‘Just like everybody else’

Every Thursday, they’ve got something to look forward to, this set of children who are occasionally overlooked by society or shucked by the wayside.

Like clockwork right about lunch, students break out of their natural confines and mix it up with special-education kids in a scene that could easily be mistaken for plain old-fashioned fun.

But look deeper within, and ask a few more questions, and you’ll soon realize that there’s a lasting relationship being built here on the Corona del Mar High School campus — and both sets of students are learning from one another in ways great and small.

It’s called the Best Buddies program, which began in early 2001.

It’s the only one of its kind in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Nicole Fusaro, the program’s advisor, is trying to expand it. She’d like to introduce it to Estancia High and TeWinkle Middle schools by next year.

Some of the special-education students involved have autism, cerebral palsy and general learning disabilities.

“I think a lot of people think the special-ed kids need to do their own thing, but they’re just like everybody else,” said Fusaro, whose Best Buddies program sports 70 special-education kids along with 110 students. “The only difference is things don’t come as easy for them.”

Every Thursday, at 12:20 p.m., they meet inside the school’s Associated Student Body room.

There, they play games, listen to music, eat lunch and bond. Some take it outside and play catch in the quad.

Some of the students have enjoyed the Best Buddies program so much that they’ve asked others to donate to it — like Katherine Sullivan, who asked her friends and family to think of the Best Buddies program instead of buying her presents.

In the end, she raised $2,000, which went to games and treats for Thursday’s sessions.

Michael Keasey, a sophomore participating in the Best Buddies program for the past four years, said he’s made a new friend in Kyle Pinkston, a special-ed student.

“I’ve been Kyle’s buddy for the past four years,” Keasey said. “Every Thursday he talks to me more and more, and we have become better friends. Each week it is exciting to hang out with him and do something special for him. It’s exciting to see the buddies laughing and having a good time.

“It’s the one day that the entire school comes together for one purpose: to make the buddies feel special.

“Even outside of Best Buddies, when we see each other we both smile and are happy to see each other.”

“I love him,” Pinkston said of Keasey. “I like to draw. I like to draw trains, I love to dance with Michael. He is my Best Buddy.”

Connor Lazar, a sophomore, feels the same way with regard to his new friend, Fidel Farias.

“It makes me feel special to make them feel normal for one day,” he said. “It doesn’t take much effort to make Fidel happy. All I do is play catch with him and it makes him smile all day and all week. We both look forward to the next Thursday to see each other again. Being a part of Best Buddies changes my perspective with people with multiple disabilities and how they have changes to deal with on daily basis. It has made me a better person and a much more caring friend.”