1. Purpose of the START LINK THINK TANK Increase the Implementation of Peer to Peer Support Programs Across the State of Michigan

2. Purpose of the Minute to Win It Competition Model fun needed in Peer to Peer Support Programs Scoreboard Creates Synergy Amongst Peers Creates Cooperative Experience between people that don’t know each other Common Theme A role for a Student with ASD within the competition

3. Minute to Win It Games 2 games today! 2 players - each game - each table! Prizes for the winners!!!! Support your table!

7. Q1: Was your participation in the LINK Think Tank Summer Institute valuable and energizing?

8. Q2: Did you walk away from the Summer Institute with ideas that you can use to improve your peer to peer support program?

9. Q4: For any future Peer to Peer Summer Institutes, would you prefer a 1-day or 2-day format?

10. Q6: Was the size of the group (40 were invited) beneficial to your learning?

11. Q7: What is the ideal location for a future Summer Institute?

12. Q9: Would you like to meet with this group again next year?

13. Q10: Would you like to have ongoing communication with this group via an online format?

14. Lisa Carruthers Troy School District Third Grade Teacher General Education Teacher 16 Years (all gen. ed.) 2 nd year with P2P Link Think Tank Elementary/High School Jean DeBruyn Fraser Schools Cross Categorical Self- Contained Resource Room Teacher 18 years (gen. ed. & special ed. teacher) 8 th year with P2P

15. Our journey began with ONE! We ventured through the school year with some highs and lows. We tackled each week TOGETHER knowing we were “linked” Lisa Carruthers 3 rd Grade (former 5 th grade teacher) Leonard Elementary School Troy, MI Tips to Remember : Keep it simple Keep it do-able Keep it REAL!

16. Our Story… 29 third grade students with various needs that include: General Education Classroom –English Language Learners (5) – 2 of which are new to the country –Reading Support (6) –Support Services such as occupational therapy, teacher consultant, social work, etc. (4) –ASD (1)***TRAINING*** Together Everyone Achieves More T.E.A.M. Time Together Everyone Achieves More GOT 20 MINUTES? Life changing experiences happen in an instant! CHANGES LIVESPeer to Peer programming CHANGES LIVES! Teaching tolerance, understanding, patience, and more through the lens of a peer group! Amazing things happen! Go SLOW to go FAST!

17. WHERE ARE WE NOW? Leonard Elementary School 1 Third Grade class, ALL of 4 th Grade, and in process of ALL of 5 th grade P2P programming by end of November Conversations about P2P with 6 out of 12 elementary schools 2 out of 4 middle school buildings implement Peer to Peer at some level Both high schools implement Peer to Peer Lots of START training currently and over the years MORE TO COME!

18. Fraser P2P – Our Journey Started a bit LARGER! Nine years ago, after going through intensive training, Fraser High School was where we knew we needed to be. Crazy? YES! Doable? YES, YES, YES!!!

19. What is Peer 2 Peer? Peer 2 Peer is a social program designed to bring awareness and understanding about autism to Fraser High School. Being a member of Peer to Peer means being a friend to someone on the autistic spectrum and supporting them throughout high school.

21. Development of P2P at FHS Continual support from: Administration and Board of Education (approved P2P seminars and common planning time) Administration and Board of Education (approved P2P seminars and common planning time) Parents Parents MISD (training of staff) MISD (training of staff) FHS teachers (supporting use of peer buddies in the classroom) FHS teachers (supporting use of peer buddies in the classroom)

22. Where are we now? *We have a peer support group in our middle school, in all 6 elementary schools, and peer to peer activities in our early childhood center. *Some of our elementary groups started a lot like Lisa’s did – find one child that needs the support and build a group around that child. *Other elementary groups were formed at certain grade levels that needed them. *Two of our elementary schools now have school-wide peer to peer support! How did we do it? *We stuck together! *We believed it could & must be done! *We followed the kids! *We trusted each other and our students! *We knew lives would be changed!

23. Paul is the Homecoming King! Lives Changed!

24. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE No matter your job title… No matter general or special ed… ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE BE THE GAME CHANGER! MAKE A DIFFERENCE! LINK THINK TANK BOTTOM LINE

25. LINK THINK TANK BE the Power of… …like being a fish out of water! remembering to breathe! feeling like WE could do anything? falling in love over and over, and over again! This process experiences may include… what a Link is really about! reflecting, learning, and THINKing about life through a new lens! the gamut of emotions… Most of all… …MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

26. What is a LINK? A friend. A leader. A peer support. “I have been able to connect with new people and make friends. It changed my ways of seeing things. It made me want to reach out and be a part of interacting with new people. It has been an amazing experience!”

27. What do LINKS do? Learn about a variety of disabilities. Work as a team to problem-solve. Make a difference. “LINKS has truly been a great experience! I’m so glad that I joined this program. I’ve made a lot of new friends and I really got to know my link. It feels great to make a difference in somebody’s life.”

28. Why does LINKS need you? LINKS needs you to make a difference through... Community Awareness Role Modeling Team Building Case Conferences Extra curricular activities Staff Education