Seaford program creates friends for life

The mission of Seaford High School’s Best Buddies club is to cultivate long-lasting relationships between general education and special education students. That mission has developed many new friendships in the district.

Program advisers Christine Caserta and Andrea Russell explained that Best Buddies, a program that has chapters at high schools nationwide, is about fostering an environment of inclusion. The club meets about twice a month for student-led activities such as crafts, games and karaoke. The group also takes trips and holds annual events including a regional Best Buddies prom, Halloween party and a year-end picnic.

Jolie Kistinger, Sarah Keane and Kristen McAndrew attended a workshop in December that focused on speech-writing skills. Kistinger and Keane helped McAndrew develop a speech about the four pillars of Best Buddies — one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living.

Last summer, Matt Karounos and Matt Meyer attended a Best Buddies conference at the University of Indiana, where the pair interacted with students and club advisers from different parts of the country.

“It was easily the best weekend of my life,” said Karounos, a senior who has been in the club since ninth grade. “It was a big group of people supporting the same idea and it helped me become more open-minded.”

One of the school’s biggest initiatives is the Challenger basketball team, in which students from Seaford’s life skills program play special education teams from other schools. Their buddies provide them with a real sports experience, as they serve as referees, sing the national anthem and provide support from the stands.

“It doesn’t matter who you are in school,” said Best Buddies chapter co-president Giana Cesario, whose chapter has close to 80 members. “Everyone is welcome.”