Friendship Collection

Making friends is a lot like gardening! This online comic for children was written by author Joel Shaul, Autistic Self-Advocate and Illustrator Elsbeth Dodman, and Dr. Fakhri Shafai. There are downloadable worksheets that can help you brainstorm how to "grow" your own friendships!

In support of the National Autism Conference, this infographic and video and infographic explain “What is Inclusion?" and "Why is it important?". The accessible language series was created to help individuals with intellectual disability participate more meaningfully in the development of the National Autism Strategy.

This Toolkit offers ideas and tips that may be useful for youth in high school. It addresses topics such as: making the most of high school, independence and organization, friendships, as well as other issues for teens such as smoking, vaping, drugs, alcohol and making good decisions. The Toolkit was written by Laura Beaune. Ms. Beaune is a social worker who has worked extensively with youth.

The decision to share any diagnosis is not always easy. It can be difficult to balance keeping your information private with the desire to be your authentic self. If you decide that you do want to share your diagnosis with your loved ones, below are some tips to help you start the conversation.

This is a Toolkit designed for parents of teens with neurodiversity to offer them some tips as they navigate the teen years and prepare for the next developmental stage of young adulthood.

The Toolkit covers topics such as: parenting approaches and strategies; communication; puberty; sexual health and safety (gender diversity & sexual orientation); self esteem, identity, disclosure and advocacy; moods, depression & anxiety; friendships, fitness, recreation & community and; high school and preparing for adulthood.

This article summarizes a study that explored an intervention aimed at increasing social functioning in children and youth with autism. This intervention was found to improve social functioning, but additional research is needed.

Peer Advice Videos are questions asked and answered by self-advocates across Canada. This project was created and developed by Canadian self-advocates from the autism community.In this video, Andrew imparts his valuable insights on the art of self-acceptance. Andrew's message revolves around the concept of acknowledging one's unique qualities and not shying away from them.

Be a catalyst for change in your workplace, school, or community and beyond by learning about six key principles that create and foster environments where everyone can thrive. While our primary focus is on enhancing the experiences of Autistic individuals in their day-to-day life, these six principles are broadly applicable and beneficial to anyone who wants to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces.

When life gets challenging, recreation and leisure activities are often the first to be cut from daily life. This workshop will present a fresh perspective about the importance of recreation and leisure and provide you with some ideas about how to keep it going when things get tough. This resource was developed in partnership with the Centre for Autism Services Alberta.

In this workshop, we will discuss strategies to support and teach a variety of social skills, how to set up a play date, and how to best support a play date. This workshop is designed for parents of children who have basic joint attention (i.e. purposefully sharing focus with others) and requesting skills. [Developed by the Centre for Autism Services Alberta, presented by Sally Nandee (SLP, Board Certified Behaviour Analyst) and Insung Peak (Behavioural Case Manager)]

Many autistic people feel socially isolated and are unable to access appropriate professional supports. Peer support allows people with shared experiences to give and receive nonprofessional, nonclinical social and emotional assistance. In this webinar, we will hear from a team of two clinician scientists and three autistic self-advocates who created a new autistic-led peer support program, Welcome EveryBody (WEB). They will review research on autistic peer support programs and share their experiences developing, facilitating, and evaluating WEB.

This video essay written and developed by a self-advocate on the autism spectrum discusses some of the ways that he developed his social circle in his Alberta community. This resource was developed in partnership with Autism Calgary.

This video and resource sheet were created by a self advocate from the autism community. It discusses personal experiences of self advocates, as well as options and considerations for building a circle of social supports in Manitoba. This resource was developed in partnership with Autism Calgary.

This video essay, created by a self-advocate on the autism spectrum, was created to help autistic adults in Saskatchewan to connect with others and expand their social circle through social programs and opportunities.

AIDE Canada Library offers a large collection of print and digital (eBook and audiobook) resources. For each of the resources below, we have included links to all available formats.

If you would like to borrow a print copy of one of these books, you can order it through our free Canada-wide borrow-by-mail service. eBooks and audiobooks can be borrowed online – just sign into our overdrive website or the Libby reading app using your AIDE Canada Library username and password. Visit the Library website to learn more. Questions? Email us at library@aidecanada.ca .

Summary: "Written by an Autistic adult, this picture book shows how neurotypical children can foster meaningful friendships with Autistic children – without expecting Autistic children to alter their behavior to fit in."

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Summary: "Written by a 14-year-old autistic boy, this book provides readers with the confidence and tools necessary to befriend autistic kids."

