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Looking for friendship for Wiltshire Year 7 autistic girl

SeNo’s Mum

My daughter is in year 7 in Wiltshire and on the autistic diagnostic pathway in Wiltshire too. She has always struggled with friendships and this is worsening now she’s at secondary school. She is a kind, funny, caring girl but isn’t very street wise or perhaps as ‘mature’ as some of her peers (isn’t interested in boys etc…) She really struggles to understand the social complexities that seem to plague girls friendships at this age - as far as she’s concerned, if you’re friends, you’re friends. 

I’m wondering if there are any other girls around this age in Wiltshire / Frome area of Somerset, who are also struggling and might be interested in finding a new friend? My daughter is very isolated at school and feels very alone, it’s affecting her self confidence as she doesn’t understand why the girls at school always ‘drop’ her. Even if it’s texting / chatting on the phone initially, just having someone her own age to talk to would be really beneficial. 

  • in reply to Neurodivergent Natter

    That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to explain to my daughter! I’ve just had a chat with her about the idea of an online friend and she was really excited by the thought. How old is your sister? It would be lovely to put them in touch. 

  • Hi, my sister is in the same boat and has just been bullied out of her old friend group. She's not able to pick up on the subtleties of meanness from the other girls. We're in Scotland, and understand if online friends aren't what you'd be looking for, but she'd love to have another autistic friend. I've been trying to explain to her that she's not the problem and when she's with other autistic girls, things won't be so difficult/complicated. 

  • Look for ADHD and dyslexic kids in her age group, they make great friends as they tend to understand how we use language and can be more easy to find. We relate with others who have similar brain types and one friend is better than a school of acquaintances.

    After school clubs can be quite good too. Children learn and grow best from a wide range of friends of various ages. From an anthropological and historical point of view it’s more odd for them to huddle in groups their own age. Kids can be cruel among peers without accountability of older friends to help shape them. This might not feel helpful now, but from pets to interests, there are all kinds of things one can immerse themselves into as well.