Best Buddies Living in Union Market Grants Independence to Residents

reilly_bbl — Reilly Donovan (left) with two Best Buddies Living participants.

Washington, D.C., March 11, 2024 — Reilly Donovan has never felt more free.

Reilly, who has a developmental disability, is a resident at the Union Market location of Best Buddies Living, a program that provides inclusive, independent housing opportunities for people with and without IDD where they can learn, grow and thrive. The program is run by Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The Living program has five locations nationwide and is the only IDD housing program with a non-institutional structure that places individuals with and without IDD in the same facility. For people with disabilities in Washington, D.C., independent living options are slim.

According to the Technical Assistance Collaborative, individuals with IDD would have to pay 191% of their income from federal benefits to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Washington, D.C, one of the highest rates in the country. Thus, it is unsurprising that while 62% of people with IDD desire to live independently, only 3% have been able to do so. This is where the Union Market location helps people with disabilities.

Reilly originally got involved with Best Buddies through a Friendship program at his high school, where he was paired in a one-to-one friendship with a student without an IDD.

“Best Buddies gives our son the social connection that all humans crave, and a sense of acceptance and belonging,” David Donovan, Reilly’s father, said. “Reilly has friends and an active social life through Best Buddies that would be hard to replicate without the social component of the program.”

His experience in the program left a mark on the Donovan family, encouraging them to help him gain independence by moving him into a Best Buddies Living residence. The Union Market location houses six people, with each person getting their own room while sharing bathroom, living room and kitchen spaces. All Best Buddies Living locations also provide residents with social activities, independent living skill development and employment coaching.

Reilly, since moving into the residence, and with the help of Best Buddies, has worked for the Washington Commanders, where he has blossomed into a social butterfly and hard-working employee.

“Best Buddies has afforded Reilly a soft landing as he leaves our nest and prepares to enter the world on his own,” Rose Donovan, Reilly’s mother, said. “We weren’t sure any of this could happen until we found Best Buddies. The program is giving him the independent living skills he needs and the confidence to live a fully actualized life, and it has helped us to let go and enjoy retirement knowing Reilly is thriving,” Rose said.

For David and Rose, it was a leap of faith to let Reilly move out of their home and live independently, but it was one they were glad they took.

“Best Buddies has enabled us to let go, which in turn has helped Reilly gain independence he never would have achieved if he were still living with us,” Rose said. “Parents of people with disabilities will tell you that letting go is the hardest thing to do. Best Buddies makes it much easier.”

About Best Buddies
Best Buddies^® 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). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ 12 formal programs — Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living and Eunie’s Buddies— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 45 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly one million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.