PEER TO PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM: Making Connections!

Stevenson High School

** PERMISSION SLIP **
Dear Parents and Guardians,

Recently, teachers and staff spoke with Stevenson High School students about the opportunity to become a
PEER TO PEER SUPPORT STUDENT (“Peer Link”)- working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
as well as students with cognitive impairments (C.I.) here at Stevenson. Your son/daughter/student has
expressed an interest in being a “Peer Link,” and this requires your permission.

The Peer to Peer support program began in 2014 at Stevenson High School. It is a support system for students
with autism who attend Stevenson and are in classes with your student, and a growing part of our community
(According to the CDC, 1 in 59 people are now being diagnosed with autism). It also includes our students
with cognitive impairments. Hundreds of similar programs like this have been established in school districts
throughout the state of Michigan with great success. Not only does the program benefit the students with
ASD and C.I., but parents and teachers alike have reported great benefits to the general education “Support
Students” (a.k.a. “Peer Links”) as well (see attached letter).

If your child receives your permission, he or she would be working with/under the supervision of the school
speech-language pathologist, school social worker, and/or a special education teacher. The role of your
“Support Student” may vary from activity to activity or hour to hour, depending on the needs and number of
students with autism and cognitive impairments and the availability of “Support Students.” Some “Support
Students” will be involved in academic tasks, while others take different roles. They may miss minimal class
time, approximately one to two times a month, and students will be responsible for academic expectations set
forth by their teachers- the student is responsible for making up any missed work or class time. Prior to
working with a student with ASD the “Support Students” will participate in training during their lunch period
on what it means to be a Peer to Peer Support Student and/or “Peer Link.” These monthly lunch meetings will
continue throughout the year and are an important and mandatory part of the program. Video modeling and
photography may be utilized with your student to teach and/or promote Stevenson’s Peer to Peer Program.

If you have any questions please contact:

Karen Ulmer, SLP: 797-1962 or Karen.ulmer@uticak12.org

Lynn Fonacier, SSW 797-1964 or lynn.fonacier@uticak12.org

Cara Reck, SE Teacher: 797-2008 or Cara.reck@uticak12.org

Please return the attached permission slip to room A8 (Mrs. Reck):

Please return the following permission slip to room A8 (Mrs Reck):

PEER TO PEER SUPPORT PERMISSION SLIP

STUDENT NAME:___________________________________
GRADE________
YOUR STUDENT’S FOURTH HOUR TEACHER: _____________________________

YOUR STUDENT’S EMAIL OR TEXT NUMBER: _________________________________________

LUNCH PERIOD- Please Circle: A B C

_____ Yes, I give my child permission to participate in Stevenson High School’s

Peer to Peer Student Support Program. I understand my student is responsible
for missed work during any missed class time, and photos or video of my child may
be used/shown for promotional purposes.

______ No, I do not give my child permission to participate at this time.

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME:__________________________________
SIGNATURE:_____________________________________

PARENT CONTACT NUMBER/S:_______________________________________