Activities Beyond School

There are many creative ways that Peer to Peer participants can connect beyond the school day and setting in order to have fun, get to know one another better, and strengthen their relationships.

The students will have great ideas and will likely take the lead in planning. Over time, there may be students who are interested in making plans with each other outside of school. When these connections happen, students often report that their friendships grow stronger and more meaningful. They may be interested in exchanging phone numbers or social media accounts in order to have direct communication. There may be other times that a focus student’s parent/caregiver reaches out in hopes of making contact with one or more LINK peer partners. In this case, Peer to Peer leaders often act as a bridge by sharing the parent/caregiver’s contact with the peer partners with the shared understanding that students and families can communicate in a way that is comfortable for each of them.

Activities that Peer to Peer Groups are Doing Outside of School

• 4-H

  • Michigan 4-H Engagement Checklist

  • 4-H Power of Inclusion

• Before and after school gatherings

  • Plays and musicals

  • Game day

  • Cereal potlucks

  • Mario-Kart events

  • Dinner or dessert at a local restaurant

  • Movies

  • Athletic events

• Birthday Parties

• Outdoor scavenger hunt and team building

• Inclusive summer camp

• After school coffee and hot chocolate

• Glow parties

• Robotics

• Interest clubs (e.g. legos, art, movies, STEM etc.)

• Summer bonfires and outdoor get togethers and cookouts

• See Program Maintenance section of the Elementary or Secondary Peer to Peer Playbooks for additional ideas

Community Resources

• Public library

• University hosted classes/clubs

• Community education offerings

• Parks and recreation events

• Nature Center

• Drama classes

Organizations for Autistic Kids and Teens

It’s important to remember that community and connection can look different for every student and family and is shaped by their unique experiences and preferences. While the opportunities listed below are not ones that Peer to Peer leaders would directly initiate, we can play a meaningful role by sharing them, welcoming questions, and providing space to explore what feels like the right fit.  

Please note: START presents the resources below for informational purposes only; no endorsement or recommendation is expressed or implied. 

• Makers Making Change - STEM with Purpose program supports STEM education through an assistive technology lens. Our workshops encourage students to tackle real-world challenges and to empathize with people with disabilities.

• Asperger / Autism Network (AANE) offers two types of support groups for autistic teens. Open groups are free and may have different participants joining from session to session. Closed groups are fee-based and have the same participants for a set number of sessions online. Financial assistance is available. Additional support groups for parents are also offered.  

• Friend in Me is a social group connecting kids with disabilities and neurotypical student volunteers through free, fun online games and conversations via Zoom on a one-to-one basis every week. Check out this virtual buddy program as well.

• Making Authentic Friendships is a fee-based mobile application that helps teens (age 13+) with IEPs find friends based on their geolocation, diagnosis, age and interests. It was founded by Juliana Fetherman for her brother Michael, who is diagnosed with both autism and ADHD and struggles to make friends.

• The Autism Project (TAP) offers social skills groups led by speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, mental health practitioners and other professionals for the following age groups: Ages 5-10, Pre-teens, Teens, and Young Adults.