Amelia’s Friends Provides Connection, Friendships and Inclusion for All
Katerina Alder, founder of Amelia’s Friends Foundation, noticed that as her daughter Amelia grew older, she began to be left out of parties, gatherings and friendships at school. The daughter she describes as “a radiant light in our lives – full of joy, determination and a pure-hearted love of life,” was often left on the margins. “The birthday party invitations slowed. The playdates stopped,” Alder says. “She would ask why she didn’t have real friends.”
Alder says that her classmates weren’t purposely cruel, but because Amelia has Down syndrome, they felt uncomfortable or lacked understanding.
Inspired by her daughter and the belief that “every child, regardless of ability, deserves joy, friendship and inclusion,” Alder launched Amelia’s Friends Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is “to create moments where kids like Amelia can feel seen, loved and connected – not as an exception, but as part of the whole.”
Too often, families with children like Amelia face a lack of meaningful social opportunities, says Alder. “Kids with disabilities are often left out of typical childhood experiences – not by intention, but by a lack of inclusion and awareness.”
To fill that gap, Amelia’s Friends hosts inclusive play meetups, seasonal events and parents’ respite events. “Each gathering is thoughtfully designed to help children feel seen, supported and celebrated.”
The goal of the meetups is to foster confidence, build friendships and, above all, to ignore labels and have fun. “Every smile, every connection, and every ‘Can we come back again?’ reminds me why we do this work,” Alder says. “It’s more than inclusion – it’s about belonging.”
Partnerships and Plans for the Future
Alder says feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Community partners such as Miss Shelly’s School of Dance, Philbrook Museum of Art, Will’s House and other venues make it possible for the foundation to host monthly events.
Next year, Alder says she plans to launch a Peer Ambassador Program to train neurotypical teens to co-lead events with peers who have disabilities. “These ambassadors will help host game nights, art workshops and community service projects alongside their peers,” Alder says, “forming real friendships built on respect and shared experiences.”
As an educator for 30 years, parent to Amelia and a son who is an OU graduate, Alder has a lifetime of supporting children. She came to the U.S. from Belarus in 2008. When Amelia was born, doctors told Alder not to expect too much, certainly not to expect her to speak two languages. Today, at 14, Amelia speaks English and Russian, enjoys books, horseback riding, music, chess, tennis, swimming – and has a joyful sense of humor.
Alder’s message to parents of children of all abilities is this: “Believe in your children. Challenge them, nurture their strengths, and take it one step at a time. Be consistent, even when it’s hard. Our kids have amazing potential—sometimes it just needs a little extra time, love, and creativity to bloom.
To help Amelia’s Friends Foundation grow, Alder says she is always looking for compassionate young people (ages 10-18) to be peer buddies. She also welcomes volunteers to organize crafts, lead games or to help in other ways. Financial support ensures that all the activities are free for participants. For details, visit ameliasfriendsfoundation.com.
