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| ICAN Home > Modules > Social Interventions | ||||||
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Circle of Friends: Introduction
This topic will explain how to develop a Circle of Friends. The lesson starts with an introduction activity (see Figure 1) designed to show the identified child the different roles people play in their lives. By completing the circle activity first, you will get ideas for how to build circles for the child with whom you are working. Activities are not the primary purpose of the Circle of Friends. The Circle of Friends is not a mere social skills group; it goes beyond that to a more specific focus, developing friendships and providing a quality education for a child with special needs, one that includes learning about social skills through peer relationships and direct instruction. A regularly scheduled Circle of Friends group will help a child in need of social skills develop an idea of what friendship can be about. An added bonus to a Circle of Friends group is that it helps peers understand the child with a disability, as well. This setting provides a framework for friendship building and learning, “It is OK to be different … we all are”. Lecture Content
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Friendships represent a significant and important role in most of our
lives. Developing and maintaining those relationships seems to come ‘natural’ for
most of us, something we were born knowing how to do. However, friendship
building is difficult for individuals on the autism spectrum. The “Circle
of Friends” process can help students learn to build relationships
with peers and increase their overall sense of belonging as well as
participating in the social sector.