Programs that encourage connection and understanding can make a real difference in schools and communities. One example is Sammy’s Buddy Program, which pairs students with and without disabilities to build friendships and create more inclusive school environments. I spoke with Anne Kimble about the program, how it works, and why inclusion is so important. “At its core, Sammy’s Buddy Program exists because every person, every student, every child deserves to belong,” Kimble said. “Our mission is to build community and connection among students of all abilities, but it truly boils down to belonging.” The program works by creating real opportunities for students to interact and form relationships. Kimble explained, “The solution to loneliness, the solution to isolation, and the solution to creating connection and belonging doesn’t simply live in the programs we create. It lives in the people who participate.” Activities like games, group events, and field trips help break down barriers, allowing students to show who they really are. “When they let those walls down, they can really experience who the other person is,” Kimble said. “That’s where the magic happens.” She shared a story from one of her first schools in Utah that illustrates the impact. A student in the special education classroom struggled to communicate, and teachers worried he might be hard to include. Two fifth-grade boys stepped in and found a way to connect with him, creating a system that the teachers later used in class. “It opened up an entirely new world for that student,” Kimble said. “He could engage in the classroom, at lunch, and at recess. And it was just as meaningful for the two boys; they realized they had something to contribute and could make a difference in someone else’s life.” Programs like Sammy’s Buddy Program show how meaningful connections can change lives, for students with disabilities and for their peers. Fostering inclusion, empathy, and friendship helps schools become communities where every student truly belongs.
Article by Katelynn O'Brien
Photography by Provided
Originally published in Millcreek City Lifestyle