ASA's 37th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders (July 13-15, 2006)

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Thursday, July 13, 2006: 3:15 PM-4:30 PM
553 A-B
#1756- Fostering Mutual Friendships - The Friend 2 Friend Model
In this presentation we will introduce the conceptual foundation, principles and practices of the Friend 2 Friend Model. Focusing on merging current theory, empirical research and evidence-based practices to demonstrate strategies found to be effective in fostering mutual friendships between children on the autism spectrum and their typical peers. Slides, video, and interactive hands-on activities will be used to illustrate these approaches with children representing diverse ages, abilities, cultural, linguistic, ethnic and socio-economic groups will be featured in this session.

Presenter:Heather McCracken, Author, Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society, Founder/Executive Director - Heather McCracken is founder/executive director of the FRIEND 2 FRIEND SOCIAL LEARNING SOCIETY in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a parent of three children, one with ASD. She actively delivers programs to children in schools and community groups, as well as presents on ASD at the University of British Columbia and other post-secondary institutions. She is a published author and speaker at professional conferences on the topic of fostering mutual friendship for children with ASD and the F2F model. Heather has received distinguished recognition for her work, which has been featured on radio and television news broadcasts, and in printed media.
 
All children want friends and to feel accepted within their peer groups. Despite inherent problems that children on the autism spectrum experience in socialization, there is strong evidence to suggest that they share many of the same desires and capacities for companionship and peer group acceptance as their typically developing peers. What differs is that their intentions are expressed in ways that are uniquely their own. Unfortunately, their subtle or awkward attempts to socialize are frequently misinterpreted by peers as signs of deviance or limited social interest. Without a system of support, they are highly vulnerable to being rejected or neglected by peers and thus deprived of opportunities to actualize their potential to socialize and play.

A child's peer group plays a decisive role in including or excluding children based on what is defined as acceptable or unacceptable behavior. Often children on the autism spectrum exhibit characteristics or behaviors which do not fit into peer perceptions of what is “normal.” Consequently, children on the autism spectrum may be teased and taunted by intolerant peers or simply overlooked by well meaning peers. As a result, these rejected and neglected children may become caught in a Social Void, which deprives them of opportunities to learn how to socialize and play in more conventional and socially accepted ways, and ultimately to form friendships.

In an effort to break this cycle, the Friend 2 Friend Programs where develop by Heather McCracken a parent of three, one of her children on the autism spectrum. The Friend 2 Friend Programs works to promote mutual friendships by educating the peer culture to adapt to include children with diverse abilities and unique ways of relating, communicating and playing.

The Friend 2 Friend (F2F) model is designed to foster mutual friendships between children on the autism spectrum and their typical peers by building understanding, acceptance and empathy of autism spectrum disorder among all peers. Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society offers innovative educational programs that include the Friend 2 Friend Puppet Presentations targeting children (ages 3-8) and the Friend 2 Friend Simulation-Game Presentations targeting children (ages 9 and up). Presented in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner, Friend 2 Friend Programs demystifies autism for children by modeling, labeling, explaining and normalizing characteristics of autism. The Friend 2 Friend Programs also works to promote successful social interactions between children on the autism spectrum and their typical peers by introducing children to five key learning goals and seven friendship tips (Friend 2 Friend 7-Basic Friendship Tips). These learning goals and friendship tips include pro-social communication strategies to help typical peers socialize and play with their peer on the autism spectrum.

The Friend 2 Friend Program Model was created by Heather McCracken a parent of three one of her children on the autism spectrum. To date Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society has visited over 35,000 children and adults throughout Canada and the US delivering the Friend 2 Friend Programs. The Friend 2 Friend Programs support all children develop to the best of their potential through the play and socialization that mutual friendships provide.

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