Does your autistic child have friends?

[MaxwellCat]

If you have an autistic child or children do they have friends? I've been told it's quite common for autistic children to not want friends and to not force it but just wondered if anyone else was in the same boat as not really met anyone with children that don't have any friends, I've found it quite difficult especially as they've got older and it's very noticeable in the holidays.

No, my ds is 13 and has severe anxiety too, so is unable to attend school anymore, after years of part time timetables etc. so I’ve homeschooled him for over 2yrs now, and it’s helped his anxiety so much.
But he’s been asking lately why he hasn’t got any friends and feels sad.
It is breaking my heart that my bright, funny boy feels lonely, his siblings are much older and working, and so it is just us during the week and we live a really isolated life as he still finds it hard to go out much.
mite especially hard in the holidays as there are too many people everywhere for him, so while the world comes to life, we almost hibernate until it’s ‘safe’ again.
We can’t go to groups or meet anyone as he can’t face it and so I’m clueless how to help unless a friend magically arrived on my doorstep..