Baron Buddies is one of the largest and most impactful programs for students with disabilities at Bonita Vista High (BVH). The club unites General Education (GenEd) students with Special Education (Special Ed) students by partaking in activities such as soccer games to strengthen the bond between students of GenEd and special ed and potentially create new friendships.
Baron Buddies advisor Darci Comer-Davies has been in the program for six years. Her main goal is to advocate for the program and their desire for unity between GenEd and Special Ed students, in order to encourage more students to be involved in the club and to spread goodwill throughout the campus. The advisors wish to have GenEd students bond with Special Ed students to fulfill the program’s goals.
“The purpose of this club is to teach the GenEd students ways to learn how to be friends with Special Ed students. Some are students with disabilities and it’s also for Special Ed students; It’s okay to have GenEd friends. So it’s to teach them how to make friends and hang out in groups and some different things,” Comer-Davies said.
Comer-Davies further mentions that through Baron Buddies, Special Ed students are able to experience high school traditions that elevate their experiences. Additionally, promoting their goals to social media helps other students gain relationships with students in Baron Buddy.
“[Students] know Baron Buddies are special needs kids, and we put it on social media. We talk about it. This is what’s going on in high school and it’s a positive thing to see interactions with both Gen Ed and Special Ed students.” Comer-Davies said.
Along with their GenEd friends, Special Ed students can hang out with their friends anywhere on campus and do activities to help build a stronger bond. This extends to off campus activities, which helps students further their relationships off campus.
“We go to dances together, we take our kids to dances so they’ll see them at those dances, so they’re not like they don’t know anyone, they actually know their peers,” says Comer-Davies.
“We take a student with learning disabilities and a student without and pair them up. So, that whole year they will be paired up and become friends. Baron Buddies also has a part in raising the awareness of what our students are going through,” Baron Buddies advisor and healthcare assistant Brian Hyder said.
Hyder compares the BVH campus to other schools that he has visited. He explains how GenEd students do not mind the Special Ed students being loud—allowing them to oversee their difference. Hyder finds it amazing how BVH students tolerate Special Ed students, allowing them to feel welcomed in the community.
“My class is a behavior [focused] class. My kids go off and when they’re going crazy, screaming, [and] yelling, people are cool. The students [are] like ‘okay’, which is awesome because you don’t see that in other schools,” Hyder said.
Hyder has been part of the Special Ed department for approximately 20 years, assisting students with disabilities throughout the time he has been working at BVH. He mentions that he wanted to be a teacher since the eighth grade and work with students. As of now, Hyder is one of the staff members that keeps this club alive to this day.
“Charlene Love was going to quit advising, [which would] cancel the program. I originally started because the program was gonna [get] shut down, and I didn’t want that. So, I’ve been in it ever since,” Hyder said.
Although the club was at a large risk of coming to a close, Hyder and other Baron Buddy advisors like Rommyna Keeran—who has been advising the program for three years—allowed for it to remain active for both students and Special Ed students. Similarly to Hyder, Keeran had aspirations to work with children.
“I always knew I wanted to be in a career for children, whether that was a pediatric nurse or even a pediatrician. But my heart always advocates [for] students who are in special education,” Keeran said.
When Keeran first started working with the Baron Buddies, she stumbled upon a multitude of issues. For instance, she experienced stress from pursuing a full time career, while taking care of her family. However, with the help from different people, she overcame her hardships.
“Being a young mom, going to school [and] working full time was difficult, while also raising a family of four,” Keeran said. “I had the support of my family and my group of friends. It came down to having support at school.”
All three advisors enjoy engaging in this community that supports students with special needs. The sight of both GenEd and Special Ed students brings the advisors joy, knowing that their students with special needs have other BVH students to build stronger friendships with.
“I really love being a part of the Baron Buddy community, because I get to witness the friendships the students made everyday. I like seeing my students feel valued in society and to really love being a part of Baron Buddies. It’s nice to join a club that offers inclusion and promotes meaningful friendships,” Keeran said.
