277. Autism and Friendship: Is Your Child Lonely or Are You Worried They Will Be?

Not Your Average Autism Mom · Oct 1, 2026 · 24m

Does your autistic child need more friends—or are you worried because their friendships don’t look the way you imagined?

In this episode, Shannon talks honestly about the sadness she has felt knowing that her son Jordan, now 30, has never had a best friend, sleepovers, or weekend plans with friends. She also shares what she has learned from paying attention to his experience: Jordan enjoys the familiar people and routines at his day program, and he has never told her he feels lonely.

But some autistic children do desperately want friends and feel the pain of being left out. Shannon talks…