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Date: 11/1/2023
ENFIELD — Delaney Hutchings and Autumn Leduke, Best Buddies participants at Enfield High School, were acknowledged for their contributions to the cause, emphasizing friendship and inclusivity.
The pair was recognized alongside other nominees at the Best Buddies Champions dinner on Oct. 6 at the Farmington Polo Club.
The International Best Buddies Program, established in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, pairs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with peers without IDD. Its mission is cultivating genuine relationships and mutual respect and integrating those with IDD more extensively into community life.
Amy Santanella, a special education teacher at John F. Kennedy Middle School, launched the initiative around 2018-2019 to provide her students with more inclusive, same-age peer social opportunities.
“Middle school doesn’t have recess, and the day is scripted. So, I wanted opportunities for them to spend quality peer time, do fun activities, and feel included,” Santanella explained.
The program, which currently boasts 45 peer buddies and about 20 student members, doesn’t force pairings.
Instead, Santanella lets relationships form organically. “We observe who gravitates towards whom during events and activities. The aim is to build friendships that last through the high school years,” Santanella added.
The results have been heartening. The students interact in school, and many exchange phone numbers and engage in activities outside school, exemplifying genuine friendships. One example is the bond between Leduke and Hutchins, both 17 and seniors at Enfield High School.
While Hutchings is the peer buddy, Leduke participates as a buddy. “They’ve stayed connected all through high school,” shared Santanella. “It’s fascinating to see where this began and has now reached.”
Leduke described Hutchings as kind, funny, and her best friend. She shares her love of fashion and makeup.
The friendships cultivated through the program go beyond their recent recognition. “It’s not just about school activities,” Santanella said. “They’re forming real friendships. Delaney and Autumn are perfect examples of its success.”
Hutchings spoke fondly of her early experiences, recalling her middle school days. She volunteered in Santanella’s classroom. “There was this girl outside, and she was the only one without a friend her age at recess. So, my best friend and I started playing with her,” she shared.
The early encounter led Hutchings towards her involvement with Best Buddies. “It means so much. It’s a place where everyone’s accepted,” she said.
Hutchings noted that navigating the social challenges of middle and high school becomes more manageable through Best Buddies. The program has grown over the years at the middle and high schools.
She added that Leduke brims with confidence and sass. Their bond deepened through shared activities like coloring and playing board games. The duo spoke at school assemblies to pitch the program’s merits to their peers.
Although Hutchings and Leduke didn’t clinch the first place, they impressively raised $10,000. The pair hosted several fundraisers to collect the $10,000. The Enfield Jersey Mike’s Sub Shop rounded up an order amount for Best Buddies during October.
“The acknowledgment and the attention to the girls and the mission of what they’re doing made them our champions of Enfield,” Santanella said.
The Farmington Polo Club event featured dancing, food, auctions, and raffles. “We met new people. There were pairs from all over the state,” Hutchings said. Leduke said she wore her sparkly dress and high-heeled shoes.
After graduation, Hutchings plans to study special education at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. Leduke expressed her post-high school goals of working in a bookstore and continuing her passion for reading.
Both are determined to continue their bond and involvement with Best Buddies.