Local Kids With Special Needs to Get Buddies

The Peninsula Counseling Center is in the process of enhancing its big brother/big sister program by expanding the service to children with disabilities in the community.

“We’re spearheading the program to train our high school volunteers to better help children with special needs,” said Alice Laby, PCC's friends program coordinator, during a presentation to the board of the Hewlett-Woodmere special education PTA, school administrators and parents.

She discussed PCC’s plan to cultivate more volunteers, and once they’re on board, make sure that they are trained in how to deal with kids with special needs. This seems prudent, as volunteering to spend time with a child with disabilities is quite different than being paired-up with a child who simply needs companionship.

Even though the 30-year-old friends program has serviced a few children with disabilities over the years, it has primarily served children that are simply in need of support and friendship, such as kids who have just moved to the neighborhood, are having problems in the home or are a lonely only child.

The plan to enhance and promote the program’s ability to accept children with disabilities was prompted by Marsha Morak, Hewlett-Woodmere SEPTA's secretary, whose children are part of the program. She said she found it to be such a positive experience, that she wanted to make sure that all SEPTA members and the disabled community in general were aware of what the friends program has to offer. 

“My daughter was a volunteer for four years, and it was very successful," she said. "Then I enrolled my son in the program, who is a special-ed student. The volunteer that works with him has done wonders with my son. He’s like a real big brother.”

Morak added, “It’s worked out well both ways.”

Laby also visited Hewlett High School recently, giving an overview of the program to freshmen who might be interested in volunteering. The PCC is trying several new tactics to entice volunteers — not just those looking to increase their community service hours, but those teens who really want to make the difference in a child’s life. Once chosen, they have an orientation and then periodically meet with a supervisor.

Even though the pairs are typically made up of those residing in the Hewlett-Woodmere district, several attendees at the SEPTA meeting discussed the possibility of reaching out to the Lawrence district or  the local yeshivas for volunteers.

Each pair of friends meet once a week in the younger child’s home, where they engage in one-on-one activities that may include homework, reading, art projects and playing games – although they can have an outing like a visit to the library or a park.

The program has more than 50 pairs of kids and mentors from the Hewlett-Woodmere area. Matching up a suitable teen with the right child has always been the cornerstone of the program, but in the case of disabled kids, even more emphasis will be placed on compatible pairings.

The majority of children with special needs have social delays, few friends and feel isolated. This type of program can improve their social skills and self-confidence. It also provides a meaningful opportunity for the volunteers as well.

"After being in this program for four years, I've learned just as much from these little girls as they have learned from me," said Julie Weiss, a teen volunteer who was paired with my 10-year-old twins, one of whom is autistic. "I enjoy spending time with my little friends, and I feel so lucky that I have had the opportunity to watch them grow and develop over four years. The friends program has been a highlight of my high school experience.”