special education action research team. kennedys best buddies program

Special Education Action Research Team

Kennedy’s Best Buddies Program

PDSA Cycle

• Plan – Do – Study – Act (PDSA) Cycle guides the continuous improvement process for the action research team

Goal #1 for Special Education Team

• To establish a Best Buddies program in the Kennedy High School community.

Cougar Friends

Plan – Define the System

• There has been a need identified for the Best Buddies program by students, parents, and staff.

• “The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.”

• This will be accomplished by matching buddies with peer buddies.

One-to-One Friendships

Plan – Assess Current Situation

• This year baseline data will be collected to establish what is working in our pilot program and what will need to be adjusted for future expansion and success.

Plan – Assess Current Situation

• Kennedy’s Best Buddies program is directed by a student president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and a Best Buddies director who is representative of the special population.

• Currently there are 16 general education peers and 13 students with disabilities actively participating in the Kennedy’s Best Buddies program.

Plan – Analyze Causes

• Not enough opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in activities with general education peers in social settings to build mutual and meaningful one-to-one friendships.

Creating Opportunities for Friendships

Do – Try Out Improvement Theory

• Missy Berg, Best Buddies coordinator from Des Moines, visits Kennedy’s student government to inform students of ways to establish program.

• Selection of Best Buddies officers.

• Student representative sent to Best Buddies Leadership camp summer of 2005.

Coordinating Team

Do – Try Out Improvement Theory

• Student body notified of establishment of Best Buddies program through Channel One announcements and flyers.

• Student president of Best Buddies visits Mental Disabilities classroom to recruit potential buddies.

• Membership forms are collected and analyzed for compatibility with Best Buddies goals and values.

Time to Share

Do – Try Out Improvement Theory

• Student Best Buddies president and treasurer matched buddies and planned first Best Buddies social event to match peers.

• Best Buddies Matching party held on Wednesday, November 16th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.

• Best Buddies Holiday party held on Wednesday, December 21st from 3:00pm to 4:30 pm.

• Fundraiser planned for February and March.

Matching Party

Holiday Party

Study – Study the Results

• Monthly interaction logs have been turned in for November and December. A minimum of four social interactions needed to be recorded per month.

• Student satisfaction surveys to be completed by all participants third term to determine areas of improvement needed and the overall satisfaction of the students involved.

Social Interactions

Study – Study the Results

• Still in the Plan/Do parts of the cycle for the other ideas.

Special Times

Act – Standardize Improvement

• Not to this point in the cycle yet.

Lasting Laughter

Act – Plan Continuous Improvement

• Not to this point in the cycle yet.

Special Memories