Thousands of Australians became isolated during the height of the pandemic, but Canberra mum Ros Kewley noticed her neurodivergent son was taking it harder than most.
With a passion and a drive to see her son included in more social activities, Ms Kewley and Hayley McClellan teamed up to create The With Friends Initiative, a social group and supportive community for neurodivergent young people.
The program started with a series of dinner parties, with only eight participants.
Now it has grown to 30 families and counting.
The group provides the opportunity for young, neurodivergent adults to participate in social activities that appeal to their age group, such as going to dinner, hosting birthday parties or attending escape rooms.
Participants in the program are aged from 16 years to their late 20s, and Ms Kewley said it filled "a giant need" for social programs for neurodivergent people entering adulthood.
Ms Kewley said it was important that she spent the time planning age-appropriate activities with the group, to make sure their need for friendship and connection was being met by like-minded young adults.
Since it formed, The With Friends Initiative has organised a range of activities, including a Halloween party, escape rooms and dinners.
"We actually ran a 21st birthday party as one of the events as well, because they often don't get invited to other people's parties," Ms Kewley said.
"We've got these kids [who] didn't say anything the first time, to now they're almost leading some of the activities these days, which is beautiful to see."
Ms McClellan said the activities spanned a number of sensory, social, communication and behavioural needs, so it was "about making sure that everybody participating in our program is seen as an individual".
A handful of facilitators of a similar age to participants have jumped on board to help run events, so participants feel a sense of independence of being among friends, while still seeing familiar faces who are there to help if needed.
A support system of people who understand
Daniel Bartholomaeus is getting ready to start university, with a passion for art and drawing.
Being a part of The With Friends Initiative has helped Daniel feel more prepared to enter his next stage of life.
"I struggled going through school, and making friends and connecting with people, so The With Friends Initiative is such a great opportunity and it means a lot to me," he said.
He said he had been able to spend a lot of time with other participants, learning from one another and their experiences.
"Just having that opportunity for people who struggle to make friends, and getting them to come together with people who understand each other, for me that's really important," he said.
He has enjoyed each event so far, but particularly enjoyed the time the group "just went out and had dinner, we went to a restaurant and had some pizzas".
Daniel's mum, Joanna Bartholomaeus, said the initiative had been "a real life-saver".
She said her son has been able to be himself, while also "learning the skills he needs to be independent in a safe way".
"It's a really difficult age for them to navigate through with relationships, and going out, and partying," Ms Bartholomaeus said.
"[It's] just finding people [who] can connect [with] and understand them."
'Young people growing and enjoying their lives'
Participant Saxon Davis — who lives with autism and hearing loss — says The With Friends Initiative gives him "a place to just be myself".
"People understand that I can be a bit loud, and they tell me to quiet down a little bit and I can understand that," he said.
His brother, Griffin, is also a participant and said he enjoys being able to hang out with friends, and be creative and supported at every event.
Milly Whitehead's favourite events so far have been the Halloween party and going out for dinner.
She said her social skills have expanded since joining the group, and "it means a lot to me to have people around [who] understand you".
Meanwhile, Sebastian Markwick enjoyed "having some good food with all my good mates" and doing activities that other young adults might do.
With social connections and friendships at the forefront of the program, Ms Kewley is excited to see the initiative continue to grow and flourish.
"We're really trying to reach a lot of those people in Canberra," she said.
"It's a bit like turning over rocks, there are so many people [who] are in this space, [who] are neurodiverse, and they're quite isolated.
"It's joyous to watch these young people growing and enjoying their lives."
