This message is primarily for parents with kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders who are exposed to neurotypical (NT) peers during the school day.
Special education teachers at a public school in Michigan started an innovative program a few years ago that they called "Links." First, they identified NT students that they thought would be receptive to the program. Then, they trained them about what autism is and how they can best support a particular student with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. I saw a video of the program. Some of the autistic kids in the video needed a LOT of support to get through the school day. The video spends a lot of time going over the benefits of the program, for both the NT and the AS kids.
A friend of mine, who has a son with Asperger's (high functioning autism) found out about this program and got her district to adopt a modified version of it to support her son. Now, I've gotten my son's school psychologist to do start something similar for him.
Here's what you do:
1) Find a staff person who buys into the idea and is willing to do some follow-up. The big bonus from the school's perspective is that it costs almost nothing.
2) This staff person (in our case the psychologist, but it could be a guidance counselor, social worker, or a special education teacher), communicates with the AS kids' teachers about the program, and solicits names of NT kids who would be good for the program.
3) A formal letter is drafted, approved, and sent to parents of the kids that are pre-selected. The letter states that it is an honor for the student who was "chosen" to participate.
4) After parents sign off, the students meet with the staff person to talk about what's involved, etc. Each student can then decide whether or not to participate.
5) Once the core group of students is selected and agrees to participate, they can meet on a regular basis (for instance monthly) to discuss how the AS student has been doing and what type(s) of support are needed.
Like I said, the main benefit is that it costs very little to get a program like this going. It can also be adapted to support low-functioning autistic kids, or high-functioning autistic-spectrum kids. They can be elementary age, through high school age. It's also a great way of training NT kids about Autism Spectrum Disorders and helps them to become more caring individuals.
Our local middle school has a program called "Circle of Friends" which is very similar to what you describe.
I think it will be absolutey wonderful for my son who will be going there next fall.
I have one huge concern though...my son tends to become fixated on a peer who acts nice to him, to the point where he drives this kid crazy. It happens every year.
