Hello parents!

Re #CheersSocialToronto – a regular integrated meet-up group for young adults (ages 20-32) who meet criteria for an intellectual disability – functioning in the higher end.

 I am the parent of a young man. He has average abilities, cognitively, socially and adaptively.  He is working part-time and taking some night courses.

Most importantly, he is very sociable and engages in a wide range of activities, from recreational sports, to Pokémon, movies, video and board games, social pub nights etc.

Of course, I am biased, but he is a wonderful young man, friendly, helpful, thoughtful, funny and, yes, quirky.  It hurts me to see how lonely he is and how desperate he is to have real friends with whom to regularly hang out or chat. Yet this is so essential to his happiness and well-being in the future.  Although friends and family, and their grown-up children are happy to spend time with him occasionally, this is not a substitute for long-term friendship and having regular fun with your peers.

My son really benefited from binge-watching all the seasons of Big Bang Theory with me a couple of summers ago, and of course since then. (Thank you so much Chuck Lorre!! He is as sad as all the rest of us that the series will end this year).  It helped him finally come to terms with his Aspergers and gives him hope that he will have friends like Sheldon, and a partner like Amy someday.

I am reassured by a psychotherapist who specializes in improving social skills, that there are many young people in their 20s and early 30s at the same level of ability as my son who want to socialize but find that their naïve and kind disposition makes it difficult to find like-minded friends.

Unfortunately, it seems there are no dating sites that can really meet their needs.

I am convinced that a more individualized approach is needed, and I propose to provide a regular integrated social evening at a friendly pub in Toronto each week for young people such as my son. (The “Cheers” in #CheersSocialToronto refers to “Cheers”, another great TV series that reflects the kind of welcoming atmosphere I hope to replicate).

I am hopeful that there are many same-like-peers out there, and that this communication will reach their parents. No number is too few to start.

If you are interested in having your young adult participate in such a social night, please contact me at cheerssocialtoronto@gmail.com.

I am determined to move this project forward as quickly as possible.

Thank you very much.

Deborah – a determined parent.