Blazer Buddies Building Bonds

By Allie Benegar

There are a few specific milestones that most people experience in their teen years. A lot of memories come from the time spent in high school. Growth happens during these years that shape teens into the adults that become. Many students with intellectual or developmental disabilities are not given the opportunities to form bonds and make memories that their other peers are able to experience during their time in school. 

On the Golden West Highschool Campus in Visalia, California, the Blazer Buddies club meets every Wednesday. The club, “is designed to be a safe place where general education students and special education students can get together to build friendships, participate in activities and have fun” [1]. Here students with intellectual or developmental disabilities are given opportunities to interact with students that they do not often have chances to interact with. This club positively affects all students that take part in it, regardless of whether or not they have a disability. This program operates to, “bridged the gap between neurodiverse and neurotypical people and create relationships that otherwise may not occur” [1]. Blazer Buddies work to make special experiences for those on campus that have not always been granted the same opportunities as their peers. The club offers students with intellectual or developmental disabilities the opportunity to grow in the same ways that their peers are able to. 

There are two advisors and seven other staff members that work to make the club the best that it can be. The Blazer Buddies has approximately twenty general education students that attend the meetings each week to participate in the activities with the special education students that attend these meetings as well. During these meetings the students participate in a wide variety of activities. A few of the activities consist of “[making] friendship bracelets, slime, play[ing] various games, and [making] posters for homecoming” [1]. The club encourages special education to become more involved on campus. These activities that are offered in the club help those with disabilities work on their communication skills with others. 

The students that participate in the club all work together to positively affect everyone that is a member of the Blazer Buddies. The club does not only impact students during the meetings, but outside of them as well. This has led to more “interaction around students around campus that started through Blazer Buddies” [1]. One of the stand out moments for the club has been one of the special education students being voted homecoming prince and being crowned at the school's rally. Being able to be a part of these school wide events and building relationships through the club positively affects the students' experience in and out of the club. 

The Blazer Buddies have a wide variety of students that are a part of the program and attend the weekly meetings that are held. Students that have intellectual or developmental disabilities have benefited from these sessions in many ways. Students have become more social from the interactions that they experience through the club. Many of them have strengthened their communication skills through the activities they participate in. Students in the program learn to work as a team to complete tasks in the club, helping them bond with others. “Some of [the] students prefer not to interact due to sensory overload; however, having them in the room while others interact is still giving them an opportunity to work on adaptive behavior skills” [1]. The fun activities and atmosphere benefits all of the students that take part in the weekly meetings. Students, whether they have a disability or not, are positively impacted by what the Blazer Buddies has to offer. 

Many of these students would not normally be put in situations where they would be able to interact and form a connection. Blazer Buddies creates a space for special education and general education students to form friendships and make memories. Students on the Golden West campus have embraced the Blazer Buddies club and put effort into making meaningful and lasting connections through the club's activities. It is significant that, “both staff and students  here at Golden West [have been] so kind and accepting to [all] students. [Where] that is not always the case at other schools” [1]. 

[1] Cerda, Maria. Blazer Buddies Advisor. Golden West High School. 2025.