‘Culture of encounter’: NJ school’s program builds friendships between students, autistic peers

‘Culture of encounter’: NJ school’s program builds friendships between students, autistic peers

"Pope Francis said we shouldn't simply care for persons with disabilities, but we must ‘ensure their active participation' in the Church and society at large."

‘Culture of encounter’: Seton Hall Prep program builds friendships between New Jersey students, autistic peers - The Dialog

WEST ORANGE, N.J. — Jack Aker’s face lights up at the thought of his friend David, an autistic student he met last year as part of Seton Hall Preparatory School’s Spectrum Big Brothers program. “He was just the happiest person to be around, he was always smiling,” said Aker, a senior at the West Orange all-boys high school and one of Spectrum Big Brothers’ two student leaders. “He’d always bring his speaker and play his song of the day. We’d all…