Learning from the Pandemic: Creative Approaches to Peer to Peer
This article originally appeared in START Connecting in May 2024.
When unexpected situations arise, it creates opportunities to adjust our practices and work in new ways. Although the pandemic presented many hardships for schools, students, and staff, the challenges inspired innovation and tenacity in an attempt to persevere and maintain important connections. This was especially true of peer engagement among students with and without disabilities.
We wanted to learn how Peer to Peer programs weathered the pandemic and identify creative responses to social distancing and remote learning. A survey was conducted to gather input from programs across the state. We present the key findings in this article summary and encourage you to learn from others and maybe even find your own responses within the survey results. We know that some Peer to Peer programs were placed on hold during the pandemic and are just recently making their way back. Some programs endured and are looking for ways to continue to grow. Regardless of where you are with your peer to peer programs, we hope you will find some tidbits of inspiration.
Watch for the full publication of this article in an upcoming issue of the journal Inclusion.