Good Friend, Inc.

Good Friend, Inc. (GFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by Denise Schamens and Chelsea Budde in 2007, is committed to creating autism awareness, teaching acceptance of differences, and fostering empathy for individuals on the autism spectrum. At the time of incorporation, Denise and Chelsea were raising children on the spectrum whose classmates were eager to know more about them. Denise had the idea of creating a short film explaining autism to elementary school students for educational purposes, and Chelsea wanted to build a curriculum around that film.

GFI has since produced four short films, two of which are currently in use: "We ALL Fit" (2014) and "Choosing to Be a Good Friend" (2019). These films are created with and for specific age groups: "We ALL Fit" is for K-5th grades, and "Choosing to Be a Good Friend" is for 6th-8th grades. The associated programs prevent disability harassment in schools for elementary and middle school students.

Due in part to the success of our most recent video in film festivals from Ontario to California, GFI launched into the Transition phase of education, which, for students with Special Education needs, spans past high school to age 21. Transition planning helps students and their families identify and take steps toward what the next phase of life will look like: Will it include post-secondary education? Will it involve employment, and if so, what sort of vocational training and/or supports will be needed? What can Good Friend do about the shockingly low rate of employment for autistic adults?

We have an answer to that last question: We can make companies aware of the value of neurodiversity in their workforce, and how easy it is to take first steps toward welcoming autistic talent. Watch for our "Neurodiversity at Work" program launching this fall.

Good Friend, Inc., has been supporting communities that want to build a social emotional foundation on which a culture of meaningful inclusion can flourish. We've done it for schools, camps, churches, and businesses with more than 60,000 participants. We look forward to helping your community appreciate neurodiversity!