Middle-schoolers aren’t famous for springing out of bed and energetically heading out early. Yet a group of sixth and seventh graders at Jones Middle School is breaking that stereotype. As members of the Buddies Club, these youngsters are motivated to get to the Buford school early and stay late to help their peers who have intellectual disabilities.
Those disabilities are typically displayed in students with IQs below 70 who have a difficult time adapting to various situations. Among the 954 students at Jones are 30 diagnosed with autism or mild to profound intellectual disabilities. The Buddies Club pairs them with students without disabilities who assist them with a range of activities, from getting to homeroom in the morning and helping with class projects to eating lunch and attending after-school events.
“Buddies Club provides students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to form friendships with their same-aged peers who may or may not have a disability,” said Special Education teacher Ashley Saye, who launched the concept six years ago. “The club strives to promote acceptance and awareness, as well as to demonstrate that we are all more alike than we are different.”
The “Big Buddies” without disabilities also learn how to care for others, demonstrate responsibility, be role models, develop leadership skills and demonstrate empathy and compassion.
“Our school as a whole is very empathetic and understanding to the students with disabilities,” said Saye. “But I started the club to raise more awareness. I wanted our students to also make friends outside the classroom.”
In the years since its inception, the club has grown from 30 to 79 Big Buddies. Interested students must fill out an application and attend training sessions that teach techniques on working with disabled students and understanding their particular needs. Big Buddies are then assigned to work with their disabled peers through the school day and beyond.
“I take my buddies to band and chorus, and I eat lunch with them,” said seventh-grader Zemyah Woodard. “Sometimes in the morning, I walk them to homeroom. We’ve watched movies and gone to a corn maze together. It’s just nice to be in an environment where I can help out and make friends.”
Seventh-grader Kendyl McGrath joined the club last year as soon as she got to Jones.
“One of my best friends has a brother with special needs, and I’ve always hung out with him,” she said. “When I got to middle school and found out about a special needs club, I wanted to join. I’ll go to their room and help them with their work or take them to lunch. We’ve been to the corn maze and to basketball games. It’s inspiring to me that everyone is different has their own personality.”
The recent corn maze excursion brought 83 people together to share a hayride and meander, on foot and in wheelchairs, through the stalks. “It was a great opportunity for our students with disabilities who don’t often get to do things like that, or to do them with friends,” said Saye. “But in this group, they’re taken seriously. What we have is very special.”
Information about Jones Middle School: glennjonesms.org.
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