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.  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.

Currently the Autism Calgary Association is authorized to deliver three of the Friend 2 Friend Programs.  For details click on the links below:

• To Book a Friend 2 Friend Presentation (Calgary Area)
• Puppet Presentations (Pre-School to Grade 3)
• Simulation Game (Grades 4 to 12)
• The Adult Community Presentation
• The Calgary Friend 2 Friend Team

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

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

To book a Friend 2 Friend Puppet Presentation or a Simulation Game Presentation for children at a school or an organization in the Calgary area please contact the Autism Calgary Association office.  Leave a message for Val and a member of the Calgary Friend 2 Friend team will call you as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangments.

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

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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.

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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 9-14;  This 40-45 minute presentation is designed to promote understanding of ASD from the child’s perspective and promote empathy and mutual friendships for children aged 9-14

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.

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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 session is to illustrate the principles and practices of the Friend 2 Friend Teaching Model that is designed to foster mutual friendships between children on the autism spectrum and their typical peers. 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 a child with autism. In addition, participants will learn the importance of friendships for children with autism, and receive practical tips and suggestions on supporting children to build mutual friendships and establishing inclusive classrooms and community environments. Using video, overheads, stories and personal experiences, we will illustrate how to promote acceptance, understanding and friendships for children with autism within their peer group.

Join Us To Discover:

1. Overview of ASD (Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game)
2. The Desire for Friendships
3. The Importance of Friendships
4. The Nature of Friendships
5. The Benefits of Friendships
6. How to enhance peer communication, play and friendship skills in typical peers and children with ASD

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

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

The Autism Calgary Association Friend 2 Friend team continue to volunteer 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            Valerie Bunz         Jeff Dewar

                                  Osterrath