Best Buddies

Inclusion and Friendship, Hand in Hand

You’re probably familiar with what is commonly referred to as “the buddy system.” You may have used it during an elementary school field trip to the zoo. Or as a new employee learning the ropes at a new job. You’ve almost certainly used it if you’ve ever participated in military training, scuba diving, or rock climbing. This widely employed “system” is a familiar and simple concept: two people, typically peers, are paired up with each other with the goal of mutually supporting and looking out for each other. A good buddy always has your back. So, what does a best buddy do?

Best Buddies International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for oneto-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The umbrella of IDD encompasses a wide variety of diagnoses, including (but not limited to) Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, and cerebral palsy. However, it is often the case that individuals with IDD are reduced to labels and judged on the basis of their diagnoses. This can close doors in the realms of social inclusion, employment, and economic independence.

Anthony Kennedy Shriver recognized that those with IDD are often excluded and isolated from the world around them, more so than their neurotypical peers. Inspired by his aunt Rosemary Kennedy who had intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as the work of his mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver (who founded the Special Olympics), Anthony conceived of a novel idea: a program that would foster friendships between those with and those without IDD. “My initial vision was simply to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to experience friendship and to truly feel seen, valued, and included,” says Shriver.

Officially founded by Shriver in 1989, the Best Buddies organization would soon grow to impact lives worldwide. Today, the organization maintains nearly 3,000 chapters around the world and touches the lives of nearly 1 million people. The organization’s four primary pillars are listed in its mission statement, the first of which is one-to-one friendships that match a participant with IDD and a volunteer peer without IDD based on their shared interests. The goal is that the two will build an organic, meaningful friendship while also just having an all-around good time. These buddy pairs do all of the regular friend stuff the rest of us do—bowling, the movies, ice cream, baseball games, the nail salon, and even Zoom hangouts when COVID-19 prevented in-person meetings.

It can sometimes be easy to view inclusion efforts like these as a “charity” extended to those with IDD, when in reality, all parties benefit when inclusion is prioritized. “A lot of our peer buddies (people without IDD) often get so excited about being with their buddies,” says Jessica Wylie, Senior Director, State Operations at Best Buddies International. “The friendships are just as meaningful, if not more so, for the people without IDD.”

The same is true in the context of integrated employment, which is the second pillar of Best Buddies’ mission statement. The organization helms a program that helps candidates with IDD to explore and secure viable job opportunities. By partnering with local employers, Best Buddies works to place individuals in jobs suited to their interests and talents. This can help people with IDD to not only build self-esteem and develop soft skills, but also to take the next step in achieving financial independence. The benefit to employers is also mutual. People with IDD represent a largely untapped pool of talent (an estimated

81% of adults with IDD do not have a paying job in their communities) and can add substantial value to the workforce. Wylie notes that, “Oftentimes companies tell us that they didn’t hire the person because they were part of Best Buddies or because they were an individual with IDD— they hired the person because, in the end, they were the right fit for the job.” for a better future for all people with disabilities.

Best Buddies’ fourth and newest pillar is inclusive living. The organization currently operates its inaugural living residence in Washington, D.C. and hopes to open more in the future. The residence offers young adults with and without IDD the opportunity to live in an integrated community and enjoy weekly group activities. Many of the residents are either in the work force or are pursuing higher education opportunities.

Many of the initial barriers to inclusion come in the form of stigmas and false beliefs about those with disabilities. Lack of education and awareness in the general public is often one of the biggest obstacles that Best Buddies faces. This is why their third pillar of leadership development is so crucial. Best Buddies’ leadership development program focuses on self-advocacy and visibility by offering individuals with IDD training in writing and public speaking. Equipped with the necessary communication tools, these members can become ambassadors within their communities, educating others about disabilities and the importance of inclusion efforts. There is something inherently empowering about telling your own story and likewise about hearing a message first-hand from someone who has lived it. By working to better articulate their own experiences, members of the leadership program are not only helping to dismantle harmful stereotypes, but are also advocating

Barton’s connection to this extraordinary organization comes by way of Nashville partner-in-charge Marc Dedman, who serves on the Advisory Board for Best Buddies –Tennessee. “For one to be able to effect positive change in this world with such wonderful people who also seek, and want, to share in the creation of positive change is so enriching,” says Dedman. “Whether one is a high school student working directly with a buddy, an executive who changes a corporate culture in hiring opportunities, or a benefactor whose contribution breaks down barriers, our society becomes better. I know that my life is made better by Best Buddies.”

Many of those involved with Best Buddies echo similar sentiments. Anthony Shriver, who serves as the current chairman and CEO of the organization, says, “I truly do believe that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a gift to the world. They are so full of genuine love, compassion, and goodwill, and they have the power to share their light and their gifts with everyone they meet. I often find that the lives of people without IDD are transformed for the better when they get involved with our organization. They experience first-hand the blessings and the profound joy that genuine friendships with people who may have different abilities possess.”

Best Buddies plans to continue its growth and its outreach to those who haven’t heard of them yet. They want to continue offering those with IDD the space and resources to form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve self-advocacy, and feel valued by society. Along with this, the organization continues to encourage more people without IDD to engage in the programs they offer, to become allies, supporters, and friends of those with differing abilities. Best Buddies’ message is clear: regardless of age, background, or ability, they have a place for you. Wheelchairs, feeding tubes, sensory headphones, and extra chromosomes welcome. ♦

All images are courtesy of Best Buddies. Special thanks to Anthony K. Shriver, Jessica Wylie, and Nicole Maddox. You can learn more about Best Buddies and find your local chapter at bestbuddies.org.