LANGHORNE, PA – Students with special needs from all over Lower Bucks came to enjoy an inclusion social with crafting, movies, and games hosted by Neshaminy High School (NHS) on Nov. 22.

Neshaminy began hosting inclusion socials to help special needs students be involved in school activities.

“We do events to make them feel included because they don’t have events at school that they can go to all the time,” Buddies Connect club member Gianna Godett said.

Students in the NHS Buddies Connect club planned the social. The club members decided on activities that would work for all the students attending. Students at the social watched the Lorax, played games and made Lorax-related crafts.

“Not everyone does the same thing,” Godett stated. “Some people like to do things with their hands and some people like to listen more than talk,”

Sandy Spong, club advisor, has worked in the special needs department for over twenty-four years. She has educated her club members on working with students with special needs.

“The club has narrowed its focus on understanding the lives of individuals with Special needs or those who are connected to children with special needs, adapting and modifying conversation [and] social interaction activities and games in an inclusive manner,” Spong said.

In addition to inclusion socials, the Buddies Connect club participates in challenger programs where special needs students participate in seasonal sports alongside the high school players.

“Both programs focus on skill training and game experience for Athletes with special needs”, Spong said. “Community high school volunteers are heavily involved in these buddy programs”, Spong added.

However, the Buddies Connect club’s main goal is for students to build friendships with their classmates whom they don’t see daily.

“[NHS students] have seen smiles on faces and enjoyed laughter because relationships are being built and everyone is learning and reaching personal goals which is priceless,” Spong said.