Building Lasting Friendships for Adults
🧑🤝🧑 From Friendly Hellos to Real Connections
🤝 Because Everyone Deserves Connection
This 9-week group helps adults with autism and intellectual disabilities grow their social confidence and communication skills—one conversation at a time.
Friendships are essential to well-being. This group helps participants build the social and emotional skills to form strong, lasting connections. Learn the skills to spark, build, and maintain meaningful friendships—with confidence and support.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to greet others and start conversations
✅ Tips for reading body language and nonverbal cues
✅ Understanding different levels of friendship
✅ The difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships
✅ Assertive communication and standing up for yourself
✅ Handling conflict and repairing relationships
Who Should Join?
🧑 Adults 18+ with autism or intellectual disabilities
🧠 Interested in learning how to build lasting friendships
🗣️ Able to participate in a group with minimal support
📍Located in Durham Region or able to attend in-person sessions
Why Join
💬 Practice social and communication skills in a safe space
🧭 Learn how to navigate friendship dynamics and boundaries
🔍 Explore what makes a good friend (and what doesn’t)
🙌 Build confidence through structured support
🤝 Connect with others working toward similar goals
💬 Build confidence in communication and boundaries.
Program Details
📅 Virtual Parent/Mediator Training: Week of August 24, 2026
🗓️ Client Sessions: Week of August 31, 2026 to October 26, 2026
⏰ Schedule: 1 Day a Week for 1.5 hrs (Day & Time TBD)
📍 Location: 900 Hopkins St. Unit 8, Whitby, ON. L1N 6A9
💰 Cost: FREE with DSO Referral / $854.20 without *pricing subject to change
Registration through the DSO
For DSO-eligible clients residing in the Durham Region make a referral through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) at 1-855-277-2121.
Registration by August 17, 2026.
Fee: FREE
Due to capacity limits, making a referral through the DSO does not guarantee a spot until Lake Ridge has confirmed your registration.
Fee Based Registration
For non-DSO eligible clients or those residing outside of the Durham Region, a group fee applies. Book a call with the Service Navigator here.
Registration by August 10, 2026.
Fee: $854.20
Contact Natalie Driscoll for more information: Call 343-227-6822 or email adultgroups@lrcss.com
Eligibility
Participants must be 18 years and older with intellectual/developmental disabilities (ID) or a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Individual Skill Requirements
Joint attention skills • Discrimination skills • Echoic skills • Motor imitation skills • Ability to follow common 1-step instructions • Participate in session with limited caregiver assistance • Safety concerns and challenging behaviour are low and/or caregivers are able to safely manage any challenging behaviour.
Stay in the know
Join our email list or follow us on social media to be notified of upcoming groups.