This excellent program is improving the lives of children - autistic and neurotypical alike - through engaging presentations that educate and empower. Helping kids and teens to learn how simple and rewarding it is to share classrooms, playgrounds and lives with autistic friends makes our schools and communities stronger and healthier.
As a special education teacher, I am always looking for ways to empower ALL students and celebrate diversity in our community. I was introduced to Good Friend Inc. during its first year, and have been a strong supporter ever since. Their ability to promote a culture of inclusion through awareness, acceptance, and empathy is incomparable! Their workshops inspire students (and adults) to reach out and be a good friend. Their impact on the communities they serve is far reaching. I am a forever Good Friend fan and will continue to spread their message, we ALL fit!
This is a phenomenal non-profit organization. Every year they come to my daughter's school district & they do school assemblies/presentations/specific grade level workshops at the schools. They help educate the neuro-typical students/ regular ed teachers on Autism and how to form friendships/relationships with their peers/students with Autism. They have resources for special need families, do fun workshops for siblings of those with Autism, give advice & go above & beyond with their mission. I truly believe my child & many others has had a better school experience because of the work they do. Thank you Good Friend Inc!
This organization is fantastic! The way that the presenters reach each student is just amazing to see.
Professional and down to earth.
These Autism Moms know how to explain autism in such an engaging way!
The inservice is great! All schools should have a Good Friend Inc. presentation!
The yearly Good Friend presentations provide our staff and students with a common language to discover the similarities and struggles we all share. The Good Friend presentation is engaging, entertaining, and thought provoking. Students and staff gain a new perspective for individuals impacted by disabilities. I would recommend that every school provides this presentation to ensure inclusionary practices and a voice for all students.
Good Friend Inc. changed our lives as well as the culture in our school system. My son has Autism and when he was young he was non verbal. We had daily therapy where he would complete programs and follow directions to help him fit in and work with his peers. Little did we know that kids would use that to bully him by telling him to do things like eat ketchup or go kiss a girl. He was just following directions like he was supposed to. After dealing with the kids and school we decided we needed to change the culture in the school to help him succeed going forward. That’s where Good Friend comes in. With a video on how to be a good friend we petitioned the school and everyone in the school watched it class by class. We watched his peers transition to supportive friends and have never looked back The video is mandatory in all classes now and he was picked as the Homecoming Prince Good Friend Inc is about inclusion and the go above and beyond to change cultures They Rock!!
I have witnessed my son's struggles with social anxiety and the behaviors that anxiety triggers in him. Without having Good Friend, Inc. visit his elementary school to educate the staff & students about Autism; giving them the understanding needed to empathize and accept. After their visit, my son's peers reached out to him to initiate play and looked past the Autism; fostering friendships that have carried through their middle school years now. Thank you, Good Friend, Inc.! Keep doing the good that you do!
Good Friend Inc provides excellent workshops, assemblies, and specialized presentations to local groups and schools to show typically developing peers how to be a "good friend" to those with autism spectrum disorder. Their mission to create autism awareness, acceptance, and empathy has been shared with over 50,000+ . I have volunteered with this organization for almost a decade and continue to help this organization in any way that I can and they have made me passionate about helping them reach more individuals.
Good Friend, Inc is always trying to achieve best! In a changing world we need to be sure we are teaching the value of a true friendship! This is GFI's mission! To help people understand a population that gets overlooked and ignored. Shining light on the value of a friendship with someone living with autism! The best at what they do!
Good Friend Inc came to my school and did a presentation on empathy, acceptance and understanding for individuals with autism. Chelsea and Denise had such a great message we all can learn from and they connected with the students. After the presentation students approached them to share their personal stories about acceptance and understanding. It was such a great experience for our school.
Good Friend provides high quality peer sensitivity workshops as well as stellar media resources that resonate with kids. They are truly making a difference by creating a genuine #senseofbelonging as well as life long differences in kids as well as adults to value differences through awareness, acceptance and empathy.
