Contact
Mark Wise
Director of Training and Volunteer Management
302-831-4669 or mwise@udel.edu
Forms
Peer Partner
A Peer Partner is a regular education student who volunteers for a 1-on-1 peer “friendship” training and participating with a Special Olympics Athlete.The Peer Partner should be within two chronological years or grade/class levels of the Special Olympics Athlete.
Goals
- Assist teachers in the management of portfolios & IEP’s.
- Assist in mainstreaming/integrating special education & regular education students.
- Encourage socialization, self-confidence, peer relationships, and community outreach.
- Introduce regular education students to people with special needs and the Special Olympics Organization.
- Develop and extend friendships outside of the program.
Selection Process
Through a recommendation process the regular education teacher, special education teacher and /or the Program Director can select students based on academic performance, behavior, social maturity, and athletic ability/traits that would be appropriate for the 1-on-1 peer friendship. Recommended recruitment outlets: Parallel Grade Level Regular Education Students, School Sports Teams, Clubs, and PE Class Regular Education Peers. After being selected, the Peer Partner must complete the Peer Partner Application.
Orientation:
The Peer Partners will attend an educational class/meeting that educates him/her on working with people with special needs as well as disability awareness as a whole.
Training
- A Peer Partner will be assigned to one athlete through the duration of the 8-10 week training period.
- The Peer Partner will train with the athlete in preparation for the event.
- The Peer Partner will assist/participate in all aspects of the practices.
Competition
- Peer Partners will attend the competition, traveling with the Special Olympics team.
- The Peer Partner & Athlete will both receive a uniform shirt.
- The Peer Partner is permitted to escort the athlete through the competition that encompasses their skill eventand participate in the skill event by peer modeling.
- The Peer Team (Athlete & Peer Partner) is awarded together determined by the athlete’s final skill score.
- The Peer Partner is encouraged to escort and participate with the athlete in any extra curricular activities at the event (meals, Olympic Village & Healthy Athletes).