What the Friend 2 Friend Program is all about:

The Autism Calgary Association is proud to be an official Satellite Agency of the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society for the province of Alberta.  Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society has developed and designed programs to demystify autism spectrum and related social-communication disorders and to promote understanding, acceptance, empathy and mutual rewarding friendship for all children.

The Friend 2 Friend Program Presenters visit schools and other community settings providing peer education and direct support to help typical children understand "what it feels like to have an Autism Spectrum Dissorder" and to teach children specific friendship skills that can help them play and socialize with a peer with ASD.

Autism Calgary Association delivers the following three Friend 2 Friend Programs:

To Book a Friend 2 Friend Presentation (in Alberta)

For Information on each presentation:

• Puppet Presentations (Pre-School to Grade 3)
• Simulation Game (Grades 4 to 12)
• The Adult Community Presentation

Visit the web site for the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society to learn more about their other exciting programs.

Autism Calgary's Alberta Friend 2 Friend Team

Booking a Friend 2 Friend Presentation:   (Back to Top)

To book a Friend 2 Friend Puppet Presentation, a Simulation Game Presentation, or the Community Presentation:

• leave a message for Val at (403) 287-9386
• or send an e-mail message to f2f@autismcalgary.com

General Booking Information

• The word autism is mentioned in a sensitive and age-appropriate manner
• We are able to provide a maximum of 4-5 presentations in a single school day
• Presentations Days; Tuesdays and Wednesdays only

Program Details

Puppet Presentations:
(45-50 children maximum attendance in a single presentation)
Preschool to grades 3-4 (ages 3-10)
45 minutes in length

Simulation Game Presentation:
(50-60 students maximum attendance in a single presentation)
Grades 4-12 (ages 10-19)
Presentation material adapted to age of audience
45 minutes in length

Adult Community Presentation:
Ideal for Educators, Parents, Professionals
Beneficial to anyone supporting individuals with ASD
90 minutes in length
Minimum Donation: $250 to $500

Program Donations (fees):

• Please make cheques payable to: Autism Calgary Association
• Invoices will be delivered on presentation day. Receipts will be issued and sent by mail.

Note: The majority of program costs are funded through charitable fundraising initiatives. Program fees are considered as a donation – additional donations are gratefully accepted.

Room Requirements:

One quiet, empty room for the duration of the presentations (classes come to us at the scheduled times).  We are unable to move from room to room due to the amount of equipment and set-up time involved.

• to accommodate 2-3 classes comfortably - seated on the floor
• minimum of 15 minutes required for set up

Puppet Presentations :    (Back to Top)

Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society's Puppet Presentations are a unique and innovative program that provide autism awareness training and peer education for children ages 3 to 9.  Friend 2 Friend presenters use child-size puppets to act out specifically tailored scripts which focus on differences, similarities and friendships for children with ASD and their peers.

The 5 key learning goals of each puppet presentation are to:

1. Recognize and accept difference in ourselves and others.
2. Recognize individuals with differences/ASD as valuable friends.
3. Recognize that it is important to ask questions and express feelings.
4. Empathize with what it feels like to have differences/ASD.
5. Promote positive relationships with all children.

Our puppet presentations also include our Seven (7) Friendship Tips which help to teach children how to interact successfully with their friends with ASD and related topics such as self-regulating behaviours, communication styles etc.

An overview of a typical 45 minute Puppet Presentation Program for children:

1. The Intro: To begin each puppet presentation we introduce the presenters, the puppets and theme of the play "how to be a good friend".
   
2. The Puppet Play: (Visual Learning) Each play follows a script targeting various types of symptoms specific to children with ASD such as self-regulating behaviours, communication and stereotypical behaviours. For each behaviour we build awareness by modeling, labeling, explaining and normalizing each symptom using a fun and entertaining manner which is age-appropriate and sensitive.
   
3. What Did Crystal Learn?: (Auditory Learning) Directly after the play our lead presenter joins the children on the floor to review the learning goals in a brief but meaningful question and answer period.
   
4. Pass the Puppet Circle: (Tactile Learning) We save the best for last when we ask the children to form a circle and give them the opportunity to play with the puppets. During this time our teacher puppets visit one-on-one with each child to review the learning goals once again.
   
5. I'm a Good Friend: We end each session with a reward for their participation by providing each child an I'm A Good Friend Sticker.
   
6. Follow-Up Guide: Each teacher receives a Friend 2 Friend Follow-Up Guide which contains relevant information on friendship between children with ASD and their peers. It also contains two original Friend 2 Friend Booklets; "Teachers Resource Guide" and the "Autism 4 Kids" a take-home booklet for children.

* Please Note: All Friend 2 Friend Programs are inclusive autism demystification programming therefore we encourage the participation of all children including those on the autism spectrum. The word “autism” is mentioned during our puppet presentation in a sensitive and respectful manner. However, the focus child (child on the autism spectrum) is never singled out or identified.

The Simulation Game :    (Back to Top)

The Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game Presentation is a unique and innovative program that provides autism demystification and educational training for children ages 10 and up.  Friend 2 Friend presenters visit schools/classrooms to create a sensory and communication "Simon Says" game to help students understand "what it feels like to have ASD" and promote empathy and friendships for students with ASD among their peer group.

Simulation Game for students aged 9-19 (up to grade 12);  This 50 minute presentation is designed to promote understanding of ASD from the child’s perspective and promote empathy and mutual friendships for children aged 9-18.

1. The Game
2. Senses and ASD
3. Communication and ASD
4. I Have the Kind of Mind
5. Self-Regulating Behaviours
6. The Seven Friendship Tips
7. I Want Friends
8. Questions and Answers
9. Follow-Up Guide

Each student will receive firework glasses and teachers will receive a copy of the Friend 2 Friend Follow-Up Guide.

The Adult Community Presentation :    (Back to Top)

Fostering Mutual Friendships for Children with ASD: The Friend 2 Friend Model

Presented by Marie-Claude Osterath with support from Friend2Friend Calgary Team members

Seminar Description:

The purpose of this 90 minute session is to illustrate the principles and practices of the Friend 2 Friend Teaching Model. The goal of this seminar is to help participants empathize with “what it feels like to have autism” and implement strategies in homes, schools and daycares that will foster mutual friendships between children with autism and their peers.
Participants will play a sensory and communication simulation game to experience the frame of mind of an individual with autism. In addition, participants will learn the importance of friendships and receive practical tips and suggestions on supporting socially inclusive classrooms and community environments. Using video, experiential game, stories and personal experiences, we will illustrate how to promote understanding, acceptance, empathy and friendships for individuals with autism within their peer group.

Join Us To Discover:

1. What Does it Feel Like to Have Autism – the Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game
2. Overview of the F2F Demystification Teaching Model
3. Overview of the F2F Programs

This seminar is suitable for parents, educators, therapists and other practitioners supporting children on the autism spectrum.

Introducing the Alberta Friend 2 Friend Team:    (Back to Top)

The Autism Calgary Association Friend 2 Friend team continue to commit countless hours of passion and dedication making this program a huge success.  Our presenters introduce unique insight in delivering each presentation due to the personal impact Autism Spectrum Dissorder has had on their own families.  With a personal connection to Autism coupled with their complementary professional backgrounds, they are delivering first rate performances!

Lori Gibbs	Marie-Claude Osterrath	Valerie Bunz
Jeff Dewar	Anita Krtek	Linda Vaughan
	Maureen Jensen Fitzpatrick