News/Blog

It might be intimidating to find opportunities to make friends and maintain friendships, especially if you haven’t had much practice. Finding a safe place where you can speak with people who share your concerns about making friends and disability is one method to get over your issues. It can be more difficult for young adults…

It can be far simpler to learn how to make friends as a child than it is as an adult. Making friends with cerebral palsy can be extremely difficult regardless of your age. Having a friend to play with, whether indoors playing video games or watching television or outdoors on a playground, is the main…

All Friends Network wants to give a big thank you to Positv and Courtney Aldelman, for the incredible work they did to highlight All Friends network. Positv is a news outlet solely for sharing meaningful and heartfelt stories about the disability community. It is so wonderful Courtney, and her team has Dedicated Positv.com to empower…

The world has changed significantly when it comes to serving those with developmental disabilities. While we still have a long way to go, there are now lots of online communities, local events, resources, and opportunities to make friends. Whether you find something in your community that serves your state or if you are looking for…

Friendships can be fleeting at any age. Some relationships can fall by the wayside as we grow, change, and expand our interests. Developing social ability can be more of a struggle for some than others, regardless of any disability that may be present. Social skills and autism or learning how to make friends with cerebral…

As children, there are so many organized activities that we participate in that allow us to meet new people our own age and make friendships. From school to church, sports teams, and hobbies, it can be a lot easier to find people who share a common interest when you’re a kid. As adults, these opportunities…

As individuals, we can all be quite different; however, as humans, we all reap the benefits of social interaction. Not only does it feel good to spend time with friends, it also provides many unexpected benefits to our health and wellbeing. Developing social skills is time well spent. Studies that show a direct correlation between…

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…