Variable 1: Getting Together Weekly with Friends
? Audio
Audio Transcript
For all youth with disabilities –according to a recently published NLTS study, 52% reported that they got together weekly with their friends
• Yet only 42% of students with intellectual disabilities got together weekly with friends
• And only 35% of students with multiple disabilities did so
• And that percentage was just 29% for students with autism –Source (NLTS2 data, Lipscomb et al., 2017).
Kentucky has had a Statewide Project to address this disparity: the Kentucky Peer Support Network Project: Two evidenced-based practices that that project incorporates are:
• Peer networks
• Peer support arrangements
You can click on the Project Website: www.kypeersupport.org to learn more.
? How Connected are Students to their Peers?
Getting Together Weekly with Friends: All youth with disabilities – 52%
- Students with intellectual disabilities – 42%
- Students with multiple disabilities – 35%
- Students with autism – 29%
Getting Together Weekly with Friends
Source (NTLS2 data, Lipscomb et al., 2017)
A Statewide Project to address this disparity: the Kentucky Peer Support Network Project: Two evidenced-based practices:
- Peer networks
- Peer support arrangements
| What are the differences? | Peer Networks | Peer Support Arrangements |
| When do they meet? | During lunch, advisories, clubs, and other non-instructional times | During general education classes |
| How many peers? | 3-6 peers | 1-3 peers |
| Who facilitates? | Any school staff | Paraprofessional, special educator, or classroom teacher |
| What is the focus? | Social interaction and friendship | Classroom participation, learning, and social interactions |
| When do they meet? | Weekly for about 30 minutes | Every class period for most or all of class |
Project Website: www.kypeersupport.org