The History of F2F
“I want friends.”
My son, like so many other children I know with autism wants the one thing that most children his age want - to have friends. When you ask people “What do you remember most about school?”, the answer is almost always “my friends”. Friendships are what motivate children to get up in the morning and go to school. Imagine what it must be like for a child on the autism spectrum to attend school each day knowing no one will ask you to sit beside them at lunch, or invite you to play after school or to go to their birthday party?
“I wonder why school is hard?”
Watching my son suffer from social isolation I felt compelled to do what I could to change this situation, not only for my son, but for other children who experience these same social difficulties. I began reading everything I could get my hands on about friendships between typical children and those with special needs. I came across a book written by Dr. Pamela Wolfberg called “Play and Imagination in Children with Autism”. The “Integrated Play Groups” program developed by Dr. Wolfberg involves bringing children with and without autism together in such a way that true friendships begin to emerge. Dr. Wolfberg's book inspired me to learn more about fostering peer play and friendships and how the IPG approach could help my son feel part of his peer group.
“I worry about people that don't understand me.”
After several years of extensive research, development and field testing the Friend 2 Friend Programs (F2F) emerged. In 2002, with the support of my family, we founded Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society a non-profit charity based in Vancouver BC, Canada and started delivering the F2F Puppet Presentation, F2F Simulation Game Presentations, Seminars for Parents and Professionals, That's What's Different About Me Program, Facilitator Training Program and Integrated Play Groups Program.
To date, we have served over 55,000 children and 25,000 adults throughout North America through the F2F programs.
“I dream of the land of chocolate”
I know that however successful Friend 2 Friend is at delivering our message, it isn't nearly enough. As parents and professionals, we need to continually look for opportunities to model the value of play and friendships with extraordinary individuals on the autism spectrum.
When I dream of the land of chocolate, it is a place where children with autism are happy, safe, and accepted for who they are within their community. Hopefully, the Friend 2 Friend and Integrated Play Groups Programs will move us a little closer to making this a reality.
Heather McCracken
Click here to read a child's poem on autism and friendship that was a basis for the creation of Friend 2 Friend.
