News/Blog

Sometimes, all it takes is for an opportunity to present itself that provides you with the means to change your life. These opportunities can come in a variety of forms, such as a group activity, an event, a chance meeting, or taking the initiative, being bold, and putting yourself out there. When you have developmental…

Finding opportunities to meet new friends and build lifelong friendships can be challenging, especially if you have developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy or autism. It gets even more complicated the older you get, especially for those who have already graduated high school. This is true for almost everyone, regardless of their abilities. All Friends Network…

If you never make an effort to get out there and meet new people to make friends, it will never happen. Sitting at home and only interacting with family members or neighbors will never lead to new opportunities to have the life you have always wanted. Dreaming about seeing your favorite team play at the…

When it comes to making friends and learning how to communicate well with other people, the best thing you can do is to sharpen social skills. Both personal and professional relationships can benefit from strong social skills, whether you want to move up the ladder with your career or learn how to make friends. Social…

In the early days of the pandemic, back in 2020, people from all walks of life were thrust into a similar predicament: isolation away from other people. Isolation can be extremely dangerous, especially to those who are vulnerable to issues and conditions that can make its impact even more significant. For those with developmental disabilities,…

Are you looking for something fun that you can do as a group with friends that have cerebral palsy, autism, or other developmental disabilities? Getting out into the world to explore and experience real life activity opportunities is essential for everyone of all ages. Sometimes just being a part of the group – whether you…

When you’re out there in the world as a young person with cerebral palsy, it might be difficult to see others like yourself who have made their own way in the world and been successful. However, the truth is that there are more adults with cerebral palsy that can be called a “success story” than…

Some skills come naturally to some people, and they don’t even need to work on them to be considered good at what they do. For some, this could be learning how to ride a bicycle, while for others, it might be knowing all the names of the dinosaurs or how to get the best score…

It is human nature to want to reach out to others and create a social network of support. This is true whether you have anxiety about meeting new people or not. We are still drawn to other humans for friendship, companionship, and support, even if the prospect of meeting others is terrifying. All Friends Network…

When a person has a disability, it might seem impossible to them that they could ever be independent and live out on their own. However, thanks to advancements made in technology and programs designed specifically for the developmentally disabled, it can definitely happen. Adults with cerebral palsy are more independent today than ever before, and…

Just because you had difficulty making friends as a kid and feel that you were held back by your autism does not mean that it has to stay that way forever. Developing social skills and learning how to make friends is something that can still happen for you as an adult. All Friends Network (AFN)…

When it comes to people who have developmental disabilities, there are no two who are exactly alike. We all have different interests, needs, and goals for our lives. While some people find it easy to make friends and can become close with someone after just a few minutes, not everyone is built that way. This…

Even seemingly simple social gatherings and interactions might seem complicated for someone that has autism. It can be very frustrating to try and make friends but even more challenging to maintain long-term friendships. Anxiety can be a determining factor in making friends with autism, but the good news is that there are lots of resources,…

Learning how to make and keep friendships can be scary, especially if you don’t have a lot of practice. One way to overcome your fears is to find a safe space where talking with others who have similar disabilities and concerns about making friends can be found. Young adult friendships can be harder to forge…

The experts agree: learning how to make and maintain friendships is essential to young adults, especially those who have a developmental disability. It can be a challenge to get out and learn about making friends with cerebral palsy or autism, but it can pay off big time in ways that you might not expect. Teaching…

During the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new social support network for individuals with cerebral palsy, autism, and other developmental disabilities was born. Created by Trevor Kelliher, who has cerebral palsy, this free app and social network was designed for individuals with developmental disabilities who want to make friends. Countless studies have been done…

There are some things in life that make us more alike than others. The psychological benefits of having long-term friendships is definitely one of them. It doesn’t matter if you have friends with cerebral palsy, autism, or no developmental disabilities at all. A common interest can create a lifelong bond that will help you in…

While it seems as though making friends as a kid is just easy-peasy, there are still some basic skills that children must learn in order to make a real friendship. Being friends is more than just sitting next to each other in school, at lunch, or playing on the same piece of equipment at the…

Friendships can really make life worth living. Even when bad things happen, emotions are all over the place, and disappointments occur, friends can help make you feel better about yourself and your situation. Studies have been done concerning friendship and depression. It proved that encouraging friendships and building lifelong relationships is the real key to…

Social networking, online discussion boards, apps, and other technology-driven platforms often provide people with the opportunity to make what are known as virtual friendships. But what if you want your virtual friends to become real-life friends? How do you go about making the transition? It can be even more challenging for individuals who have difficulties…

Happy Holiday Season! All Friends Network has now grown to over 80 members. All use the AFN Live~Link, our online neighborhood. We are also holding in-person events and have many planned for 2022. Again. thank you from the bottom of my heart. Merry Christmas, Trevor and the team.

The internet is a wonderful and amazing place that offers so many opportunities to people from all walks of life to chat with like-minded individuals and build lifelong friendships. However, learning social skills on a computer or mobile device is one thing, but putting those techniques into action at real life events is another. Don’t…

Learning how to make and keep friendships is something that we all need more of in our lives. However, for people who have disabilities, including small children, young adults, and mature individuals, making and keeping friendships can be a challenge. While the benefits of friendship and disability can be seen in the confidence and growth…

Communication is one of the most frustrating aspects of autism for many people. It is essential to develop socialization skills and find opportunities to make friends in order to be successful. As a young person who is still in school, the options for making friends can be significantly greater than they are after graduation. Whether…