Previous research has shown that school adjustment and performance is enhanced when students with disabilities receive educational services in settings alongside peers without disabilities. In this project, a systematic effort is made to develop a system of peer supports for students with disabilities in vocational classes, participation in athletic events, school clubs, and other activities that typically comprise high school life. This project provides the opportunity for Metropolitan Nashville Public School students with disabilities between the ages of 19 and 22 to work part-time, learning general office skills and other communication skills. Students work at the John F. Kennedy Center and around the community. The arrangement is part of a program that allows students to sample different jobs in the community during the transitional time between high school and entering the working world.
Students work alongside their job coaches, who also are their high school teachers.
This program allows regular education students to be peer buddies to students with disabilities in their school. This facilitates the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular classrooms and in social activities. Studies show that this relationship bridges the gap socially and academically and proves to be beneficial to students with and without disabilities and to teachers. Students can participate in the peer buddy program and receive credit as an elective. Visual disabilities research program of Anne Corn Professor Corn conducts research on the education of students with visual disabilities.