Autistic people can find social situations overwhelming, which can make it hard for them to make friendships, according to the National Autistic Society. In Rexburg, the community club called Differently Abled Individuals Social Collective strives to create a space where differently abled individuals can make friends and establish connections.
The club holds weekly meetings on Saturday nights. They plan activities that involve things like Mario Kart, movie nights and karaoke to provide members the opportunity to interact and enjoy time together.
Founder Parker Bryant enjoys the diverse group of friends he has made from the club.
“It has enabled us to make close friends,” Bryant said. “We're all from different parts of the country and I feel like having different backgrounds is a feature, not a bug, because one of the things we support is diversity. Neurodiversity is one of the things we support the most.”
The club is welcome to students and community members of all abilities who want to feel like they belong. Co-founder Jacob Westenskow hopes everyone feels welcome.
“Just come talk to us,” Westenskow said. “I'm also here to help anyone who's new. So, it's just about getting comfortable talking to our staff here. Come find us.”
For more information about future events, join the Differently Abled Individuals Social Collective Rexburg group on Facebook.