sent within the system. A list of Friends is available that includes other users who have been accepted as a Friend.
Search
Users may find friends in the Friendship Network by selecting interests or using a keyword search. From the list of matches, users may select others to "Be a Friend". If accepted, that user will appear in the email list of both individuals.
Help
Users have instant access to the Administrator using the Help button located throughout the system. Help may be used to ask for assistance, technical issues, or to notify Administrators of inappropriate content.
upcoming
2/7/2012 - Transition Bootcamp: Exiting High School
2/21/2012 - Transition Bootcamp: Exiting High School (Session 2)
3/25/2012 - 3rd Annual World Down Syndrome Day 5K Race and Walk
