Friendships enrich our lives, make us happy and provide us with a sense of purpose and belonging. At SEEDs for Autism, we understand that making friends can be especially difficult for those on the autism spectrum. Our multifaceted program helps participants develop important social skills which empower them to interact with their peers, connect with others and build friendships. After taking part in a group discussion on the qualities of a good friend, we asked our participants to share their thoughts on why they would make a good friend. Here are the wonderful results.
RYAN M What makes me a good friend? I am a good friend because I am caring, sweet, kind and funny.
JAKE M My name is Jake and I will be talking about friendship and things that make me a good friend. I’m honest I care I respect people’s feelings I’m trustworthy I’m accountable I keep other people’s interests in mind
DUSTIN I am a good friend because I am kind.
DANIEL CH I am a good friend because I like to hang out with other people.
ISIAH I am a good friend because friends talk to each other, we are kind to each other, too. We don’t hurt each other and don’t use bad words. We keep it to ourselves.
EZRA A good friend is nice and friendly to others. Someone who has a sense of good humor (stand up comedy) and someone who loves a person in a relationship.
FRANCIS F What makes me a good friend is I am someone who is honest, caring and understanding. It is hard for people with autism to make and keep friends and knowing the qualities of friendship is important. However, there are a lot of different friends out there so choose wisely.
DANIEL N The qualities of a good friend is that they are loyal to me and nice to other people. They will share adventures with me and they’ll help me when I’m having trouble with a heavy load where team lifts are required such as a bulky TV. I’m a good friend because I’m loyal, trustworthy, helpful and willing to lend a hand.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” —Marcus Aurelius
Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to brighten our day and make us smile. Joy can often be found in the little things. Whether it’s hearing a favorite song, spending time with family, or engaging in a pleasant activity – Happiness is something we all hope to experience as we journey through life. In this fun exercise, we asked the participants at SEEDs for Autism to share what makes them happy with our newsletter audience.
PABLO What makes me happy? I’d say watching The Masked Singer makes me happy because I like enjoying the performances and guessing who is under the mask.…And also enjoying Ken Jeong’s best guesses. LOL.
JOEL Chitty Chitty Bang Bang makes me happy because it’s great.
MICHAEL S Teen Titans makes me happy because the show is fun.
ANNIE What makes me happy: Playing with my dog Nori, meeting two of my favorite singers and going on Instagram Live with Sweet Taboo. Also, playing with my horses, seeing my friend Delaney on my Dad weekends and spending lots of time with my cousins in Denver. Also, traveling with my mom on trips, going shopping at Sephora and Ulta and filming on Instagram live and watching YouTube Videos.
AVA BTS makes me happy because I like their voices.
JACOB K What makes me happy: Movies, Video Games, Naps. Jacuzzi and Mom and Dad
MARK What makes me happy: Playing on my Xbox, watching YouTube and TikTok on my phone and also going on Facebook and Instagram.
ANGEL E My parents and relatives. Also enjoying the movie theater experience, because my parents are always supportive. Getting to know one of my relatives and lastly enjoying films that are made by the greatest casts and crew.
JEREMY H It makes me happy because I’m good at math and playing video games.
HUNTER M I like being happy because I do stuff! What makes me happy is playing video games and playing with my dog! I love Scout because she is a companion terrier and love playing with her! I love playing video games on my XBOX and Switch!
JEFF What makes me happy is when I sit down and finally write on my own. Even just a paragraph feels like progress for me since I can be so slow with it.
BRIANA F What makes happy is to hang out with best friends!
ABINOV Blues Clues makes me happy.
OSCAR It makes me happy to take a seat at a restaurant like Denny’s and also when I go to theaters it makes me happy.
JESSE Outings, exotic places and the Rainforest Café. Also horror comedy movies.
EZRA What makes me happy is no digital allowed. Do you know why? Because digital media can cause eye strain and it is harmful. They keep everyone awake at night.
Join us on YouTube the 2nd Wednesday of each month for the latest episode of SEEDs Showcase! This month, we ask our students about their favorite home cooked meals, visit with SEEDs for Autism at the 2024 Zoowalk and turn the spotlight on our various departments. In these short and shareable videos, viewers will learn more about our products, our students and get a behind-the-scenes look at the life-changing program at SEEDs for Autism!
Gardening is a calm, quiet activity that has many benefits for adults on the autism spectrum. In addition to providing new sensory experiences, this rewarding pastime teaches important lessons on dedication and responsibility in caring for and maintaining healthy plants. At SEEDs for Autism, our Gardening Department has quickly become a favorite with many of our participants. Recently, students had an opportunity to take a field trip to the Arizona Worm Farm. We asked them to share their experience with us!
