Peer Sensitivity Workshop 

In order to foster empathy among typically-developing students for children with autism, the students have to learn to walk in the shoes of their friend with an ASD.  The video is great to teach awareness, but acceptance and empathy come from personalization.

Because every child with autism is different, every workshop we do is tailored to fit the needs of the classroom dynamics.  Before the workshop, we meet with the staff involved with the child with autism, and/or with the child’s parents to learn a little bit about what makes that child unique.

The nature of the information shared is also different between grade levels.  We tell kindergarteners about their friend in 30 minutes and use different exercises than we do with the sixth graders, who have a 60-minute workshop. Each version includes a screening of the 17-minute video.

Each participant will get a signed Certificate of Completion from Good Friend and a gel bracelet.  In order to make these workshops most effective, there is a maximum number of 50 students per session.

The workshop fee is $50 plus a $1 per child supply fee. Due to Good Friend’s limited travel budget, this service is only available within a 75-mile radius of Waukesha.  Contact Chelsea or Denise for more information, or fill out our online request form.

General Assembly 

Schools that desire more general information for their students on being good friends to children with ASDs can schedule a Good Friend Assembly for up to 500 children.  An assembly includes the 17-minute video followed by a 30-minute interactive presentation and 10-minutes of Q&A (if time allows).  As with the other formats, Chelsea and Denise will meet with key staff and/or administrators ahead of time to assess needs.  No bracelets or certificates are included for the children with this option.

Fees ranges from $100 to $500 depending on the number of students involved, with a maximum of 500 students. Due to Good Friend’s limited travel budget, this service is only available within a 75-mile radius of Waukesha. Contact Chelsea or Denise for more information, or fill out our online request form.

Staff In-Services

While Chelsea and Denise don’t pretend to be experts on the subjects of elementary education and ASDs, they have attended several conferences, lectures, and presentations on dozens of topics related to social, behavioral, medical, and educational aspects of life on the autism spectrum.  As active participants in their children’s educational teams and frequent classroom volunteers, they can provide fresh insight on the interaction of typically-developing students with children with ASDs.

In-services are preceded by a 15- to 30-minute meeting with key staff members and/or administrators to determine the group’s needs. The in-service itself lasts 60 minutes, and includes information about ASDs, a video screening, and a discussion of the workshop curriculum.  A Q&A session follows.

Due to Good Friend’s limited travel budget, this service is only available within a 75-mile radius of Waukesha. To schedule a complimentary staff in-service or for more information, please contact Chelsea or Denise or fill out our online request form.