Social Connections for Neurodiverse Teens

Initiatives and Ideas to Help Build Social Connections

for neurodiverse Teens and Adults today!

Podcast Photo of Sue Larkey with microphone

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Discussed in this Episode:

✅ Why social skills programmes need to be “driven” by individual’s needs and their personal goals (HELP)

✅ How to build social capacity in teen years and beyond

✅ The importance of programmes/ relationships being

✅ Two amazing programmes share insights and information on how programs support teens and young people to develop connections and friends

✅ Range of fabulous options available in most communities to help build social connections.

✅ Importance of building social connections for neurodiverse teens

LET’S CREATE SOCIAL CONNECTION FOR NEURODIVERSE TEENS AND ADULTS

This week’s Podcast comes from a question from my Facebook community. She was looking for activities for her 23-year-old son to join in as he was isolated, and lonely and wanted friends. Read below the fabulous activities that can build connection. There are fabulous ideas from chess club, park runs or finding purpose through initiatives like Men’s Shed, the opportunities for personal growth and social interaction is endless.

The Podcast has guests on sharing about fabulous social initiatives. I highly recommend a listen for some amazing tips and inspiration

Learn more about Chris and Social Skills Australia here- https://socialskillsaustralia.com.au/

Read more about “The With Friends Initiative” here in an article by the ABC –

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-29/act-with-friends-initiative-neurodivergent-young-adult-social/101900618?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

Contact Ros & Hayley about the With Friends Initiative

The With Friends Initiative (Facebook)

Email: info@twfi.com.au

Other great podcasts on this:

Preparing for Post School – Fantastic Tips

Increase social connections for neurodiverse teens today!

Insights from My Wonderful Facebook Community

1. Join a chess club, proposes that a quiet environment offers a great new environment that fosters the building of new relationships

Advice for creating connection for Neurodiverse teens 1

2. Company-run events that offer the opportunity to meet people in similar situations of loneliness,
Links to Facebook and website :

https://www.facebook.com/stellarexp

https://stellarexperiences.com.au/

Link to this ABC Article

3. Lists of sports and activities that offer great community

4. Cheltenham community centre offers services and a community

5. Men’s shed provides purpose and community for men and mentoring

6. Finding activities they agree to can be hard.

7.Online friendship also provides great meaning

8.NDIS services provides regular mateship in a safe environment

9 Park runs offer an inclusive environment whilst promoting health and fitness

10.Personalised message from first hand experience into the matter of finding friends who are interested in similar activities

11.Joining scout groups can offer a space with similar individuals

12. The specialised Olympics offers great community and goals :

Special Olympics ACT

13. Companies such as ignition gaming and dice 4 diversity offer great social connection for people on the spectrum

14. Insight into some of the steps taken by a mother into the her sons gradual mixing into the local community, which he found through gardening, getting in the car, contributing to composting. He also found friendship with fellow gardeners who are gradually becoming friends with whilst also building up his skills

Manual to Provide Support Care Book Cover

This is a guide to help support workers to individualise support for each participant in order to help them gain independence, self-reliance and community inclusion.

What's in it for me?

Over 80 pages
Over 500 Tips & Strategies to provide guidance for adaptations, modifications and understanding to meet the goals of participants
Build your expertise to encourage participants to make decisions, find their strengths and use them as building blocks to develop skills

What's in the Manual:

Principles of Individualised Support and How to Provide
How to Develop a Person-Centred Approach
Over 22 Important Tips for Supporting Participants on the Autism Spectrum
Important Guidelines for Support Workers to Provide Individualised Support and Empowerment of Participants
20 Tips Building Strong Relationships with Participants with Autism Spectrum
Tips and Strategies to Encourage Independence
Using Visuals, Schedules & Checklists
How to Support and Accomodate Sensory Processing Difficulties
How to Expand Area of Interest
How to Decide on Leisure Activities
What are Functional Skills & Effective Ways to Teach
How to Build Capacity
Proformas for Participants and Support Staff
Strategies to Support and Accomodate Executive Functioning