Pictured L to R: Radney Rasegan and Julia Henderson | Courtesy Photo
Williamston High School’s LINKS program benefits students in many ways
Written by Steve Berg
Kids are often scared to be different, but not the students who stepped out to be a part of the LINKS program at Williamston High School this year. An offshoot of the Peer to Peer program that has been in the middle and high school in Williamston for a number of years, LINKS is an elective course that pairs a special education student with a general education student, who provides daily support with academic work and social behaviors, for one class period every day. Although the LINKS program was designed to serve students with autism, it has been extended at Williamston High School to include those who are hearing impaired, physically impaired, or cognitively impaired.
The credited class began in the 2015/2016 school year, with seventeen general education students comprising the very first group of LINKS. Each student had applied for acceptance into the LINKS program in the spring of 2015. Not every applicant was accepted into the program, but those students who were selected are very glad to have become part of something so meaningful.
Tasha Hagelberger (10th grade) and Emma Drake (11th grade) both say it is the best part of their day. “I may be having a bad day, but after a few minutes with my LINKS student, I can’t help but smile,” says Drake, as Hagelberger nods in agreement. “I realize someone else is counting on me, and that takes the focus off of my own problems.”
Cole Berg (11th grade), another student who joined LINKS this year, says it has expanded his social circles and has given him experiences he never would have had with a typical elective. The LINKS have the opportunity to switch roles during their LINKS hour, going from student to mentor.
The LINKS program does have an academic component and exams, and the LINKS get credit for the hour they spend with their partners. However, taking part in LINKS mean they are passing up another class, maybe even the opportunity to take an Advanced Placement course and the potential of receiving college credits.
Starting the program this year came with a few challenges for Christan Guetschow, the Special Education Teacher at Williamston High School and the leader of the Peer to Peer and LINKS programs. “We weren’t quite sure how the scheduling was going to work out for all the students involved,and we didn’t really know how we were going to match the LINKS with the students from the basic classroom. However, after a couple of weeks and a few adjustments, we were able to work out the kinks and get off to a great start. We are learning every day and finding better ways to make the program work for both sets of students.”
Pictured L to R: Allison Robitaille and Tasha Hagelberger | Courtesy Photo
Emma Drake had heard of LINKS from some of her friends at Haslett High School, where the program was in full swing, and she wanted to be involved in her own school in Williamston. She says the LINKS program has had a real impact on the way all the students view each other. “In the past, it was like the special education kids were in one little bubble, and the general education kids were in another little bubble. We were separate, because we thought we were all so different from each other. Now the bubbles have been popped, and we found out those differences aren’t so big after all.”
Tasha Hagelberger tells of how her mom had lived with a roommate who had Down syndrome back in her college days, which inspired Tasha’s interest in LINKS. When she learned what the program was about, she was ready to commit an hour of her schedule every day to working with a student with special needs.
The special education students are also feeling the benefits of the program – and its impact is going beyond the classroom. Angie Rasegan, mother of Radney Rasegan, speaks of the changes she has seen in her son, who has been in the school district for a number of years. “Radney is excited about going to school these days. I have seen a change in his attitude in other ways as well; he loves having a special connection to the other kids. Having a LINK has also helped him grow his social skills. I am pleased that Williamston chose to bring this program here to the high school, and I hope it grows to involve many more students in the coming years.”
Some of the LINK students have even initiated social activities outside the school building with their special education partners. One LINK invited her partner to go bowling over the holiday break in December. The student with special needs chose not to participate in the bowling, but the after-bowling visit to the game room was a huge hit! Most students with special needs rarely, if ever, get to enjoy this kind of social event with friends outside of the home.
Ask Christan Guetschow what she is most pleased with so far, and she says, “There are many moments and stories, but one that stands out is when I watched a LINK start cheering and high fiving a student for completing his math problems correctly. The class was meant to purposefully pair up students, and for LINKS to support a student with special needs while in a class; but I have been amazed to see some of the LINKS take this to the next level, either by eating lunch with a student with special needs or visiting with them over break.”