How do I help my child with high support needs make friends?

Undivided Education Advocate Karen Ford Cull has these ideas for helping kids with high support needs develop peer relationships:

• It's a better idea to have a speaker with a disability address the whole school versus being a parent going into the classroom to talk about it.
• Read books featuring characters with a disability.
• Explore recreational therapy.
• It may be helpful to have an aide to support playing with other kids.
• If there’s anything with self-esteem related to not being included, you can have the school counselor come to the IEP. (If bullying is happening, this is a different issue.)
• Remember that friendship comes from proximity + shared interest.
  • Your child might not have proximity if an aide is there all the time. Work with the aide to know when to pull back.
  • Shared interest: try clubs that are specific to interests (versus just “Friendship Club”).
• Once you get authentic friendship, try to set up time with peers outside of school.