Best Buddies Advisory Board Onboarding Training

Onboarding/Refresher Best Buddies Advisory Boards 1

Our Mission

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Mission Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living

for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Who We Serve The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to,

people with Down syndrome, autism, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

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Our Programs

Founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989 4

One-To-One Friendships ❑ 2,882 School Chapters ❑ 493 Middle School Chapters ❑ 1,375 High School Chapters ❑ 508 College Chapters

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Integrated Employment

❑ 1,582 Job Placements

❑ Average hours worked per week: 21 ❑ Average hourly wage: $13.09

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Leadership Development ❑ 966 Ambassadors ❑ 281 Elementary School Promoters Chapters ❑ 66 Middle School Promoters Chapters ❑ 152 High School Promoters Chapters ❑ 7 College Promoters Chapters

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Inclusive Living Fostering an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to become active, contributing citizens who live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow & thrive.

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Going Virtual

FRIENDSHIP

TASK CARVING

LEADERSHIP

REMOTE COACHING

TECH ACCESS

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES 9

Our Events Join us at local and even national events!

BALLS/PROMS

BestBuddies Challenge ®

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Disability Awareness Its about being mindful of disabilities that people have, educating society regarding disabilities and learning how we as individuals can bring about necessary changes for greater acceptance and inclusion.

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The ADA The Americans with Disabilities Act

Federal CIVIL RIGHTS legislation that

says it is illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, private businesses, telecommunications and transportation.

Goal: The full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of American society.

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Developmental Disabilities (DD) An umbrella term including intellectual disability but also

includes other disabilities diagnosed during childhood. DD are chronic disabilities that can be cognitive, physical or both. The disabilities appear before age 22 and are typically lifelong.

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Types of DD

Autism Spectrum

Disorder

Down

Cerebral

Syndrome

Palsy

William

Angelman

Syndrome

Syndrome 14

Intellectual Disability (ID) Characterized by significant

limitations both in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and in adaptive

behavior, which covers a range of everyday social and practical skills.

Disability originates before age 18.

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7.3 million

Around the world,

1 billion

200 million

people around the world live with some form of a disability (15%)

people have

1 in 6 children in the U.S. have

intellectual and

developmental

developmental

disabilities

disabilities

students currently get special

education services, accounting for 14% of all public school students

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What Inclusion Looks Like

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Inclusion Basics 1 Educate 2 Interact

3 Engage

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1 Educate Yourself

Educate yourself about disability history and issues faced by the disability community Films/TV Shows

Social Media Accounts

Activists w/ Disabilities

• Crip Camp

@valuable500

Haben Girma

• Peanut Butter Falcon

@upgradeaccessibility

Melissa Blake

• Where Hope Grows

@advocatesworld

Eddie Ndopu

• Born This Way

@disabilityreframed

Jillian Mercado

• Fundamentals of Caring

@theluckyfewofficial

Alice Wong 19

2 Interact with Peers with IDD

❑ Be a friend ❑ Speak to the individual directly and avoid baby talk ❑ Excessive praise isn’t necessary ❑ Stop using ableist slurs and euphemistic language • • • • •

Differently abled Diverse abilities Handicapable Special needs NEVER say the “R” word

Disabled and disability are not bad words!

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The language we use matters!

Derogatory slurs → Euphemistic language → Person-First → Identity-First Person-First

Identity-First

Best to start with this if you don’t know what people prefer

Some people prefer this, becoming more common

Centering the person ahead of their disability

Validating disability as part of someone’s identity

Examples:

Examples:

People with disabilities

Disabled people

Woman with autism

Autistic woman

If you don’t know what someone prefers, just ask!

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3 Engage with the Community ❑ Opportunities to create inclusive schools, workplaces and communities: ❑ Make your content and events accessible ❑ Talk about disability with children and young people ❑ Hire disabled professionals ❑ Listen to and defer to disabled voices

If we are not intentionally creating cultures of inclusion, then by default, we are creating cultures of exclusion.

❑ Work with Best Buddies!

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Diversity is being invited to the party…

Inclusion is being asked to dance.

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The Power of the

Advisory Board A group of leaders in our local community with diverse backgrounds who work with local staff to raise funds and

awareness and advance the mission of Best Buddies in our area.

• 12-20 members • Recruitment can be ongoing – all nominations approved in December

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Advisory vs. Governing Board ADVISORY BOARD

❑ No governing authority

❑ No legal responsibility

❑ Works collaboratively

GOVERNING BOARD

❑ Advocates publicly for the program ❑ Assesses program impact and provides technical assistance

❑ Governing authority ❑ Legally responsible

❑ Manages staff

with staff (does not manage)

❑ Fundraises

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Advisory Board vs. Staff Ultimately a Partnership BUT Important to understand differences in roles

Staff Responsibilities: Strategic Planning Approving Revenue Plan*

Evaluation and Monitoring *strategy to help raise revenue

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Advisory Board Purpose ❑ Engage the community to join our global volunteer movement ❑ Raise public awareness ❑ Work with staff on establishing strategic priorities

❑ Work with staff in generating the revenue necessary to keep our local programs up and running 27

Recruiting Diverse Talent Best Buddies looks for Advisory Board members that varying in… ❑ Age ❑ Ethnicity ❑ Gender

❑ Industry ❑ Geographic location ❑ Professional and community connectedness ❑ Ties to the mission ❑ Knowledge of IDD 28

Your Support Is SO

Valued & Necessary 29

Advisory Board Structure

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Leadership Roles

❑ Advisory Board Chair ❑ Advisory Board Vice Chair ❑ Committee Chair (optional)

❑ Secretary (optional) ❑ Nominating Chair (optional)

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Committees Advisory Board Committees are not required but can be helpful. Possibilities include the following

❑ Nominating Committee ❑ Media / Public Relations Committee ❑ Fund Development Committee ❑ Program/Jobs Committee

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Member Responsibilities ❑ Participate in annually and local events where possible ❑ Develop a donor prospect list (businesses/individuals)

❑ Make a personal gift that is meaningful to you ❑ Meet local individual fundraising requirement ❑ Regular local board meetings ❑ Serve a two-year term (up to three renewals) ❑ Attend annual strategic planning meeting (local retreat) 33

Nonpartisan Organization Statement As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Best Buddies is closely held to IRS guidelines prohibiting organizations from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaigning on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office at the federal, state, or local level. This is a strict prohibition, and any perceived violation could result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. Therefore, in an effort to maintain our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the IRS, it is critical that staff, volunteers, program participants, and those promoting our cause take these guidelines into careful consideration while serving as a representative for the organization.

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Code of Ethics 35

Code CodeofofEthics Ethics Advisory Board members should refrain from:

❑ Abuse of power ❑ Conflict of interest ❑ Financial irregularity ❑ Fraud ❑ Kickback ❑ Misconduct

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What’s next?

8 Ways to be an

Excellent Board Member

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How to Advocate 1

Wear Best Buddies merch

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Arrange speaking opportunities for Best Buddies staff

Daily 3

Keep a portfolio handy of your agency’s public relations

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How to Advocate 4

Build rapport with local media

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Keep brochures and invitations to events handy

Always be aware of the good work you are doing and share it!

Daily 7

Develop and practice your “elevator pitch”

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Always be on the lookout for prospects

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Questions?

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