When Heather McCracken first started researching how to help her son make friends following his diagnosis with autism, she never imagined the impact her work would come to have on similarly affected families.
"When he entered into the public school system 15 years ago, I saw the huge need for programs and services that facilitated peer social inclusion, play and friendships and I went looking for those programs and they simply didn't exist back in the day," says the North Vancouver resident.
McCracken's efforts yielded the development of what she refers to as the Friend 2 Friend Autism Demystification Model and it's at the heart of the growing list of programs comprising the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society, which fosters play and friendships for individuals on the autism spectrum. McCracken founded Friend 2 Friend in 2002 and it offers a variety of social, communication, peer, play and friendship programs that to date have served more than 175,000 children in B.C. alone. Programming is also offered for adults and the Friend 2 Friend approach is continuing to spread internationally, the result of available packaged materials as well as McCracken's continued acceptance of invitations to speak worldwide.
"It's just crazy," says McCracken, reflecting on her journey, adding, "We just keep growing."
A non-government funded charity, all Friend 2 Friend programs are offered to families at one-third of the cost to the society, or for free based on financial need.
To continue supporting children and their families, the society is presenting a fundraising Integrated Play Groups Conference, Sept. 27-28 at Vancouver Hillel at the University of British Columbia.
The conference will feature McCracken and Pamela Wolfberg, a professor at San Francisco State University and Friend 2 Friend contributor. It will offer those in attendance a chance to learn about the principles and practices of the Friend 2 Friend and Integrated Play Groups models.
The conference is tailored towards professionals working with children (ages three-18) who have social communication disorders and peer play needs, as well as parents of children who are in the school system or a community setting and are struggling to make friends.
"The proceeds from this conference will go directly back to supplying play centre programs completely free of charge to those families in need," says McCracken.
The cost to attend the conference is $225, which includes admission to a wine and cheese reception marking the one-year anniversary of the society's play centre, launched in East Vancouver at 2941 Kingsway last year, and the society's 11th year serving the community.
Future plans for Friend 2 Friend include opening a second play centre as they've reached capacity at the first, and launching a pilot project that will involve training adults with autism to assist in their program delivery.
Friend 2 Friend will also be featured at the Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks at Lumberman's Arch in Stanley Park, Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m. events.autismspeaks.ca friend2friendsociety.org
