Post on 27-Mar-2015
Special Education Action Research Team
Kennedy’s Best Buddies Program
PDSA Cycle
• Plan – Do – Study – Act (PDSA) Cycle guides the continuous improvement process for the action research team
Goal #1 for Special Education Team
• To establish a Best Buddies program in the Kennedy High School community.
Cougar Friends
Plan – Define the System
• There has been a need identified for the Best Buddies program by students, parents, and staff.
• “The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.”
• This will be accomplished by matching buddies with peer buddies.
One-to-One Friendships
Plan – Assess Current Situation
• This year baseline data will be collected to establish what is working in our pilot program and what will need to be adjusted for future expansion and success.
Plan – Assess Current Situation
• Kennedy’s Best Buddies program is directed by a student president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and a Best Buddies director who is representative of the special population.
• Currently there are 16 general education peers and 13 students with disabilities actively participating in the Kennedy’s Best Buddies program.
Plan – Analyze Causes
• Not enough opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in activities with general education peers in social settings to build mutual and meaningful one-to-one friendships.
Creating Opportunities for Friendships
Do – Try Out Improvement Theory
• Missy Berg, Best Buddies coordinator from Des Moines, visits Kennedy’s student government to inform students of ways to establish program.
• Selection of Best Buddies officers.
• Student representative sent to Best Buddies Leadership camp summer of 2005.
Coordinating Team
Do – Try Out Improvement Theory
• Student body notified of establishment of Best Buddies program through Channel One announcements and flyers.
• Student president of Best Buddies visits Mental Disabilities classroom to recruit potential buddies.
• Membership forms are collected and analyzed for compatibility with Best Buddies goals and values.
Time to Share
Do – Try Out Improvement Theory
• Student Best Buddies president and treasurer matched buddies and planned first Best Buddies social event to match peers.
• Best Buddies Matching party held on Wednesday, November 16th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm.
• Best Buddies Holiday party held on Wednesday, December 21st from 3:00pm to 4:30 pm.
• Fundraiser planned for February and March.
Matching Party
Holiday Party
Study – Study the Results
• Monthly interaction logs have been turned in for November and December. A minimum of four social interactions needed to be recorded per month.
• Student satisfaction surveys to be completed by all participants third term to determine areas of improvement needed and the overall satisfaction of the students involved.
Social Interactions
Study – Study the Results
• Still in the Plan/Do parts of the cycle for the other ideas.
Special Times
Act – Standardize Improvement
• Not to this point in the cycle yet.
Lasting Laughter
Act – Plan Continuous Improvement
• Not to this point in the cycle yet.
Special Memories