Autism is growing awareness all over the U.S. Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is ten times more common today than it was in the 1980s.
Best Buddies is an organization at Hoover, where mentally disabled students get to reach out and spend time with other students in a comfortable setting. It gives them the chance to interact with others without being self conscious.
Hoover was the first school in the district to have a Best Buddies club. It grows in members every year with about 40 members this year.
Cindy Grandquist is the special ed advisor for Best Buddies. She started Best Buddies because a student’s mother came to her and told her about it.
“I enjoy Best Buddies because it’s all about the kids and it’s a wonderful program where they can feel a part of something at Hoover,” Grandquist said.
The Hoover Best Buddies program was the first to allow autistic students to join in central Iowa.
Senior Erna Mahmutovic is president of Best Buddies and urges more students to join.
“It’s a really fun club where you can make new friends and connections. We promote inclusion so anyone can join,” Mahmutovic said.
Best Buddies has about two events every month and meetings every Monday.
“Hoover is a totally different place because of Best Buddies. I can see the changes that it made since I’ve graduated from high school here,” Grandquist said.
“I would want to see Best Buddies be more involved with the student body and have it be supported more. I want to have bigger activities at the school that involve everyone,” Mahmutovic said.