This
web site has been created as a flexible tool to better enable teachers across Kentucky
to create, improve, and maintain effective peer buddy programs within their
schools. Each teacher will choose which materials to use in her or his class
and make decisions regarding how students will use the chosen materials. Your
son or daughter may have expressed interest, have already chosen, or is currently
taking part in this unique opportunity.
Purpose of Peer Buddy Programs
- The purpose of a peer buddy program is to provide a credited
elective class for students to gain experience working with same-age peer
students with significant cognitive or intellectual disabilities in educational
settings. Peer buddy programs allow for positive social interaction and social
relationships to develop between students with and without significant disabilities,
as well as provide a natural form of support in the classroom for students with
disabilities. The potential for growth for your son or daughter through
participating in this program is limitless.
As
a parent or family member, you can use this site to:
-
familiarize yourself with the activities your son or daughter will be experiencing
-
find resources to further your own knowledge about the power of peers, as well as important elements in services and supports for persons with disabilities
-
encourage your son or daughter to use this time and the provided activities to reflect on the experience
-
become more familiar with the concepts of inclusion and least restrictive environment as it applies to all children and youth
Inclusion
Inclusion is the term used when a student with a disability participates in
general education classes with modifications and/or adaptations. The
modifications and adaptations can include anything from extended time on
assignments, modified goals and objectives, adapted tests, specialized seating
and positioning requirements, or individualized behavioral plans. Modifications
and adaptations depend on the needs of the student related to their disability,
and their specific strengths and weaknesses. One important purpose of an
inclusive classroom is to bring students with disabilities into more of the “mainstream”
of the typical high school student experience. While in an inclusive class,
students with disabilities will learn more than just the academics and their
own targeted goals, they will also learn valuable social skills that will help them
to live successfully in society outside of school. The use of peer buddies in
the general education classroom is one way that students with disabilities can
be supported in a natural manner, as might happen in the workplace or college
later on, as well as for the peer buddy to gain invaluable experiences and
friendships.
An essential part of inclusion is
also participation in those other
aspects of school that are so important (extracurricular activities and school
clubs, service learning opportunities, school dances, and so on). Your son or daughter may also want to provide
support to his or her peer buddy in these activities, and to introduce his or
her peer buddy to a broader network of friends.
If your son or daughter wishes to be involved in this way, this can be
very important in terms of extending the social network and sense of belonging
for his or her peer buddy – indeed, this goes to the very heart of inclusion!
There are many benefits for your son or daughter in being
involved in this course. First is the
opportunity to learn about and to truly appreciate individual differences. Secondly is the opportunity to learn about
special education in general, as well as the importance of community inclusion,
the rights of all individuals, and the role that each of us has in fostering
one another’s growth as individuals.
There is also research that indicates that being a peer buddy
actually enhances the learning for
your son or daughter – when he or she teaches or assists another student in learning
important content, then your son or daughter will actually increase his or her
own learning of that content. Finally,
being a peer buddy opens up a whole world of career opportunities, one with a
very strong future job market, a fact so important for the times in which we
live. Your son or daughter will not only
have a very rewarding experience as a
peer buddy, he or she will also learn a great deal, and may even find a
fulfilling career for life. You may want
to check out the
Careers in Special Education
module yourself !
Take your time exploring what the peer buddy program and this
website has to offer, and take advantage of the opportunity to discuss this
with your son or daughter throughout the course of the school year. He or she
will likely have a great deal of new knowledge and experiences to share.