TIES: Together Including Every Student
Together Including Every Student (TIES), is a program that promotes inclusivity, belonging and participation.
The program enables students aged 8 to 21 with developmental disabilities to participate in organized extracurricular and community activities of their choice with the support of trained peer volunteers who are Attica Central School District students in grades 8 through 12.
Participants join activities where they can develop recreational interests, learn about their community and have fun with peers while volunteers learn how to support participants according to their needs, gain more understanding of disabilities and diversity and make a positive difference in a peer’s life.
Attica Central School District has a long-established tradition of inclusion and believes strongly in the value of diversity. All children are entitled to participate in meaningful ways across the full range of the educational experience and TIES provides another venue by which to provide these essential experiences.
Through this program, participants and volunteers alike develop a positive understanding of themselves and others, along with a respect for similarities and differences. Providing more naturalized support to students enhances involvement, encourages engagement, promotes independence and facilitates socialization.
Before becoming peer volunteers, Attica complete a workshop that presents valuable information about the importance of belonging, disability awareness, friendship building and effective support strategies.
Participants are paired with volunteers based on similar interests and desired abilities.
TIES coordinator Jennifer Rautenstrauch, a parent in the Attica Central School District, will work with you to develop a support plan for your child that will meet his or her needs and then share the plan with your child's peer volunteer. The peer volunteer attends the activity with your child and provides support with physical, social, and/or language needs.
Possible TIES activities include but aren’t limited to:
After-school clubs
Dances
Fun nights
Swim nights
Attending sports games to cheer on the Blue Devils
Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts
Classes at the Warsaw or Batavia YMCA
Summer day camps offered in the community
The video above provides an introduction and overview of the TIES, or Together Including Every Student, program. Our district partners with Starbridge Services, Inc. to offer the TIES program here in Attica. Starbridge is a Rochester-based non-profit that works to better the lives of people with disabilities.
TIES Coordinator: Jennifer Rautenstrauch
Email: jrautenstrauch@starbridgeinc.org
Phone: (585) 604-8467