To read the FULL issue, click on the newsletter

Welcome to our latest issue of “Here’s What’s Different About Us”!!! 

We hope you enjoy reading about upcoming events, news and articles.

APRIL 16 & 17, 2010

2-Day Facilitator’s Training:  Implementing the F2F Autism Demystification Package Programs  Presented by Heather McCracken

Click to Register On-line

The F2F Facilitator’s Training is a 2-day seminar designed to provide hands-on training to professionals and parents who want to implement the F2F Demystification Package Programs: “That’s What’s Different About Me: Helping Children Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder” and the newly released “Demystifying Autism: The Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game Program” within their schools, centers or with the clientele/children they support. 

Register on-line at:  http://www.friend2friendsociety.org/whats-happening/2010/facilitators-training.php

Click to go to our On-line Bookstore

Have you ever wondered what the world is like for a person with autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects an individual’s ability to process sensory, communication and social information. A new tool entitled Demystifying Autism: the Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game Program has been created to help us all better understand autism. This program is a sensory and communication educational tool designed to promote an understanding of autism for children ages 11 through 18, and adults. The goal of this program is to foster an understanding of individuals on the autism within schools and other community settings and to foster social relations, play and friendships between individuals on the autism spectrum and their typically developing peers and siblings. This publication is the second offering from North Vancouver-based author Heather McCracken, founder and executive director of the not-for-profit Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society and a parent of three children, one on the autism spectrum.

What others say….

 The Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game program changed our lives. It completely transformed my son’s experience at school – from being an outcast, to having his peers accept him – and actually be interested in who he is as a person. One of the most powerful outcomes of this program has been the willingness of teachers and classmates to embrace my son for exactly who he is. I’ll never forget what the Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game program has done for our family. Every school needs this program!!!

Lynn Skotnitsky, Parent, Vancouver BC

 This program helped our students develop friendship skills, to relate to, play with, and socialize with a peer with ASD.  All in all, the social interaction among our students had been enhanced through their participation in this program. 

Rosita Tam
Vice-principal, Kenneth Gordon School

 Brava! Once again, Heather McCracken has created an exemplary program to help children, teens and adults gain insight and embrace the autism experience. The Friend 2 Friend Simulation Game is a must for promoting genuine inclusion by building empathy, understanding and acceptance of people who relate, communicate, and think differently than those in the mainstream. This powerful program has already made a huge impact on the lives of many, and will surely transform generations to come.

Pamela Wolfberg,Ph.D.,  San Francisco State University

Autism Institute on Peer Relations and Play

 The package can be ordered through the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society on line bookstore at http://www.friend2friendsociety.org/bookstore/index.php

Thank you to everyone who supported Friend 2 Friend at our fundraiser last weekend. To catch a glimpse of the event, check out the slideshow on our website.

Congratulatulations to Heather and the other authors of Learners on the Autism Spectrum: Preparing Highly Qualified Educators, recipient of the Autism Society of America’s 2009 Literary Work of the Year award, Education Division. Copies of the book are available at our on-line bookstore!

Check out the recent article about us in the North Shore News!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new puppets — a boy and two girls! May, Roger, & Emma arrived on May 4th @ 9:47am, weighing 6lbs 7oz each.

A new puppet play featuring our young starlets will be introduced in September, 2009.

To book a F2F autism demystification presentation, complete our on-line booking request form at:

http://www.friend2friendsociety.org/demystification/form.php

The Spring edition of our newsletter will be ready soon! If you would like to be added to our distribution list let us know (friend2friend@shaw.ca) and we’ll e-mail it to you hot off the e-press.

Did you know Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society is a non-government funded non-profit charity?

Did you know that Friend 2 Friend provides direct services to children aged 3-18 requesting fees from schools and families of only a third of the cost of the programs?

Did you know that all fees: book sales, royalties, seminar fees, etc. go directly back into supporting the delivery of the F2F Programs?

Why donate?

Help Friend 2 Friend deliver our Puppet Presentations, Simulation Game Presentations and Integrated Play Groups to children on the autism spectrum and their peers.

If you would like to donate or know someone else who does, please click ‘Donate Now’!

The Friend 2 Friend IPG programs have been nominated for the United Way Celebration of Community Award! Each of the nominees was filmed and CTV-BC has been showing a short clip about our program. Keep your eyes peeled. We’ll find out about the award on February 26… fingers crossed.