JESSE The day started as we pulled into the front lot of the worm farm. The local fire department was taking a tour as we were having ours. Jaala, Myles (SEEDs instructors), Dustin and myself walked with the Worm Farm staff through the area with all the crops grown there, from lavender to cabbage. There was a small house they built from the ground up. Then we came to meet the goats and chickens. After playing with them, we headed off to the green house to prep some planter trays with soil and bumped into Lucy the adorable cat that lives on the farm. Throughout the adventure, two cute dogs followed us around. The worms hang out in the dirt in piles and a wooden bin. I am excited to go back again.
DUSTIN I went to the worm farm with Jaala and Myles (SEEDs Instructors) and Jesse. We took a tour of the farm and we saw goats and chickens. We saw two dogs, a cat and a lot of worms. I felt happy at the worm farm. The best part was digging for worms. We brought a bag of worms back to SEEDs for the Gardening Department.
ABOUT THE ARIZONA WORM FARM The Arizona Worm Farm is a 10-acre urban farm on a mission to turn garbage into food. We don’t use magic wands. We use insects. Our goal of sustainability enlists the power of Red Wiggler Worms, Black Soldier Flies, and hot compost piles to turn Valley waste into natural gardening products, vegetable starts, and produce. For more information, please visit their website!
Autism Awareness Month takes place in the month of April. It is the time of year when we raise awareness for Autism and Asperger syndrome. It is important that people on the spectrum are accepted by others so that they are not alone. We want to thank all the therapists, caregivers, families, physicians, supporters, and organizations (including our SEEDs) for helping people on the spectrum find their place in the world.
Developing job skills is a vital part of our program at SEEDs for Autism. Our dedicated staff work closely with our participants to help them create resumes, fill out job applications and prepare for interviews through a series of role plays. These talented individuals are capable, employable and excited to become a valued part of the work force! Please join us in congratulating Talia on her new job at The Mellow Mushroom!
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
As part of our exciting online programming, SEEDs for Autism created a series of virtual groups, workshops and clubs where adults on the autism spectrum can connect with their peers through shared interests and opportunities. In the Kindness Club, SEEDs participants come together and find ways to cultivate kindness in our community! Last month the Kindness Club worked with Ashleigh at the Arizona Humane Society to make toys for the shelter cats!
SYDNEY K. After we finished making the toys, Ashleigh gave us a zoom tour of the Humane Society and showed us all the animals they have as well as the rooms of what they do there. The type of animals they take are dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets and some other animals. They bring in animals when their family can no longer take care of their pets, if they are abused, brought in by law enforcement, sick and injured, emergencies etc. For the animals they do take in they spay and neuter them, give them food and shelter and take care of their injuries. After the animal is healthy they go to foster homes or get ready to be placed for adoption. Before they get adopted they need to be able to eat and drink on their own. Also they make sure to place them in a safe home and give them a second chance at life with a new family. The Humane Society is always looking for volunteers. They are a non profit organization and always looking for donations, as well as other things that they have on their website.
To learn more about the Arizona Humane Society and find out how you can help, please visit their website azhumanesociety.org
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
We are happy to announce the return of in store shopping at SEEDs for Autism! Developing Job Skills is a vital part of our program, and through the production and sale of our beautifully hand-crafted home and garden products, participants learn how to process payments, fulfill orders, provide excellent customer service, manage inventory and more.
Shop at SEEDs and enjoy a wide selection of high quality home and garden products created by our team of talented young adults on the autism spectrum.
Please visit seedsforautism.org/shop to keep up to date on the growing selection of new items from the participants at SEEDs for Autism. Gift cards also available!
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
For those on the autism spectrum, social interactions and new experiences are often a source of struggle. At SEEDs for Autism, we utilize Role Play as a powerful tool for social skill development. This effective technique enables participants to become familiar with different types of situations and empowers them with language and actions to appropriately participate in real life situations. Here, SEEDs participants engaged in a series of job interview Role Plays to help them prepare for entering the workforce. We asked them to share what they learned.
Playing the role of the “Hiring Manager” Chris greets Francis as he arrives for his interview.
DEVONTE The best way to prepare for a job interview is to take a shower, make sure that you have a clean appearance, and are dressed in professional attire. Then, you should make sure you feel motivated to do well during the interview. Have a mock interview with someone you know and ask them to give you constructive criticism about your performance. Make sure you eat before you have the interview, so you don’t have an empty stomach, and then brush your teeth. After that, think about the questions that you might be asked and have a list of reasonable answers ready. Double check everything to make sure that you are one-hundred percent ready, then head out for the interview.
