The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Sara Chaffin and Koleman Anderson are both second graders at Meadowlark Elementary in Chinook. The two have formed a relationship that is quite unique. Koleman is a special needs student but spends part of his school day in a general education classroom. Sara, in the same general classroom, has taken on the role as a friend and helper to Koleman, and that pairing has taken them all the way to the Olympics-the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics are held each year to give special needs students an opportunity for athletic competition.

Koleman's mom, Kelly, said a couple of months into the school year she was seeing art, cards, notes and other items, all drawn by a girl named Sara, coming home with Koleman from school. Kelly saw some posters, displayed at the school, made by the second graders about different aspects of their lives. She noticed on Sara's poster that one of the things she had listed she was thankful for was Koleman and that she hoped to be a sign language teacher when she grew up. Kelly Anderson wrote, "I could barely see through my tears. Koleman has never had a friend at school that has embraced him the way Sara does."

Sign language

connects the classmates

Anne-Marie Ymzon, Resource Teacher at Meadowlark, said, "Sara Chaffin approached one of our staff members and asked if there was some way she could learn more sign language. We were planning to offer sign language classes that would be presented by an instructor from the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (in Great Falls). We invited Sara to participate with the staff."

Asked about her interest in sign language, Sara explained, "Last year we lived in Hamilton and my teacher there was interested in sign language. She taught us the alphabet and a few signs for words and phrases." Sara's mother, Summer Chaffin, added, "Our four-year old son, Stetson, uses some signs to communicate and Sara knows those signs and has learned others."

Sara said, "Jamie Berreth (a paraprofessional who works with Koleman) uses sign language to communicate with him. I asked her if she knew of a way I could learn more sign language. Later my principal, Mr. Martin, told me about the sign language classes and I got started in the classes with some of the teachers at the school."

Sara uses her sign language skills to help Koleman in class. She explained, "I try to help him understand an assignment or something that the teacher wants him to do. Sometimes I just help him with his classroom behavior. I think he likes for me to help him and to be nearby if he needs something."

Koleman's mother, Kelly, shared that Koleman has a limited verbal vocabulary because he is severely hard of hearing and has Down Syndrome, but he knows a couple hundred signs and communicates best with American Sign Language. Kelly explained, "Sara's willingness to communicate with Koleman in his primary language has opened doors to a friendship he's never had before." Kelly noted that Sara has a rather large vocabulary in sign language and is challenging Koleman, and his family, to expand their vocabulary of signs.

Anne-Marie Ymzon, the teacher responsible for the special education component at Meadowlark, said, "Sara is a remarkable girl. One of the biggest benefits from her interacting with Koleman is that he gets to communicate with someone his own age. These special needs kids often deal only with adults during the school day. They need attention from their peers as well as their teachers." Koleman's mom, Kelly, believes some of Koleman's other classmates are now more interested in communicating with him as they've watched Sara use sign language. Several of the other classmates are also learning sign language.

About the benefit of peer communication to children with special needs, Sara's mother added, "The physical therapist that works with our son, Stetson, says that one of the best things we can do is have our other children interact with Stetson. Sara likes to help her brother and the rest of the family to learn new signs to better communicate with him."

A special friendship blossomed

Kelly Anderson said she believes Sara is the best friend Koleman has ever had. She explained, "Other kids sometimes play with him and have little interactions now and then." Then added, "I think Sara actually is able to look past his differences, forgive him when he mistreats her and continues to enjoy time with him"

Kelly said she's very grateful for Sara and for her parents who are raising such a kind hearted child. Noting a large number of cards Sara had made for Koleman over the weekend before Valentine's Day, Kelly wrote, "Sara thinks about him while she's at home, like real friends think about each other. This is a friendship that is going to last, and Sara is such a blessing in our lives."

A trip to the Special Olympics

The annual regional Special Olympics is held each year in Havre. Anne-Marie Ymzdon invited Sara to join the team of athletes and participants going to the annual event. Ymzdon explained, "There are certain competitions, in the Special Olympics, called unified sports. These events allow a combination of participants with disabilities and participants without. Sara was a "unified sports partner" which meant she got to participate with the four-person relay team that included Koleman, Sara and two other special athletes.

Ymzon added, "Sara participated in the relay team as the unified sports partner. The rest of the time she was a team cheerleader and booster for all the other athletes." Sara smiled when asked about the Special Olympics and said she really enjoyed helping Koleman and especially liked getting to participate in the competition.

For a second grader, Sara has some pretty clear, long term goals. Asked about what she would like to do when she is an adult, she said, "I think I want to work with kids who have special needs. Maybe I'll work with deaf and blind students, or maybe I'll be a sign language teacher." She's already building a skill set that will prepare her for her choice in a helping profession.

Sara is the daughter of Dr. Robert and Summer Chaffin and Koleman is the son of Kelly and Nate Anderson. The "Journal" salutes Sara and Koleman and congratulates them on their special friendship.