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Summary: "Children’s biggest emotions often come up about friends and other kids. In this funny and useful book, authors Eileen Kennedy-Moore and Christine McLaughlin help kids understand and cope with feelings in ways that build strong friendships. Everyone likes the idea of “best friends forever,” but friendships can be complicated, and they often involve dealing with difficult feelings. Almost all children have experienced feeling shy at a party where they don’t know anyone, furious during an argument with a friend, or sad when a friend moves away. Because kids care a lot about friends, they often have big emotional responses about them. This entertaining and empowering book addresses a wide range of feelings children have about friends and other kids, including worry, guilt, jealousy, compassion, and gratitude. Through relatable cartoon stories, practical, research-based coping strategies, plus silly commentary from a cat and dog who have their own (questionable) ideas about what might help, kids get a hands-on approach that they can put into practice. ..."

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Summary: "From psychologist and children’s friendships expert Eileen Kennedy-Moore and parenting and health writer Christine McLaughlin comes a social development primer that gives kids the answers they need to make and keep friends. Friendships aren’t always easy for kids. Almost every child struggles socially at some time, in some way. Having an argument with a friend, getting teased, or even trying to find a buddy in a new classroom…although these are typical problems, they can be tough. Children want to fit in, but sometimes getting along with friends is complicated. Psychologist and children’s friendship expert Eileen Kennedy-Moore and parenting and health writer Christine McLaughlin give kids the answers they need to make and keep friends using five essential skills..."

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Summary: "Henry would like to find a friend at school, but for a boy on the autism spectrum, making friends can be difficult, as his efforts are sometimes misinterpreted, or things just go wrong--but Henry keeps trying, and in the end he finds a friend he can play with."

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Summary: "Henry, who is on the autism spectrum, struggles to connect with his classmates until they visit the botanical gardens, where his passion for botany makes an impression."

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Summary: "The Complete Friendship Handbook for Young Girls The tween years are a transformative period in a girl's life. They’re stepping into a world filled with new opportunities. It’s an exciting time, but it can also feel overwhelming. Puberty, physical changes, new emotions, new schools, and growing responsibilities - it’s a lot to handle. On top of that, friendships become more complex. They can be a lifeline, a mirror, a rock. But they can also be a source of confusion, hurt, and misunderstanding. The truth is that navigating friendships during this stage of a young girl’s life can be tricky. Navigating the ups and downs or the pressure to fit in can be tough. Sometimes, they may feel unsure of who their real friends are or be dealing with conflicts, jealousy, and other friendship hurdles. That's where this book comes in! It’s your tween’s guide to help them understand and enjoy friendships during the tween years and beyond.... "

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Summary: "large part of school isn't just taking tests, reading, and writing; it's knowing the rules for behavior in the classroom and learning how to communicate with teachers and classmates. This book makes school easier for kids with Asperger's by explaining the confusing; and often unwritten ules of the classroom. Asperger's Rules is filled with examples, quizzes, and exercises to help you: Understand your feelings and emotions; Ask teachers for help; Have good classroom behavior; Navigate lunch, recess, gym, and other situations in school; Interact with other kids; Deal with bullies and mean kids; and Maintain healthy habits Asperger's Rules helps you learn the rules, so you will be better able to show your true talents at school. Blythe Grossberg, PsyD, is a learning specialist in New York City who works to help children and adults to become more effective at school and at work."

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Summary: "Connect with friends and care for your emotions―for teens on the spectrum Social situations can feel mysterious or tricky to navigate―and if you are on the autism spectrum, they can feel overwhelming. The Social Survival Guide for Teens on the Autism Spectrum unlocks socialization secrets and helps you understand your feelings. Autism books for kids don’t always address teenagers’ needs, but the practical tips and step-by-step guides in this handbook are perfect for ages 12-16... "

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Summary: "... Autistic readers will find valuable answers and perspectives in this book, whether you're just getting ready to jump into dating, seeking to forge closer friendships, or looking to improve your existing partnership or marriage."

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Summary: "... Insightful and relevant to people both on and off the autism spectrum, Friendships: The Aspie Way is a fresh approach to a universal issue in human relationships."

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Summary: "From Lane Moore, the critically acclaimed author of How to Be Alone, comes a searingly intimate, yet wildly funny exploration of the frustrating, messy, and, at times, deeply joyful experience of learning how to make meaningful friendships as an adult. Part memoir, part self-help, You Will Find Your People uncovers the complex, frightening, and often vulnerable process of building real, healthy friendships and finally creating your chosen family. Moore takes readers on a journey that examines and challenges the ideas of friendship we've seen in pop culture, answers every question you've ever had about friend breakups, and teaches us how to fearlessly ask for what we want in friendships once and for all... "

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Summary: "Let's face it, other humans can be difficult to understand sometimes! There is no need to worry! Yenn, Tanya and a tiny meerkat called Min are here to help you find out everything you need to know about friendships, improving relationships with your family members, and how to deal with disagreements that can arise with the people in your life. Answering the difficult questions like 'What makes a good friend?' and 'Why do adults tell me to do things?' this book gives you helpful tips, tricks, and advice you need to help you understand other humans whilst staying true to your own awesome autistic self!"

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