w
hile watching his students having fun at a Quaker
Valley High School (QVHS) dance this past
fall, teacher Jason Brindza had a revelation. “The
students were just part of the community,” says Brindza, a
Learning Support teacher and co-sponsor of the Best Buddies
program at QVHS. “They were included and welcomed in a
natural way.”
For him, that’s the goal of the program—to promote
friendship, jobs and leadership development. The nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization is dedicated to ending the social,
physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Brindza, along with co-sponsor and QVHS Learning Support
teacher Heather Barto, founded the program three years ago.
“Naturally at QVHS we’ve had ‘Buddies’ in the Life Skills
classroom on a small scale, but it wasn’t as many students and it
wasn’t as official,” notes Brindza. “I thought it would be perfect
for us.”
Since then, the program has taken off. On the high school
level, the program fosters friendships between students with
and without IDD. Between 50 and 60 members participate
in activities as a group, one-on-one, and in the community.
Activities range from bowling, sensory-friendly movies, and a
Sewickley Valley YMCA social, to typical teenage activities such
as hanging out at a coffee shop and visiting with friends.
“This year, sports was a big component and we had Buddy
meetups and tailgates at some of the QVHS football games,”
says Brindza. “QVHS football had an amazing season and we’ve
been very proud to be part of it. The students helped out with
the football team’s equipment and laundry, so it allowed us to
blend those two things together—the meetups and service.”
Many kids with IDD have a tough time being social on their
own. MJ Crane’s son, Spencer, is a QVHS senior and a member
of the Best Buddies program. “Spencer has always responded
well to his ‘typical’ peers in the school setting, and getting to
do ‘normal’ activities with them outside of school has made a
big difference,” she
explains. “He spends
the majority of his
free time at home
with his family, and
throughout the years
has not been a part
of many of the fun
activities typical
kids and teenagers
Gabby Helkowski,
experience.”
Caitlyn McCloskey,
Spencer got to
Spencer Crane, Emma
Moul, Tali Leckie.
experience what it’s
like to be a typical
teen on his first solo outing with Emma Moul and Caitlyn
McCloskey, both QVHS seniors who joined the program. “They
went on a hike in the village,” says Crane. “It was something so
simple, but something no one had asked him to do before. Since
then, he’s gone for more walks, attended a hockey game, and
tried roller skating. He went to a high school football tailgate
and has volunteered at a local charity. And the biggest thing of
Emma Moul, Spencer Crane,
Caitlyn McCloskey.
all was getting all dressed up for a fun night of dancing at the
Best Buddies Masquerade Ball.”
Emma has benefited as much as the Buddies she’s mentored.
“I wanted to join Best Buddies my junior year because I
thought it would be a fun club, but little did I know that it
would change my life,” she says, and now she is co-president of
the program. “Seeing the Buddies, my classmates and friends
have so much happiness and love of life has brought so much
joy to me, too. Besides making the Buddies happy and laugh, or
just making fun memories with them, I love to see the parents’
reaction. These parents want to see their kids having fun,
making memories, and being loved in school, too.”
It’s been a similar experience for Caitlyn. “I wanted to
become a Buddy so I could make a difference in my classmates’
lives and make them feel like they have a friend to talk to,” she
says. “I enjoy seeing the excitement on my Buddy’s face when I
say hello to him or her, or when we’re hanging out.”
Crane sees the difference that Best Buddies has made in
Spencer’s life. “Spencer can’t always express with words how
he’s feeling, but I can see it on his face—the joy he feels being
included and participating in fun activities with other kids
his age,” she explains. “As a parent, that’s all you want for your
child—to be accepted for who you are and to be included,
to be a part of something. And as the mother of a child with
special needs, I can’t express how much Best Buddies means to
me.”
As a Learning Support teacher who teaches life skills,
Brindza feels that the Best Buddies program has been just as
valuable as teaching math or any core subject. “Students with
friendships and who regularly socialize become more confident
as a result of the Best Buddies program,” he notes. “It positively
affects their work, their behaviors and enhances their lives.”
To sponsor an event, art and musical activities, exercise
classes or dining experiences for the QVHS Best Buddies
program, or to make a monetary donation, contact Jason
Brindza at [email protected]. n
SEWICKLEY
❘
SPRING 2018
15