About 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, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Who We Serve
Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.
Programs
Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.
BESTBUDDIES® Five Mission Pillars
One-To-One Friendships
Integrated Employment
Leadership Development
Inclusive
Living
Family
Support
One-To-One Friendships
Integrated Employment
Leadership Development
Inclusive Living
Family Support
One-to-one Friendships
Fosters one-to-one friendships between individuals 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 friendship program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.
Integrated Employment
The Best Buddies Jobs program represents one of our organization’s four key mission pillars, Integrated Employment. This program secures jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and continuously and independently support themselves.
Leadership Development
Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization’s four key mission pillars. The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD.
Living
The Best Buddies Living program represents one of our organization’s four key mission pillars, Inclusive Living. This program fosters 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, and thrive.
Family Support
The Family Support program represents one of our organization’s five key mission pillars. It provides families access to individual connections and community resources that assist them on their journey of supporting a family member with IDD. Best Buddies is committed to ensuring that individuals of all abilities have the opportunity to thrive.
