The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

The FRIEND program, Fostering Relationships in Early Network Development, provides opportunities for students on the autism spectrum to improve social communication skills in a natural setting, prompted by their peers and teachers. The FRIEND program describes how to develop and implement a FRIEND group for students in the home, school or community, and includes guidelines for peer sensitivity training and strategies for promoting successful social interactions. The FRIEND program can be adapted for students of any age or skill level. The movement toward the educational inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders has been encouraged by professionals who argue that exposure to typically developing children will enhance the competence of children with special needs. However, it is not enough to merely place a child with ASD in the same classroom with typical peers. Without the implementation of a comprehensive social-skills program, students with autism are vulnerable and often neglected and rejected by their typical classmates. This rejection not only compromises their academic and social gains but can have detrimental long-term effects.

The FRIEND program, Fostering Relationships in Early Network Development, provides an opportunity for students on the autism spectrum to improve social communication skills in a natural setting, prompted by their peers and staff. This program is designed to assist educators, parents and others that impact the student's daily educational experience.

The FRIEND program describes how to develop and implement a FRIEND group for students in the home, school or community, which includes guidelines for peer sensitivity training for classmates, strategies for promoting successful social interactions, tips on how to create a FRIEND group and ideas for activities. The FRIEND program can be adapted to students of any age or skill level. Encouraging a better understanding of a student's challenges through positive social interactions helps support the creation of friendships and participation in the school community.

Major Points:

•An easy-to-use comprehensive social skills program for students with ASD and their neurotypical peers

•Understanding learning characteristics and social communication differences and challenges for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

•Peer sensitivity training for neurotypical peers in the school setting

•ASD awareness training for school staff

•Resource information

Participant Outcomes:

After completing this presentation, participants will be able to:

1.Describe the characteristics of ASD. 2.Describe learning characteristics associated with ASD. 3.Understand the abilities and challenges of social communication skills across all experiences in the educational setting (i.e., lunch and recess). 4.Understand the challenges in the development of relationships with peers and the ability to establish true friendships. 5.Develop opportunities for appropriate peer interactions, social communication skill development and lasting friendships through strategic programming. 6.Facilitate social groups for students with ASD and their peers. 7.Facilitate appropriate activities and interactions for students in a group setting with a range of skill levels and interests. 8.Promote inclusion through understanding, tolerance and acceptance for typical peers, staff, and individuals with ASD.

Content Area: Social Skills