Peer mentoring and buddy programs for students with physical and developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions or other challenges have been shown to benefit the social-cognitive growth of their mainstream peers as well as establishing long lasting relationships and improving academic achievement for both groups.
Early experience with classmates who represent the diversity of our communities leads to greater understanding of access issues due to mobility challenges; the critical importance of good health habits and emergency support for individuals with asthma, diabetes, or other conditions; and specific information about behavior and communication among their peers with developmental disabilities.
Many school districts have initiated peer mentoring and tutoring programs for mainstream students without including students who qualify for an IEP or 504 plan. Students with significant disabilities are most often excluded from these opportunities because teachers, administrators and parents lack experience or knowledge of successful programs and underestimate the benefit to the students involved.
While parents of students who qualify for special education services often seek these programs to help establish friendships and create opportunities for social interaction for their sons and daughters, a striking side benefit is the motivation and incidental learning that takes place in academic as well as greater self confidence, interest and involvement in extracurricular activities and community events.
Parents of mainstream students who urge their children to participate in peer buddy or mentoring programs may hope these experiences lead to a greater understanding of diversity and tolerance of differences, and are gratified to discover a tremendous growth in maturity and leadership. Often, typically developing students who are struggling academically or socially will make great strides in study skills and learning, and will successfully apply the friendship skills they practice in the peer buddy program and act as role models for other students.
Educators and families may underestimate the lonliness and isolation that many of our students experience throughout their educational lives. Peer buddy and mentoring programs allow students to make connections with one another as well as the individuals who become their buddies. Learning to relate in authentic ways, enjoying social events and outings that are set up for the enjoyment of all participants, and taking time to consider what constitutes friendship and loyalty are all benefits to peer buddy and mentoring programs that include students with developmental disabilities or other special needs.
A great deal of information about creating peer buddy or mentoring programs is available through organizations campaigning against bullying and deliquency in our schools, and from advocacy organizations for children with physical or developmental disabilities or chronic health conditions. Existing opportunities in our public schools can be expanded to include students who qualify for IEPs or 504 plans, and new ones can be started using guidelines suggesting the best practices of successful, well-established programs.
Our children's classmates are likely to be their co-workers, neighbors, and employers (or employees!) during their adult years, so the friendships and other benefits of peer buddy and mentoring programs may extend well into the future. It is no secret that students with disabilities are great peer mentors themselves.
Browse at local bookstores, your local public library or online retailers for titles like: Peer Buddy Programs for Successful Secondary School Inclusion, and
My Friend Has Down Syndrome (Let's Talk About It) 
and other books on peer mentoring
Robert Pio Hajjar's opening speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROWbyKVLYr8
Don't miss Robert Pio Hajjar's opening speech at the Best Buddies Regional Conference 2009 in Hamilton, Ontario
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROWbyKVLYr8
Learn more about Robert Pio Hajjar,
Founding Director of IDEAL-WAY.ca
http://ideal-way.ca/Ideal/AWordFromRob.aspx
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National Peer Helpers Association
http://www.peerprograms.org
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National Association of Peer Specialists(NAPS)
www.naops.org
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NASC Peer Buddy
http://www.naspecialconnections.org/html/nasc_-_peer_buddy.html
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Metropolitan Nashville Peer Buddy Program
http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/sped/tri/peerbuddy.htm
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PatriciaEBauer.com links:
Given chance to help others, Elsinore High Peer Buddies blossom
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_special19.803d2c.html
TEMECULA: Local teacher earns regional honor
By Amy Bentley - For The Californian
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/01/04/news/californian/temecula/z962efedc1e7a70ad882575210076d47e.txt
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Peer Tutoring for Special Education Students
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/910855/peer_tutoring_for_special_education.html?cat=4
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PEER TUTORING AND SOCIAL BEHAVIORS: A REVIEW
http://www.internationaljournalofspecialeducation.com/articles.cfm?y=2001&v=16&n=2
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Disability Awareness Resources at the Family Village website:
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/General/Disability-awareness.html
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/general/advoca.htm
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/multicultural/Asian.htm
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/multicultural/Asian.htm
Non English Resources
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/culture/non-en.html
Melissa Riggio Made a Difference
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56423.asp
