The Strully's have written an excellent and simple piece about the necessity of friendships in their daughter's life. In fact, they unequivocally state that it is friendship that will ultimtately mean life or death for their daughter. It is the only real safeguard of a person's human rights. Without friendships in Shawntell's life, gaining additional skills and competencies are useless. What is fantastic about Shawntell's friends is that they have realised that Shawntell "is the social glue that binds them" - Shawntell is central, not peripheral, to their group. They also state that friendships have not just happened naturally for their daughter and they have had to purposely work on facilitating them. Because intentionality is important, the Strully's also discuss the roles that are important in facilitation of relationships, and how these people have been essential in Shawntell's life.