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Incouraging friendships for autistic teenager.

NAS81852

Hello, I have a 15 year old girl who has recently been diagnosed with autism. We are really struggling with friendships for her. She doesn't have any friends in our area or at school and I have run out of ideas in ways to help her with this. She is feeling very isolated and lonely. She is very high functioning and desperately wants to interact with her peers but finds the initial conversation or approaching new people to hard. If anyone has any ideas or ways they have encouraged this that would be great. Thanks in advance. 

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  • in reply to NAS81852

    Classes are sub optimal. It's not really set up for socialisation. Especially considering most autistic people are not social learners (learning isn't really a social process for them. they're too busy concentrating on the subject to find the energy to interact) I don't suppose there is some sort of amateur marine biology club in your area? Or maybe instead of art lessons than say an art criticism / appreciation club?

    Don't get stuck in the trap of thinking it has to be some group set up for teens. Autistic kids generally don't have age appropriate special interests, looking for something that fits their interests and is aimed at teens is going to be too narrow to actually exist.