Developing pilot befriending schemes for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a region of Greece: Lessons from practice

Abstract

Befriending represents an expanding resource for the social support of vulnerable people in the community. This article discusses the development of two pilot befriending schemes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in the central region of Greece. In the first part, the context, the aims and participants of the schemes are described and in the next part, the positive aspects and obstacles encountered in both schemes are discussed. © 2007 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.