Online Friendships

Some teenagers with autism find interacting face to face with others difficult. These teenagers may find that developing friendship skills using SAFE online forums and blogs helpful until they build up the confidence to try these skills out in real life! When online, children and young people can learn new things, get help with homework, express themselves creatively and connect with friends and family. However, we must ensure that the online world does not replace the concrete world. Safety issues are of utmost importance, remembering the vulnerability of students with autism.

By understanding and talking about the dangers you can help keep your child safe online. If using online forums, blogs or chatrooms please first read the advice on the NSPCC website at:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Another useful website which advises on how best to use privacy settings and how best to use public sites from the NSPCC is:

https://www.net-aware.org.uk/

Network Autism provide a helpful fact sheet for parents relating to alcohol:

http://network.autism.org.uk/sites/default/files/ckfinder/files/Autism%20and%20alcohol.pdf