A 17-year-old high school student volunteered for the TIES program after being notified through a community service club.  Brochures were distributed to members of this club and training was delivered.

The student enthusiastically volunteered, reflecting in her application "I have down syndrome.  I know what it's like to have a disability."  She supported an 8 year-old boy in a town recreation arts and crafts program.

This event was the first activity the 8 year-old attended without one of his parents accompanying him.  His mom was hesitant, but quickly felt at ease after the high school volunteer corrected the teacher's pronunciation of the boy's name.  His mom felt at that point that the volunteer would advocate for him.  The volunteer helped the boy with the motor process of the arts and crafts projects, as well as helping him direct his attention to the class projects.

Both students had a positive experience.

A 17 year-old high school student who attended a BOCES district-based classroom began joining the students who produced a live broadcast of the high school morning news show due to his interest in music and technology.  He went several times per week for a couple months, but stopped attending since he hadn’t made any social contacts with the other students and didn’t actively participate in the show’s production.

When he received the TIES informational packet, he requested to have a volunteer provide him support in the morning show program.  We recruited a volunteer from the morning show group since it was the most natural way to provide him the most knowledgeable support.  Actually, two students wanted to volunteer with him and five students attended the volunteer training workshop!  After he received the support he needed, he became a member of the group by helping to select the CDs used to open and close the morning news and by helping to operate the audio controls for the production.  He showed real enthusiasm and pride in the production of the morning show.

Two 16 year-old young ladies, who have not previously had the opportunity for involvement with their peers in extracurricular activities because they attend classes at school districts other than their home school districts, did not have the natural support available to them to feel included in an activity.  Both expressed an interest in attending a town sponsored hockey event for students in their age group. 

The TIES Coordinator spoke to the Town Recreation Director who, in turn, spoke to adult leaders attending the trip.  The attendees took a bus to and from the local arena for the event and were chaperoned by two adults.  The attendees usually went with their peers.  The two young ladies were paired with volunteers their age who also expressed an interest in hockey.

The parents of both of the participants were a bit apprehensive about them being supported by volunteers in an event at the local arena.  One mom contacted her daughter's volunteer directly to speak to her over the telephone.  The other mom shared her concerns with the TIES Coordinator.  Her concerns included:  supervision, safety, and socialization issues.  The TIES Coordinator shared some of these concerns with the Town Recreation Director and felt assured that the trip would be well supervised by the staff.  The TIES Coordinator felt assured that the volunteers who were chosen understood the participants' needs.

The parents shared the delight on both girls’ faces as they boarded the bus to attend the hockey game, as well as when they returned home.  On the way home, all of the teenagers on the bus had discussed the next trip that they could share together.