“To make a friend and to be a friend…” This is the initial goal I had for my students when I approached my Principal about starting a Best Buddies program at Roxbury High School. I had read a letter from the parent of an adult child with special needs who was involved with the Best Buddies program. This national organization’s goal is to help foster and develop long term friendships for students with special needs. Their mission is to enhance the lives of those with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships and integrated employment.
The goal of the program is to help develop friendships that can cross any learning barriers at Roxbury High School. It has been a great opportunity for all of the students at the high school whether they are in regular education or special education courses. It’s a win-win situation.
As a Special Education teacher for the Cognitively Impaired class, students in my class are matched up with peer buddies who share similar interests. Initially, these students were selected from volunteers from the Peer Leadership group here at RHS. Interest in the program continues to grow so we are expanding the program. Depending on the time of year and peer buddies’ obligations, we may have anywhere from six to fifteen students gathered after school to hang out, play games and just talk. Best Buddies allows my students to make friendships in their school community and to develop and learn appropriate social skills making it easier for them to be successful once they leave high school. The program has even expanded to buddies getting together outside of school and making plans like typical high school students do. Oftentimes, special needs students don’t have many friends outside of school, and the recreational activities they do are more focused on their parents’ interests.
The enthusiasm and dedication from the peer buddies is tremendous. I’m talking about students who have many other obligations outside of this program such as: sports, school paper, peer leadership, student council and the like. They still make time for this program. These kids are truly the cream of the crop and should be commended for it.
We need support in order to make this program a continued success. We were fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Roxbury Foundation for Excellence in Education (RFEE). This grant has helped to finance activities and trips for the students to enjoy. Although our program does not have “official” status with the Best Buddies program, we were advised by Best Buddies International to begin the program and see what the interest is. We are currently working to achieve official status and need to raise about $9,000 – a king’s ransom in public school terms. Despite not being “official,” the teachers who run the program with me, Lori Baker and Barb Saunders, are committed to its success because we feel the benefits are that great.
This is a wonderful time of year to highlight the giving nature of our school community and the support our students provide to one another. If you are interested in learning more about Best Buddies, please contact me by calling Roxbury High School at 973-584-1200 or e-mail me at mtryon@roxbury.org.