Attica Central Schools is partnering with Starbridge, a non-profit organization based in Rochester, to bring the Together Including Every Student, or TIES, program to Attica. The TIES coordinator for Attica CSD is Jennifer Rautenstrauch, a parent in the district.
The program creates opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in extracurricular and community activities with the support of trained peer volunteers. Activities could be anything from attending an organized fun night at the school or joining an after-school club to participating in programs offered out in the community such as youth classes at the YMCA or summer day camp activities at the county parks.
“TIES is a natural way to promote inclusion and to foster independence for kids with disabilities. Using peer volunteers to support students who have disabilities who would otherwise not be able to participate, or would only be able to participate with the support of an adult, is a win-win type of approach.” said Rautenstrauch. “Peer volunteers gain valuable new perspective and experience in their role and can also earn community credit hours while participants gain an opportunity to join in an inclusive activity with other kids while still supported for any special needs they may have.”
Peer volunteers are Attica students in grades 8 through 12 who’ve undergone a 45-minute training session and reference check. Participants are Attica students age 8 to 21 who require additional support to attend an event or class.
Before any outings or activities, Rautenstrauch works the participant’s family and the activity leader for the event and creates an individualized support plan for the participant. The support plan is shared with the participant’s family, activity leader and peer volunteer. The participant and the volunteer are matched according to availability of the volunteer and if the activity is something they share an interest in.
The activity can be anything that’s inclusive that’s extracurricular or community-based, and is organized and run by an adult. Activities are chosen by what the TIES participant is interested in.
“I interview the participant and the family to figure out what the participant might want to do, and we go from there,” said Rautenstrauch. “I also have a list of activities we can look at if they need suggestions.”
The list of activities is growing, stressed Rautenstrauch, as she continues to spread the word about the TIES program and make connections out in the community.
The TIES program has hit the ground running in Attica. Rautenstrauch has already signed up 2 active participants and trained 7 peer volunteers and is actively seeking more “so that we can continue to widen that pool of volunteers.”
“The more volunteers we have in the program, the more participants we can support. Kids are busy, so it’s important to have a lot of volunteers with varied availability and interests,” said Rautenstrauch. “For both participants and volunteers, this program is all about getting out in the world and stretching those horizons. There is potential for personal growth on both sides.”
The program runs through the summer, depending on availability of the volunteers.
Rautenstrauch encouraged those interested in signing up for TIES, as participants or as peer volunteers, to contact her at (585) 604-8467 or via email at jrautenstrauch@starbridgeinc.org.
For peer volunteers, Rautenstrauch stressed that the program is very flexible with no minimum time commitment.
“Even if they just want to get on the roster and dip their toe in it and see if the program is right for them. Maybe they don't have the time to commit to a weekly class or club, but they want to do just a one-time thing like going to a dance of a game, that’s totally fine,” she said. “Really what it comes down to is that kids with special needs want to explore all the things that are available in life, just like anyone else. And they want to do it on their own, with other kids. TIES is a way to support this in our community. Our community has so much to offer. I’m so excited to see the program grow, and to see our kids making new connections out there that can last a lifetime.”
For more information about Attica’s TIES program, visit our TIES webpage by clicking here. Rautenstrauch will also have a booth at the district’s 3rd annual Wellness Fair slated for Thursday, May 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the High School Gym.