Best Buddies

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 individuals 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, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Programs

Best Buddies is 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). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

BESTBUDDIES® Middle Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without IDD, in which they share interests, experiences, and activities. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development.

BESTBUDDIES® High Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without IDD. In this time of heightened social and emotional development that can be difficult even for teenagers without IDD, the Best Buddies High Schools program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.

BESTBUDDIES® Colleges

Fosters one-to-one friendships between college students without IDD and their peers on campus or in the community with IDD. Young adults with IDD historically have been isolated at home or in work environments. The Best Buddies Colleges program is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in their local campus and community life.

BESTBUDDIES® Citizens

Supports the development of friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. Many people with IDD have limited opportunities for social interactions after they leave the school environment. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.

e-Buddies ®

Provides a safe place online to develop one-to-one friendships between people with and without IDD. By joining e-Buddies, participants become more comfortable using technology to communicate with friends, gain computer literacy skills, and are better equipped to socialize online in the future.

BESTBUDDIES® Jobs

Matches skilled and qualified individuals with IDD with businesses seeking enthusiastic and dedicated employees.  Through the Jobs program, Best Buddies develops partnerships with employers, assists with the hiring process and provides ongoing support to the employee and employer.

BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors

Offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government.

BESTBUDDIES® Promoters

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.

BESTBUDDIES® Living

Best Buddies Living is elevating the mission to meet the significant need for inclusion by establishing a residential living experience for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their peers.

The Best Buddies Living program supports inclusion by:

• Developing programs that foster an opportunity for residents to experience living with friends and colleagues. Programs include weekly shared meals, fitness classes, cultural events, holiday parties, social activities, and sports
• Providing a dynamic and enriching environment that encourages independent living, life-changing relationships, and professional growth opportunities
• Matching people with and without IDD in a residential experience providing a supportive environment that encourages full-time or part-time employment

San Francisco Office
[email protected]
901 Mission Street, Suite B13
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415.371.1169 | Fax: 415.371.1129
BESTBUDDIES.ORG/CALIFORNIA

Friendships
Director, Development – Mary Jo De Silva
Program Supervisor – Melissa Cagney
Program Manager, Mission Expansion – Sohum Fotedar
Program Manager, Volunteers – Abigail Simpson

Jobs
Program Supervisor, Jobs – Delaney Sekinger
Employment Consultants – Jesse Bernardez & Rachel Finn
Managers, Job Development – Nicole Deis

Global Headquarters
100 Southeast Second St, Suite 2200
Miami, FL 33131

 Toll Free: 1-800-89 BUDDY (28339)