Leadership Conference Education Tracks

Best Buddies Leadership Conference trainings offer a variety of learning experiences for individuals involved in the Best Buddies movement. For more information about BBLC education tracks, visit the FAQ page or contact your local Best Buddies staff contact.

Advisors Track

Best Buddies Leadership Conference offers two tracks for chapter advisors.

The Advisors track offers trainings specific to the role advisors play in their Best Buddies chapter. BBLC provides teachers and disability professionals with strategies and resources needed to manage and empower their chapter leaders. 

The registration fee for this training is $400.

The Advisors Continuing Education track offers all the above plus exclusive training content and continuing education certificates. Best Buddies provides certificates for 10 hours of professional development in the following areas:

  • Leadership
  • Post-secondary transition programming
  • Social and emotional learning
  • Activity planning
  • Mission advancement
  • Program management.

The registration fee for this training is $650.

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Both advisor track trainings are for advisors of elementary school, middle school, high school, college chapters, and host site coordinators. Attendees learn through small group breakouts, presenter forums, speaker panels, and workshops. Participating in these tracks provides advisors with the information they need to be successful in guiding mission success on their campus, while offering networking opportunities and peer to peer best practice sharing.

School Tracks

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Best Buddies Leadership Conference was brings together school chapter leaders to learn and celebrate inclusion together.  Attendees following one of our school tracks have the opportunity to connect with global leaders who are passionate about creating a more inclusive world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You’ll have the chance to share ideas and learn strategies to make a positive change in your own community. Statistics show that conference attendees are more likely to succeed in managing chapters and engaging their communities in Best Buddies’ mission.

School attendees will live and learn together in one of the following tracks:

  • Colleges: chapter officers with and without IDD who lead Best Buddies chapters at the university (ages 18+) level.
  • High Schools: chapter officers with and without IDD who lead Best Buddies chapters at the high school (ages 14-22) level.
  • Middle Schools: chapter officers with and without IDD who lead Best Buddies chapters at the middle school (ages 10-14) level.

LIFE Track

Best Buddies LIFE is for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ages 18+) who are actively working toward personal growth, employment goals, and greater independence.

This track is a strong fit for:

  • Transition students preparing for life after high school
  • Individuals exploring their first job (including volunteer or internship experience)
  • Job seekers looking for competitive employment
  • Early-career professionals building workplace skills (1–3 years employed)
  • Adults seeking career advancement and leadership growth
  • Ambassadors developing public speaking and advocacy skills
  • Living residents (current or prospective)
  • Adults working toward greater independence
  • Individuals ready to increase their engagement in their local Best Buddies community

Best Buddies LIFE is structured as a goal-based, personalized experience for attendees.

During registration, participants are asked to share:

  • One personal goal they have and are working toward
  • One professional goal they have and are working toward

Participants also identify their employment stage (exploring work, job seeking, early career, or career advancement), allowing sessions to be tailored to them.

Attendees are grouped into tracks by:

  • Age and life-stage
  • Alignment with all five Best Buddies pillars
  • Real-world skill application
  • Opportunities to show learning and leadership
  • Integrated peer mentorship and guided facilitation

Best Buddies LIFE focuses on practical, real-world skills that support long-term success. Track sessions cover the following areas:

  • Leadership and self-advocacy
  • Public speaking and feedback skills
  • Competitive employment readiness
  • Workplace professionalism
  • Independent living skills
  • Time management and healthy routines
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Community engagement

Sessions are interactive, skill-based, and designed for real-world application.