This monograph presents principles and insights drawn from interviews and scholarly sources on the development of friendships between persons with disabilities and the nondisabled. Vignettes at the end of each chapter illustrate the chapter's principles. The first chapter looks at why friends are important and discusses intimacy and affection, feeling valued, companionship, taking risks, breaking away from services, support and advocacy, and friendship's contribution to a normal life. The next chapter looks at obstacles to friendship. These include misperceptions, few opportunities to develop friendships (e.g., how services may be an obstacle to developing friendships and may contribute to role confusion); inadequate supports; and other aspects of friendship such as the qualities of friendship, reciprocating friendship, conditions enhancing friendship, availability, and chemistry. The fourth chapter looks at different approaches to building friendships. Discussed are a University of Alberta matching program, a British Columbia program fostering community development with self advocacy, the use of social networks to build friendships and bridges to the community (e.g., being in integrated settings, finding bridgers, and building bridges for disabled individuals to their communities). Includes 79 references. (DB)