Mansfield Best Buddies to promote friendships

MANSFIELD - The town's public schools, which have long sponsored programs to promote friendships between students and their developmentally delayed peers, is stepping up that commitment.

The school district is joining forces with Best Buddies International, a group that promotes activities and one-on-one friendships between disabled students and their non-disabled schoolmates.

Special needs Director Bernadette Conroy and teachers Christine Riley and Kelly Kenny briefed the school committee at a recent meeting on the new alliance which they said will expand horizons and strengthen links between students.

The membership in Best Buddies builds on the school system's experience with its in-house Common Connections program which matches disabled and non-disabled students.

In addition to promoting regular visits between buddies, the organization has sponsored a wide variety of activities meant to draw students closer together, from dances to field trips and Red Sox games.

Besides becoming part of an international organization, Mansfield would also benefit from the group's training programs and access to a project manager.

About 75 students are currently involved in the program. Best Buddies plans a kickoff program in the near future.