1. By robin sweany

2. Madeline & Zach: Best Buddies

3. Best Buddies International: What is it?
“We are the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).”* *
Best Buddies has organizations at the global, national and state level.

4. Intellectual/developmental Disability: Who are We Talking About?
People with Down Syndrome
People with ASD
People with Fragile X Syndrome
People with Williams Syndrome
People with Cerebral Palsy
People with TBI

5. Best Buddies 101
Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Georgetown University
Has grown to almost 1,900 chapters worldwide
Impacts the lives of over 900,000 people with and without IDD
Programs in all 50 states & over 50 countries

6. What does Best Buddies Do?
One-to-one friendships
Integrated employment
Leadership development
The 3 program pillars are (READ SLIDE) Builds one-to-one friendships between people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and without disabilities.This can happen in a school setting, as well as in communities and online.
BB jobs program allows people to get and maintain a job in their community and support themselves financially.
The leadership development programs include Social mentoring, and leadership training.
All of these programs support Inclusion and Improves quality of life for both people with disabilities and without.
Often people with disabilities are isolated in school, the community and the workplace.

7. One-to-one friendships
BESTBUDDIES® in Indiana Schools:
Middle Schools (24 chapters, over 1,000 participants, 226 buddy pairs)
High Schools (48 chapters, over 3,000 participants, 693 buddy pairs)
Colleges (15 chapters, over 1,000 participants, 310 buddy pairs)
e-BUDDIES®
-Best Buddies IN served 76 individuals with and without IDD
-34 new participants in 2014
BESTBUDDIES® Citizens
30 participants
15 buddy pairs
7 Cities/6 counties
In the schools programs, students are paired and share interests, experiences and activities.
The eBuddies program teaches people with IDD computer and social networking skills.
Bestbuddies Citizens is like the school programs, but for adults in the community.

8. Integrated Employment: Best Buddies Jobs Program
84% of adults with IDD do not have a paid job in the community
Participants employed full-time can earn up to $1 million over 30 years
Ability to support themselves
Insurance
Contribute $250k in taxes back into economy
Save US government $750k each in Federal SSI and Medicaid support
I’m In To Hire Campaign
*National Core Indicators
Secures jobs for people with IDD so that they can earn an income, have insurance, and have the ability to support themselves independently. The Best Buddies Jobs program has participants employed full-time who each have the potential to earn a total income upwards of $1 million over 30 years and contribute $250,000 in taxes back into the economy, rather than costing the government approximately $750,000 each in during that time period
The Jobs program places focus beyond the typical jobs in which a person with IDD might be placed.  Best Buddies focuses on white collar jobs such as: receptionists, mailroom assistants, file clerks, office assistants and retail associates.

9. Employment with IDD Business Benefits
Cost-effective solution to address business needs Improves customer satisfaction results Reduces the recruitment and training costs associated with routinely filling high turnover positions Lower absenteeism and sick leave than other employees Promotes a more diverse and inclusive workplace and enhances employee morale Fosters a culture of corporate responsibility Federal tax incentives available

10. Leadership Development
BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors
50 Ambassadors trained since program inception
26 Total active Ambassadors
Educates and empowers people with IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates
BESTBUDDIES® Promoters
Open new chapters and programs
Organize special events to promote awareness
Ambassadors: Allows people with IDD to learn public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence to advocate for themselves, their peers, and Best Buddies
Promotors: Empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.

11. How can I get involved with best buddies?
Best Buddies month is March
Spread the Word to End the Word (1st Wednesday in March)
Start a chapter at your school
Become a citizens member and get a buddy
Encourage students to participate
Donate
Volunteer at an event

12. Funding by the number$ 84% goes to programs 11% goes to fundraising
5% goes to administration

13. Satisfaction research
Measures enjoyment, likelihood of participating again, likelihood of recommending BB
For those with a disability, 95% enjoyed BB, would do it again and recommend it to a friend.
For those volunteers without a disability, 97% enjoyed BB, would participate again and recommend it to someone else. This group also indicated that they support inclusion in schools and communities at a rate of 99%.

14. Florida legislature office of program policy analysis & government accountability
Study found that Best Buddies Participants were:
more likely than peers to read at grade level
more likely than peers to graduate high school
less likely to have discipline incidents

15. Check for understanding: Let’s Play kahoot!
Go to on your mobile device or computer.

16. Resources
Best Buddies Global Headquarters 100 Southeast Second St, Suite Miami, FL 33131
  BUDDY ( )
Best Buddies Indiana Office Allisonville Road, Suite 165 Indianapolis, IN Phone: |Fax: Toll Free: BUDDY BESTBUDDIES.ORG/INDIANA
West, M., & Scott, L. (2011). State-Funded Mentoring Program Performance Mixed; Take Stock and Best Buddies Do Well (pp , Rep. No ). Talahassee, FL.