Best Buddies is one of my favorite organizations. It strives to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 1987, while attending Georgetown University, Anthony Shriver decided he would like to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He also had a desire to find a way for his classmates to do the same. He decided to take a pretty unique approach to this endeavor.
What do college kids do best? Well they are awesome at “hanging out”. What do many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lack? Many lack social interactions with people who do not have IDD. In other words, they need people to “hang out” with. What if you could match individuals with and without IDD together? Perhaps both groups could benefit. Shriver did it… and both groups did in deed benefit.
Guy Fieri still seems like he likes to "hang out"
that's probably why he's a Best Buddies global ambassador
Before I continue, I want to help you scratch an itch that may be appearing in the back of your mind. Hmmm “Shriver”. Some of you may be thinking, “I wonder if he’s related to journalist, activist, author, and former wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver…. and isn’t she related to The Kennedys?”
Yes and yes.
Maria and Anthony Shriver are brother and sister. Their mother Eunice was John F Kennedy’s sister. With those connections and the associated wealth, Anthony could have done anything. He chose to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Best Buddies began with 52 matches between Georgetown students and residents of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute. The goal was simple. Hang out and have fun. After his graduation from Georgetown in 1989, Shriver incorporated Best Buddies into a national non-profit organization.
Tom Brady is also a Global Ambassador for Best Buddies
What does Best Buddies do?
The Best Buddies program begins in middle schools and continues into adulthood.
Program Goals
Middle school – “to create an inclusive school climate for students early on in their educational development.”
High School – “helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.”
College – “providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in campus and community life.”
Citizens – “helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.”
E-buddies – “participants can develop the skills necessary to be able to communicate using a variety of sources.”
Those are the official goals. In my opinion the real goal... and the only one that truly matters is to make sure people with IDD get what every human being needs… appropriate social interactions with other human beings. They get to “belong”. They get to feel loved. They get to share their amazing gifts, talents, compassion, sense of humor, and love with others. They get to feel valuable… because they truly are. In other words they get to experience…
Friendship.
If you check out The Best Buddies website (you really should) you will find that “friendship” has its own tab. Friendship is at the core of this initiative. This friendship is not one sided. Both parties reap the rewards of the relationship.
All of the one-on-one relationships are formed between peers of the same general age. The pair commits to participate in activities that anyone their age would do. This helps the person with IDD to practice and develop appropriate social skills in authentic settings. Hopefully these skill will be transferred to other situations and the person with IDD can form even more peer relationships.
These positive interactions can help both friends increase their confidence and self esteem. I know nothing makes me feel better than helping to build someone up.
Constants of the Best Buddies’ Friendship Programs
- One-to-One Friendships
- The pairs communicate once per week
- Buddy pairs get together twice per month (They can participate in any age appropriate activity)
- The pairs commit to be being friends for at least one year
Too many people with IDD feel isolated from the world. Best Buddies is doing their part to fix this.
Thank you Best Buddies!!!!
I see you! I see that you have value! I see you are important!
If you’d like to learn more about Best Buddies, please visit their website https://bestbuddies.org/ .
Sources:
https://bestbuddies.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Shriver