This article originally appeared in START Connecting in December 2018. 

A Peer to Peer program is a strategy for providing ongoing support and modeling by a peer to peer support student (called a LINK for the purposes of this document) to a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Peer to Peer programming is considered an evidence-based practice in supporting students with ASD and often are mutually beneficial to the student with the IEP and the LINK. These experiences can provide fulfilling and meaningful experiences to the LINK and student with an IEP by offering diverse social and learning opportunities within school activities, academic settings, and outside of school.

Some Peer to Peer programs allow the LINK student to receive elective credit for learning about and providing support to a student with an IEP. These are approved Peer to Peer Credit Course Programs, which are recognized by the Michigan Department of Education in the Pupil Accounting Manual. Clarifications were made to the Pupil Accounting Manual in August 2018. 

Review the START Pupil Accounting Cheat Sheet for a quick overview of the four models for implementation of the LINK program.

For more information about developing or expanding a Peer to Peer support program in your school, visit the Peer to Peer Program Development page on the START website.

Written by: Stacie Rulison, M.Ed, BCBA 

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