Spectrum Society develops tool for Families to help in building friendships

Title-101 Ways to Make Friends: Ideas and Conversation Starters for Folks with Disabilities and their Supporters

Quoted from www.101friends.ca "Our first actual publication under Spectrum's imprint should be available within a couple of months through a number of on-line booksellers including amazon, as well as at our office.   it will cost about 22.00 U.S.   We do have a number of copies of a printed pre-publicatin version which has all the same content but is spiral bound.   it is $15 Canadian. " 

• Check out the 101friends blog (right hand side of the page)on the Spectrum Society Personal network site (www.101friends.ca) - here's a sample:

friend-making tip of the month

2009 February 24

by Aaron Johannes

Food makes everything a little better.   A meeting with food is a whole different meeting from one that does not have food.   No one needs to eat the food (although people will) - it just means something different - it’s friendly and welcoming.   Sometime we wonder how to introduce ourselves or approach someone that we’d like to be friends with.   Again, food is a great place to start.   Susan Kurliak is famous among her children’s friends for “Mrs K’s banana bread.”    Here’s her very easy recipe.

Susan’s Banana Bread

1/3 c. soft margarine

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

Mix together until fluffly.

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c. mashed bananas

Add to margarine mixture and beat on high speed 30 seconds.

1 3/4 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 c. milk

Add blended dry ingredients to banana mixture, alternately with milk.  Pour mixture into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 1/4 hrs or until toothpick inserted near centre comes out clean.

Wrap your banana bread up as nicely as you can and deliver it to someone you think you’d like to know better - or to someone you know really well and care about, just to say “Thanks for being there!”-

• Check out this blog daily for a new friendship making tip! What do you have to lose? Maybe you will learn some new techniques! I know i'm going to go home and try the recipes! LMK