Our staff facilitates weekly "open play" sessions for children & young adults on the autism spectrum, ages 2-20. All special needs children & young adults are welcome to attend!
Open Play allows children to play independently, with another child or within the group. There is no pressure for children or parents to partiipate in any one activity! We simply provide a safe and inclusive space for these amazing individuals to feel a sense of belonging, to promote social interactions, and to cultivate friendships.
Parent Empowerment Course
8 week course, 2 hours per week
Our resident therapist, Lori Krasny, will facilitate our sessions. Lori brings over 40 years of experience in working with autistic children. We attended Lori’s class 8 years ago, it was life changing! Check out the video clip link below of Lori sharing why it is so critical for autistic children, young adults and their families to have a place to gather, socialize and find support.
Course Description:
Empowered parents empower their kids to do amazing things! Join a small group of parents for this 8-week course. Each class will guide you to develop new perspectives and skills to help your child grow and engage in deeply joyful and personal ways. Each 2-hour session will include discussion, examples and exercises that you will try at home. Return each week with feedback, questions and amazing stories to share as you empower yourself and your child to be your best selves together. Learn with other parents who are learning and exploring alongside you. This class will empower any parent hoping to better understand and respond to their child’s behaviors and interactions. It is most useful for parents of children who do not communicate clearly and for parents of children who are nonverbal, minimally verbal, newly diagnosed or hard to interact with. We hope you find this group supportive, informative, and downright life changing for your family.
Cost for 8 week session per family: $200
We provide childcare for your autistic child during your session time if needed. They will be able to enjoy our onsite play area while you learn.
We facilitate smaller groups in these sessions to ensure that those attending feel a strong sense of connection and support within the group; typically only 5-6 sets of parents/guardians for a group size of 10-12.
Friends on the Spectrum partners with schools, local businesses and foundations to provide: