As you walk down the hall in the morning, you keep to yourself. The girls behind you giggle about their plans for the evening and the jocks in front of you lug their equipment through the hall as they exchange high-fives. People stare at you, but do not approach you. You are isolated because you are somehow different; somehow you don’t fit in. All you want is a friend. This is something a child with special needs may feel on a regular basis in high school. Having a friend is something many of us take for granted, and having the confidence to sit next to someone or try to join a group of friends is hard with a disability holding you back. Someone with autism or downs syndrome may have a harder time getting involved socially than others, so they are often left out. Best Buddies is a program that strives to eliminate this social gap between kids with differences. This school year marked the start of a Severna Park High School chapter of the program.

What does Best Buddies do?

The Best Buddies mission is to “[establish] a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” The Best Buddies program pairs a special education student with a general education student, based on similarities and interests. The goal is to create a lasting friendship that both the peer buddy and the buddy can treasure and appreciate. Those who are not paired attend events, to open everyone to different social circles. Senior and President Jordi Alton said, “Our club shows not only our school, but our entire community that regardless of mental [or] physical disability, everyone plays a vital role [in the Severna Park community.]”

Unlike many high schoolers, many kids with special needs cannot live independently and therefore cannot go off to college, get a job, and live a life of their own. This club offers social development for individuals with intellectual or other disabilities and strives to provide them with a future after high school.

This is not a one-way street– Everyone who is a part of Best Buddies benefits. Senior and Vice President, Caroline Leuschner said, “This club means the world to me because it gives every person, disability or not, a friend.”