How Young Adults with Disabilities Can Thrive in Social Circles
As summer begins to fade and fall is on the horizon, it’s time to get back out into the world and make some friends. It is essential for young adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism, to learn how to thrive in social circles. It can be challenging for many people on the autism spectrum to make friends and learn how to interact with others. This is because trying new things, like meeting new people, can be intimidating and sometimes even hard to understand. It is easy to see why this can be so hard once you know the connection between autism and having difficulties with social skills.
How All Friends Network Can Help
Events and opportunities to meet others in real life, as well as learning, building skills, and getting support, can be helpful. It is easier to deal with the problems that come up when you understand why autism and bonds are so hard for some people. All Friends Network helps people of all ages, but a lot of their clients are young adults with autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental challenges. Talking, moving your body, and making facial expressions as part of communication can make it hard for people with autism and physical disabilities to learn how to get to know others.
It can be hard to talk to people, even if you know them and feel safe with them. It can be easier to talk about things that interest both of you, like hobbies or things you both like. On the other hand, if the person forgets what they were going to say or stumbles over their words, the situation can quickly turn bad. Autism can make it hard for some people to understand what other people are saying with their faces and bodies. What it’s like trying to figure out if someone is being sarcastic, angry, or funny about something in a text message or online chat without images and other helpful signs.
Overcoming Lifelong Fears
For some people with autism, being in public or with other people can be very painful. Getting to know people and making friends can be even more nerve-wracking than just talking to strangers. It’s hard for many people to just try to make friends because they have high dreams or expectations of succeeding. When you talk to a stranger, you don’t have to be friends, so the pressure is off and your problems go away. Kids, teens, and young people need to work on their social skills in order to be ready for real life events and make friends outside of their family, neighborhood, school, and work circles. All Friends Network is working on interactive tools that will help our users learn more about how to deal with autism and social skills so that it’s easier for them to make friends in everyday settings.
Many people with autism get stuck in bad friendships or have a lack of friends after one bad experience where things didn’t go as planned. They think that the bad thing that happened to them will happen again, and they think that everyone will act the same way. Fears of failing, being rejected, and being alone can be very upsetting for everyone. People who have been through a bad situation should often work on their social skills right away to show that not every friendship will end the same way. Even the best things that happen in real life can be ruined by worry, self-consciousness, and negativity, so it’s important to be patient. It can be helpful to find people with similar developmental disabilities who understand how hard it is for them to make friends.
What We Do at AFN
The goal of All Friends Network was to give people with autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental challenges a safe place to learn how to interact with others, make and keep friends, and feel more comfortable in social settings. It can also help to work with qualified therapists and experts who know how people on the range think and feel about friendships. We offer a variety of real-life meetup events where you can join in, try out your social skills and friendship-making techniques, and just have fun!
Not ready to meet others in person but still want to meet other young adults with disabilities who share your interests? Our members can start making friends and chatting with new people right away on the AFN Live-LINK app, which is safe and secure. Use our online contact page or call us at 941-587-7172 to find out more about All Friends Network, the AFN Live-LINK app, and the events we have planned. One of our team members will call you back to discuss the opportunities.