In college, it can be hard keeping up with friends. But one student organization is working to build lasting friendships for people with intellectual disabilities.
Best Buddies is dedicated to creating friendships between students and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 1989, Best Buddies was born. The now international organization started at the college level and has included high school and middle school chapters.
Cindy McMeley, faculty advisor of Best Buddies, said the organization came to Missouri five years ago.
“There are chapters in all 50 states now,” McMeley said. “And in 50 countries.”
There are different pillars to the organization: one-on-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living. McMeley said Missouri State’s chapter only does one-on-one friendships.
Sheri Ball’s daughter, Katie, has a disability. This is their third year with Best Buddies.
“It’s great for her to have a peer to go do things with,” Ball said.
Katie and her buddy go shopping, go out for coffee, bake cookies and are constantly texting or calling each other.
“It’s really good for Katie to get away from the old parents and out doing things in the world,” Ball said.
Ball said Best Buddies has given her daughter more confidence and independence that wasn’t there before.
Katie has always been active, being a cheerleader, but Ball said her peers never interacted with her outside of the group.
“Some would try, but their lives got busy,” Ball said. “It just wasn’t quite the same.”
Before Best Buddies, Ball said Katie was more introverted — now she gets out of the house more and wants to be around others.
“It’s just been really great getting to see her blossoming into an adult,” Ball said.
Ball talks with her daughter’s buddy often as well and said they have a great relationship.
Ball said she is brought to tears sometimes when she sees her daughter playing games or decorating cookies with her buddy.
“It just warms my heart to see her interacting with a peer,” Ball said.
Natalie Olson, freshman special education major, is the vice president of Best Buddies. She talks with her buddy, Chance, on the phone every week.
His buddies in the past all graduated, Olson said at first he was anxious that she would leave him, too. But over time, Olson was able to gain his trust by being there for him and being willing to listen.
Olson said Best Buddies is different from other programs because it builds genuine friendships.
“Having someone to go run errands with or hang out with that’s not in his family or someone who does not have to be with him, it makes it a real friendship,” Olson said.
McMeley said even though the program as a whole isn’t new, it is new for the state of Missouri. Even though the program wants to grow as an organization, they don’t want to bite off more than they can chew.
“We currently have 11 members at Missouri State,” McMeley said. “One thing we were cautious about initially was growing too quickly. We wanted to be sure we could manage all of it.”
At least once a month, Best Buddies will plan an activity for the whole chapter to be a part of.
Those monthly chapter activities range from bowling to picnics.
Olson said individuals with disabilities in this organization are excited to have someone they can count on.
“(Chance is) so happy just to hang out and have someone to talk to,” Olson said.
Ball said Best Buddies was a life-changing experience for Katie.
“It’s a great interaction for both sides and the families as well if they get involved,” Ball said.
She said students get to see people with disabilities in a whole new light and hopes others will broaden their perspective.
“(People with disabilities) are not scary, they are really amazing and they are just so non-fake,” Ball said. “They love you for who you are.”
Olson said Best Buddies does come with a “minor time commitment,” but she said it would be the exact same as if she took time out of her day to see her other friends.
“I don’t see him every day because he is not on campus, so there is that extra effort,” Olson said.
While Olson admits there are additional challenges, she said it is not any different than a normal college friendship.
McMeley said if a student is reluctant to join Best Buddies because of time constraints, there are other ways to contribute and be a part of the organization. The two different “paths” for membership are peer buddy and associate member.
A peer buddy is paired one-on-one with a person with disabilities to foster a friendship. An associate member does all of the activities with the chapter, but is not paired one-to-one.
Olson urged students to get involved and said Best Buddies is fun to be a part of.
Students are not required to have a background in helping people with intellectual or developmental disabilities because it isn’t a teaching position.
The end of the year party will be held Sunday, April 24, from 2-4 p.m. in Phelps Grove Park. It is open for anyone to attend.
Commentaires