Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society

Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society (Friend 2 Friend) is a non-government funded federally registered charity founded in 2002. The Society has one mission, to enhance reciprocal social interaction, communication, imaginative play and friendships between individuals with autism and related special needs and their typically developing peers. All Friend 2 Friend programs and services focus on fostering peer social inclusion and the development of lifelong skills to allow children with unique needs to obtain the acceptance of their peers, to prevent bullying, develop friendships, increase their ability to adapt to change, and achieve improved school outcomes.

For more than a decade now, Friend 2 Friend has been committed to providing sustainable outreach and centre based programs.  These programs work to foster an understanding of the many challenges experienced by individuals with special needs and to support our community to embrace all persons as valuable, contributing members. Friend 2 Friend designs and delivers a host of unique and innovative programs including our signature Autism Demystification Programs and our Integrated Play Groups® programs in schools and other community settings throughout the Lower Mainland. In 2012, Friend 2 Friend launched a state-of-the-art Play Centre in East Vancouver where we provide Friend 2 Friend - Integrated Play Groups programs to children with special needs and their peers in out of school and weekend programs, as well as spring and summer break camps programs.

Friend 2 Friend strives for accessibility by providing all programs and services at fees based on 1/3 the actual cost and completely free of charge to families and community partners in need whenever possible. Friend 2 Friend programs reach approximately 14,000 children per year with approximately 5000 children participating in Vancouver alone. In 2012, over 150 children attended programs at our Play Centre, with 100 of those children attending completely free of charge. We also offer free monthly parent support groups and parent training evenings.

To further Friend 2 Friend’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion, our hiring practices include and encourage employees diagnosed special needs and parents of the individuals with special needs to work for the Society. Friend 2 Friend strongly believes in the philosophy “not about me without me,” employing adults with special needs and family members who have experienced inclusion and accessibility challenges in our community. The input from these stakeholders ensures that the Friend 2 Friend programs and services address the needs of the marginalized children and families we serve in Vancouver and throughout BC.