Body language is important because it tells the interviewer whether you are interested in getting the job or not. If you have a positive and professional posture then it tells them that you are excited to be there and genuinely want to get the job. Likewise, if you have poor posture then it tells them that you just don’t care about getting the job and would rather not be there. If your body language tells them that you don’t want the job, then they simply won’t give it to you. However, if your body says that you want the job, then you are much more likely to be given it.
DUSTIN Take a shower, comb your hair and brush your teeth and wear clean clothes like a nice shirt and nice pants for a job interview. It is important to have a positive attitude, stand up straight, look at the person who is talking, have a good handshake and smile. These show that you want the job.
After a successful job interview, Chris and Angel shake hands.
ANGEL I learned that you have to be prepared for the interview and be professional. What I do is take a deep breath and think positive. During the job interview, I focus on staying calm, clear the mind and be polite, honest and respectful.
BRIAN T Positive attitude is the most important thing when you get a job. You don’t want to use a bad attitude cause you won’t get a job or earn money with a bad attitude.
Brian T demonstrates the importance of attitude during a job interview with his example of what NOT to do.
**************************************
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones.
We all make mistakes, but in every mistake there is an opportunity to learn. At SEEDs for Autism, we work with our participants to develop problem solving skills to understand what went wrong, and to find ways to prevent it from happening again. We asked SEEDs participants to share their thoughts on how mistakes make us GROW.
CHRIS M. Can Mistakes Help You Grow? Let’s face it, almost NO ONE wants to make mistakes one time too many. It can be overwhelming for someone to keep going. Should they just give up on what they’re going for? Real answer: NO. Here are some reasons why you should never give up on your dreams and goals, even when you make some mistakes along the way. I’ve had some moments when I, too, get overwhelmed by making mistakes on my projects. At times, I’d grow more impatient and want to quit. But over the years, I’ve learned to take a break every now and then to calm down. I’d even regenerate my idea engine as I take some time to relax. When I’m done with my alone time, I would eventually go back to whatever my project is. That would be how I’d grow: to take some alone time to relax and regenerate. Whenever I take a breather, I would listen to music that I enjoy to blot out the outside noises that make me feel negative. This would be my advice for those who make mistakes and get overwhelmed by them. Also, mistakes can help you get better at what you do best if you keep practicing and studying that particular subject you want to work on. Remember, never give up! You can do it.
SONJA It’s important to keep trying when we make a mistake because if you don’t keep trying you won’t know what it feels like to achieve the goal. Mistakes can help you grow because you do what you can do to improve next time. I learned from a mistake when I broke something in the kitchen and I felt bad. I told my family, said sorry, and helped clean up the mess. It was good nobody was hurt and it made me feel good to tell them what I did.
JUSTIN M. When you make a mistake try again until you succeed. My advice is never think ahead of yourself. I will think before I do it. It makes me feel happy.
SYDNEY L. You’ll learn from your mistakes and do better next time. Mistakes teach us to do better and learn new skills. I made a mistake by going camping and not bringing water. Also, at the first camping trip, I threw up because I ate twice the amount of food I should have. The second time I made sure to bring a water bottle and cut down on the food.
ANNA Mistakes make you grow because a mistake is something you did wrong and if it was your mistake, you can learn why it was wrong and grow from it. An example of a mistake helping me grow is when once I escalated a situation when I had an argument with my Dad. I was angry even after my Dad had apologized, but the argument went on because I was silent, refusing to forgive him. This caused the argument to go on longer. I learned from this mistake that if it was something small, like it was in this case, I should have accepted the apology. Because now I know that I made the argument longer. Now if a petty argument happens, as it happens in life, when things get stressed, I know just to accept and apologize and I feel more of an adult when doing so.
DANIEL N. Hello, I’m Daniel and today I’m going to be talking about my experience at United Parcel Service. I got timed out by the sign out pad for failure to sign fast enough for the pad to accept my signature. Now I sign for packages faster and the machine accepts my signature for packages when I’m required to sign them out of the pickup location. I ask the staff to check the mail for picking up at the store. The result is I learned and now the process goes more smoothly. I feel confident.
CHARLEY Why is it important to keep trying when we make a mistake? It is important to keep trying when we make a mistake so that we can learn to do better & do it right. By learning from our past mistakes, we in fact become wiser and more successful in the future. A couple of days ago, I forgot to fill the dog’s water bowl when I fed him his dinner. The result was the dog was very thirsty because his water bowl was empty. That made me feel bad. In the future, I will try to be sure to fill his water bowl when I feed him. Then he’ll be sure to stay hydrated.
**************************************
This article was featured in an issue of the SEEDs for Autism Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe and hear more stories from SEEDs participants, please visit our website. Thank you!
seedsforautismblog.wordpress.com 