Last week, members of Peer Power Partners created a giant puzzle to display at the ArtWorks Festival this summer. With paint, puzzle designs and about 50 students, the room was buzzing with delight.

The event was just the latest event by I.J. Holton Intermediate School’s Peer Power Partners program, which pairs general education students with special needs students to help special needs students better learn communication and socialization skills. It helps children befriend fellow students who may be considered different.

“It’s pretty amazing and very powerful,” said Jessica Carlson, Peer Power Partners facilitator for fifth-grade students. “I think the educational sessions are the key to befriending students with disabilities.”

The program also teaches bullying prevention, and helps kids learn to stand up for those who need help.

After forming at I.J. Holton earlier this year, the program could soon be spreading across the district. Peer Power Partners is a partnership by Vision 2020, the Parenting Resource Center and Austin Public Schools.

‘A dream of mine’

Mary Barinka, a parent and member of Vision 2020’s Community, Pride and Spirit committee, researched similar programs and advocated for Peer Power Partners to come to Austin schools to help with students’ socialization skills.

“I think there is so much emphasis on academics and test scores and I want to commend I.J. Holton and the community for recognizing that we are responsible for the [students’] social and [communication] components too,” Barinka said.

Barinka’s daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2003, and Barinka has since looked for ways to help special needs students.

“I advocate for kids with disabilities all the time,” Barinka said. “It’s kind of a dream of mine.”

For I.J. Holton sixth-grader Jaren Steene, the program is a way to help his fellow classmates.

“I just think it was a good idea to help the people with disabilities get through school and make more friends,” Jaren said.

He is a mentor in the program, and he said the program has helped him, as well.

“I know more kids now with disabilities and I know how to help them,” Jaren said.

Barinka said fifth- and sixth-grade is an ideal age to start teaching kids about disabilities and the differences between themselves and their classmates. That age, Barinka said, is when children start to notice and understand that some of their fellow classmates and friends are different.

Peer Power Partners is for students with autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, Emotional Behavioral Disorder, speech impairment, visual impairment, learning disabilities and more.

‘You have more friends’

Now that school leaders know how the program will work, program leaders have started an application process for future students who want to be a part of it. This first year, students were selected by staff, parents and program leaders, according to Barinka. There are more mentor students in the program than mentees, and Barinka said this is mainly so there are enough mentors to offer friendship whenever needed.

“It provides opportunities for interaction and support throughout the day,” Barinka said.

Fifth-grader Torrie Sok said the program has helped him make at least ten good friends.

“It is good to get some experience and help others when they need help,” Torrie said. “You feel like you have more friends.”

Torrie is a mentee in the program, but he has also learned a lot about helping students who might get bullied because of their differences.

“We are better together and we have to work together and help others if they feel lonely,” Torrie said.

Fifth-grader Rolando Gonzalez has learned a lot through being a mentor, but it has provided student support for him as well.

“Usually we learn about bullying and stuff, and that helps me a lot because I used to be bullied,” Rolando said.

He is glad to be a support for other kids who might be in the same situation he was in at one time.

“Before they felt like they were all alone, but now they know that they’re not,” Rolando said.

All three students plan to reapply for the program this fall. Carlson said program leaders hope to expand the number of students involved at I.J. Holton next year.

“What we’re looking at doing here at I.J. Holton is increasing our mentees so we can get some more of our students with disabilities involved,” Carlson said.

Program leaders have also been meeting at Ellis Middle School and are planning to start the program there for the 2014-15 school year. If things continue to do well, they plan to start it up in the Austin High School within the next few years. There is a kickoff tentatively planned for October of 2014 for the program.