Friendship First: Transforming School Culture Through Inclusive Peer Friendship Clubs

Format

Individual Presentation

Presenters

• Ivory Brown, Effingham County SchoolsFollow

First Presenter's Institution

Effingham County Schools

First Presenter’s Email Address

ibrown@effingham.k12.ga.us

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Ivory Brown, Ed.S is the 2024–2025 District Teacher of the Year and an adaptive special education teacher with nearly two decades of experience. She is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments that celebrate every student’s strengths. As a faculty advisor for Best Buddies, she has led initiatives that foster peer friendships, transform school culture, and build meaningful opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Submitter

I am submitting this proposal as one of the presenter(s)

Location

Percival

Strand #1

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Strand #2

Home: Family & Community Engagement

Relevance

This proposal aligns with the Heart (Social & Emotional Skills) strand because it focuses on fostering meaningful peer relationships and promoting social-emotional growth among students. By creating an inclusive peer friendship club, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their typical peers develop empathy, communication skills, leadership, and a sense of belonging. The program emphasizes intentional interactions that reduce stigma, support emotional well-being, and build resilience for all participants.

The proposal also connects to the Home (Family & Community Engagement) strand as the initiative positively impacts the broader school community. Families, teachers, and administrators observe and support inclusive practices, reinforcing a culture of respect, collaboration, and advocacy for students with disabilities.

Brief Program Description

This session highlights how an inclusive peer friendship club, grounded in the Best Buddies framework, transformed school culture by connecting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their peers. Participants will explore practical steps to create authentic friendships, strengthen inclusion, and foster meaningful outcomes in social-emotional growth, leadership development, and student belonging for students with disabilities and their peers.

Summary

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience social isolation, limiting their opportunities for meaningful friendships and engagement in school life. To address this need, this session highlights a practical model for creating an inclusive peer friendship club, based on the Best Buddies framework, that pairs students with IDD with typical peers in intentional 1:1 friendships. The initiative demonstrates how structured peer connections can foster social-emotional growth, leadership skills, and a stronger sense of belonging for all participants.

This session provides a step-by-step overview of how to implement and sustain a peer friendship program, including strategies for recruiting student leaders, securing administrative support, and encouraging participation across diverse student groups. It emphasizes hands-on methods for creating authentic, reciprocal peer relationships that promote empathy, communication, and resilience. Participants will also learn ways to measure and reflect on the impact of the program on students with disabilities, peer mentors, and the broader school culture.

Practical “take-home” strategies will include guidelines for planning 1:1 buddy pairings, facilitating activities that strengthen social-emotional skills, and integrating the program into existing school structures to maximize sustainability. Evidence from school-based data and student reflections demonstrates measurable outcomes: students with IDD show increased participation and confidence, while peer mentors develop leadership skills, enhanced attitudes toward diversity, and stronger communication abilities. These outcomes are supported by research on peer-mediated interventions and inclusive practices, which show positive effects on social interaction, school belonging, and reduced stigma for students with disabilities.

Through discussion and interactive reflection, participants will gain a replicable model for establishing peer friendship programs in their own schools or communities. The session equips educators and youth professionals with practical tools to foster inclusive environments that support social-emotional development, meaningful friendships, and whole-school cultural transformation.

Evidence

• Carter, E. W., et al. (2016). Peer-mediated interventions for students with intellectual disabilities: A pathway to inclusion and belonging. Journal of Special Education.

• Asmus, J., et al. (2017). Inclusive school practices and student outcomes. Exceptional Children.

Best Buddies International. (2020–2024). Impact reports: Friendship and inclusion outcomes.

Learning Objective 1

Participants will be able to describe three benefits of peer friendship programs for students with IDD and their peers.

Learning Objective 2

Participants will be able to plan and implement an inclusive peer friendship club in their school or program.

Learning Objective 3

Participants will be able to use strategies to assess the impact of peer friendships on inclusion, social-emotional growth, and school culture.

Keyword Descriptors

Inclusion, Peer Friendships, Intellectual Disabilities, Special Education, Social-Emotional Learning, Leadership, School Culture, Belonging, Student Engagement, Resilience

Presentation Year

2026

Start Date

3-3-2026 1:00 PM

End Date

3-3-2026 2:15 PM

Recommended Citation

Brown, Ivory, "Friendship First: Transforming School Culture Through Inclusive Peer Friendship Clubs" (2026). National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference. 49.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2026/2026/49