What are some important dimensions of friendship?
Genuine friendships between people with and without disabilities do exist. While each friendship is unique, there are some shared ideas and expectations about what friendship means. According to a recent study of pairs of friends (Lutfiyya, 1990), these meanings include: Mutuality. The people defined their relationship as a friendship and themselves as friends. Although they acknowledge differences between themselves, they clearly found a sense of mutuality in the friendship. Mutuality was expressed in the giving and receiving of practical assistance and emotional support, and enjoyment of each other’s company. Rights, Responsibilities, and Obligations. Once a friendship is established, it is assumed that friends can make certain demands of each other and be assured of a response. Nondisabled friends talked about the obligations that they had assumed for their friend with a disability, such as teacher, mentor, caretaker, or protector. The friends with disabilities assumed certain respo
