“We just hang out,” is how peer-mentor Patrick Palmer explains his role as a peer-mentor in WAAA’s Friendship Matters social group for youth on the autism spectrum. What comes easily  to many teens, hanging out, can often be a challenge for teens and young adults with autism. Friendship, congeniality, and positive peer relationships are the heart of WAAA’s Friendship Matters, enabling participants to improve their social skills, develop lasting friendships, and enjoy a crucial sense of normalcy.   

This spring our Redmond Friendship Matters teen group has had two outstanding peer mentors, Patrick Palmer and Giuliana Ernst. Eighth-grader Giuliana came to peer-mentoring as an elective at her middle school. Now she’s hooked and hopes to continue helping kids on the spectrum while throughout high school. Patrick, 18, says he hopes to do this, “as long as I can,” recognizing, “it’s always fun.”  

Both Patrick and Giuliana remarked on the impact of seeing the teens grow as a favorite outcome of serving as a peer mentor. “You need to be the first to initiate conversation and have lots of patience,” notes Giuliana. “Kids on the spectrum are not really different than us -- we can help them.”

Outings to local businesses provide multiple layers of entertainment, whether an enthusiastic drummer taking center stage at Guitar Center or an excited teen yelling “Touchdown” after a good throw at the bowling alley.

“It’s a great program,” comments Patrick. When asked what he’d like to see in the future, he asserts, “another group and more volunteers,” noting that there’s currently a wait-list for both of the Redmond groups. Patrick and Giuliana face heavy work, school, and sport commitments this summer, but both hope to continue to volunteer and engage as peer mentors in some capacity.

Friendship Matters provides an easily replicable, best-practices model for creating positive social opportunities for adolescents and young adults. Please contact WAAA if you want to participate, replicate, or support Friendship Matters!