OUR DEEPEST THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Lilly Diabetes
Novo Nordisk
Dexcom
Omnipod
Tandem Diabetes Care
Beta Bionics
Welcome to the Virtual Friends for Life Orlando (VFFLO) homepage! COVID-19 has changed the ways we're able to connect, but it won't change the support, education, and community you'll find here at Children with Diabetes. We can't get together in person, so we're bringing Friends for Life Orlando to you through the magic of Zoom.
We're excited to bring the VFFLO experience to you and your families!
Whether it’s your 20th conference or your first time, you’re part of the Friends for Life family (aka “Fiffles”). Put on your green or orange bracelets and get ready to hang out with old friends and connect with new ones. If you haven't officially registered for the conference, you won't have the password required to access the sessions, so please make sure you're registered - click the button below to be brought to the registration page.
Do you have questions about this year’s conference format? Visit our Virtual FFL Orlando FAQ page!
We're so glad you're here!!
Children with Diabetes presents our 21st annual Friends for Life conference - no matter what. Even with COVID-19 causing conference cancellations across the country, the CWD family remains strong in our dedication to the diabetes community. So you can still join our international group of world-renowned clinicians, researchers, physicians, adults, children, and families with diabetes -- including siblings and children of adults with type 1 diabetes -- to learn the most current information in diabetes care. Attend virtual educational sessions and get cutting-edge diabetes management ideas. Participate in discussion groups via closed video chat, share your story, and help motivate and support others who are dealing with diabetes, too. Kids and teens, college students and professionals, young parents and grandparents, new and practiced diabetes clinicians will make new and lifelong friendships.
Despite going digital, Virtual FFL Orlando will still have the warmth and love of every other FFL event. This is a conference you'll never forget!
Have Questions? We Have Answers!
We know there will be a lot of questions about our new virtual format, and we're here to help. Check out our FAQ page to see if we have already addressed your concern, and please reach out to us if there's anything we haven't covered.
New to Friends for Life? These will help you navigate your first event.
Registering for the Virtual FFL Orlando Conference
Registration for Virtual Friends for Life Orlando 2020 is free, and every conference participant needs to register. We have a special code for our virtual conference - you'll see it on the dropdown menu.
IMPORTANT: If you already registered for our in-person event and would like a refund, please reach out to [email protected].
Your conference registration includes:
Participation in all virtual sessions (and we're offering a full slate of options!)
Your own, personal "Box of FFL," containing:
- One conference t-shirt per person
- One printed "Friends for Life Orlando 2020" program, with descriptions of our faculty, staff, sponsors, and stories from our FFL family
- Green and orange wristbands for your family
- Your conference name badges, lanyards ... and stickers!
- Giveaways and goodies from our generous sponsors
The "Box of FFL" is limited to U.S. addresses only and will be sent to the first 500 registrants. As of May 2020, we have met the limit for the Box of FFL But we'll have ways to purchase CWD swag from our Cafepress store in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Important Information About Hotel Reservations
If you reserved a room at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Online booking site is available for modifying and canceling reservations 24/7. Should you need assistance while booking your reservation, please contact Group Reservations by calling 407-939-4686 during business hours – Monday - Friday.
"The conference is virtual, but the friends are for life."
Read reports from Orlando 2019 and Orlando 2018 to see what the conference is all about
Should I Attend?
" Sometimes, when days are kind of rough, I’ll put on a green bracelet to remind myself that I am not alone. "
Is this just for children and their families?
In 2019, over 2,100 people came from 46 states and a dozen countries, including 700 first-timers.
47% of people with diabetes were adults
Friends for Life® began when our amazing Laura Billetdeaux asked CWD families if they wanted to vacation together. That annual gathering turned into the conference it is today, and includes T1 adults, grandparents, teens, tweens and toddlers, and siblings of people with diabetes.
Families & Individuals
with type 1 diabetes including toddlers, tweens, teens and young adults, as well as siblings
Adult T1s
their partners and spouses, and their children and friends
Siblings
who, even though they don't have diabetes, they still live with diabetes
Grandparents and Other Caregivers
who are supporting their family members with type 1 diabetes
Health Care Professionals
who work with people living with type 1 diabetes (CEUs are not offered)
"So many green bracelets symbolized those of us living with diabetes. Our loved ones wore orange. And everywhere I turned I didn’t feel the need to explain when I started to beep." - Cara Richardson
Conference Schedule at a Glance
Wednesday
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 - 9:00AM - 8:00PM
First Timers Orientation begins at 9:00 am. Focus groups, discussions, and presentations will be held all day. Youth Program activities begin. Opening of the Virtual Exhibit Hall at 6:00 pm.
Thursday
THURSDAY, JULY 16 - 9:00AM - 8:00PM
Sessions for adults and children are offered all day. The Virtual Exhibit Hall is open between sessions. The Virtual Family and Friends Banquet and Dance begins at 6:00 pm
Friday
FRIDAY, JULY 17 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sessions for adults and children all day. The Virtual Exhibit Hall closes at 2:00 pm. Dessert and Posters with the Faculty begins at 6:00 pm. Virtual Family Movie Night begins at 7:00 pm. Splash of DASH Virtual Mixology Session for adults begins at 8:00 pm.
Saturday
SATURDAY, JULY 18 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Attend the Advocacy Keynote in the morning. Learn about the discovery of insulin. Have a dance party in your kitchen, or do some yoga to keep moving. Saturday evening features the Family Fun Night and Teen Dance - more details on those social events coming soon!
Sunday
SUNDAY, JULY 19 - 8:00AM - 10:00 AM
Shared Virtual Farewell Breakfast and tearful goodbyes.
Virtual Friends for Life Orlando 2020 will be delivered live via Zoom meetings and webinars. Please download and install the latest Zoom client (Version 5.0.4 as of June 3, 2020) on your devices. Zoom 5 has enhanced security features to ensure that you can experience Virtual Friends for Life Orlando 2020 safely. Learn more at Zoom.us. If you've never used Zoom, you can test it out using Zoom's test room at zoom.us/test.
Get in the Spirit for Virtual FFL Orlando 2020
Virtual FFL Zoom Backgrounds
We've made some Zoom backgrounds for you to use during Virtual FFL Orlando.
Print Your Own FFL Bracelets
Green, Orange, and Yellow - ready to print, cut out, and wear during Virtual FFL Orlando.
Virtual FFL Orlando 2020 Logo
Want to print your own Virtual FFL Orlando shirt, make a mug, or share in social media? Get the logo.
Faculty and Staff
CWD has invited some of the top experts in the diabetes community to share their experience and wisdom with you, and our Friends for Life staff is working hard to bring you a great virtual conference experience.
Photos from Past FFL Conferences
