Best Buddies Form Special Friendships

Friendships between typically abled students and those in the special education program are nothing new at .

But for the first time this year, these friendships have become formalized through the Best Buddies program.

And this is an important step, advisors say, because the program encourages friendships and interaction outside of the normal school day.

Students in the program are paired with a “buddy’’ from the special education program. The students meet at least once a month for one-on-one activities, such as a Worcester Sharks game, movie outings and manicure-pedicure girls’ days out.

About 14 students are paired with a “buddy.’’ Other students, often in the lower grades, have not been matched up with a buddy but belong to the group and attend the activities.

Allie Sheridan, the president of the Grafton High School Best Buddies chapter, worked with the special ed students in gym class last year. “I just loved all the kids,’’ she said.

When Best Buddies was formed, she stepped up and became president. She encourages her fellow students to become involved.

Her classmate Dave Steinmetz has been involved with Special Olympics since childhood. “These kids are a blast’’ to spend time with, he said. “It’s important for them to interact with other kids.’’

The buddies are equally enthusiastic. “He tells me funny jokes,’’ Lee Coz said of his buddy. “He makes me laugh really hard.’’

Brendan Griffin is looking forward to an upcoming paintballing outing with his Best Buddies pal. “He’s a good friend,’’ he said.

Club advisor Lauren Mulhern, a special education teacher and co-adviser of the program, said she has seen “quite a culture change’’ in the past five years that she has worked at the school. Students in the special education program are “more integrated into the school community now,’’ she said.

Getting that interaction and integration to move beyond the school community is the next step, she said.

“This lets us have a connection to the community,’’ she said.

Co-advisor Justin Contois, a physical education teacher at the school and co-adviser for the program, agrees. “Fostering the relationships between these students is really important,’’ he said. Best Buddies promotes interactions “inside and outside of school. We had been missing that outside piece.’’

The Best Buddies participants will be attending a bowlathon fund-raiser for the Grafton High School Bowling Team. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at AMF Auburn Lanes, 101 Soutbridge St., Auburn.

Cost is $10 for three hours of bowling, including shoes and ball. The public is invited.