Why Can’t We Be Friends?2006 Midwest Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation & Adapted Physical Activity

Presenters:Illinois State University• Sandra Klitzing

• Jennifer Lunz

• Dawn McGee

• Todd Smedley

• Jessica Strack

Overview

• Friendships in general

• Friendships & people with disabilities

• Suggestions for friendship development

Friendships in General

• ABC’s of Friendship– What is a friend?– Someone who...

Friendships in General: Definition

• Mutual involvement between 2 people that is characterized by affection, satisfaction, enjoyment, openness, respect, and a sense of feeling important to the other.

» Lawhon, 1997

Does 1 size of friendship fit all?

Does 1 size of friendship fit all?

• Age

• Gender

• Ethnicity

Circle of Friends

• Best friends

• Good friends

• Acquaintances you play with

• People who are paid to be in your life

Friendships and People with Disabilities

Friendships and People with Disabilities

Friendships and People with Disabilities

• Rarely engaged in social interaction with peers in school or classes

• Had no consistent friends• Were alone on playground during free time• Had infrequent contact with peers in extracurricular

or recreation activities• Were not invited for play dates, birthday parties, or

sleep overs» Koegel et al., 2005

Friendships and People with Disabilities

• Often more helping relationships than friendships

• Girls more frequently than boys “work with” a classmate who has a disability

» Turnbull et al., 2000

Suggestions for Friendship Development

• Group work– Programs (goals & content)– Special Events– Activities– Facilitation techniques– Environmental clues

• Group reports

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Program Ideas• Children

– Work with parents to arrange play dates– Help select peers with similar interests– Use staff to facilitate play dates at home of child

with disability» Koegel et al., 2005

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Program Ideas• Friendship program

– How to build friendships– How to maintain friendships– Why friendships end– What you can do to reconnect

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Special Events• International Friendship Day

– First Sunday of August

– A time to recognize friends

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Activities• Music

• Videos

• Art

• Friendship bracelets

• Friendship mobile

• Friendship poem

http://www.twbookmark.com/features/children/activities/teacher_guide/timmy_teacherguide.pdf

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Facilitation Techniques• Preschool

– Turtle technique• Fold arms and use words to say angry

– Floor time with adults and peers» Burton & Denham, 1998

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Facilitation Techniques• Children

– Peer-support committees» Spencer, 1999

– Prevent adult interference– MAPS– Support clusters (formal & informal support)

» Turnbull et al., 2000

– Program directories» Searcy, 1996

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Facilitation Techniques• Be aware of isolation

• Design cooperative activities

• Divide participants into smaller groups

• Provide for a small area of participation

• Choose interactive materials & equipment

• Serve as connector & reconnector

Suggestions for Friendship Development: Environmental Clues• Bulletin board

• Posters

• Others????

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

• Questions?

• If want handouts/PowerPoint– http://www.ilstu.edu/~slklitz

• Thanks for attending our session