“Growing up with a disability is hard. It is frustrating, and it is lonely. These feelings were a large part of my life before joining Best Buddies.”

“Students see us together and immediately understand that people with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) have what it takes to be a friend.”

Friendship is the reason I started volunteering for Best Buddies two years ago. Now that I have the honor of working for this organization, I get to hear about and witness meaningful connections and friendship across our great state every day…

Everyone needs a friend, particularly people whose disabilities may leave them feeling isolated and alone. Enter Best Buddies International, a nonprofit founded to foster one-on-one friendships, employment opportunities and leadership skills for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies Month is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders. Most importantly, it is a time to show the world the significance of these essentials in every individual’s life.

CLEVELAND – t’s been quite a summer for Cleveland Cavaliers’ point guard Kyrie Irving. First winning an NBA Championship, and then a gold medal for Team USA in the Rio Olympics. Now, he’s giving back. Check out part of the action Saturday morning of the first-ever Kyrie Irving Basketball Challenge benefiting Best Buddies Ohio.

This day gathers people committed to a more inclusive world to build awareness for our society to stop and think about its use of the R-word and rally people to pledge respect toward all individuals, making the world a more accepting and inclusive place for all people, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Columbus, OH, Feb. 3, 2016— Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is excited to announce the opening of its newest office in the state of Ohio.

The Best Buddies chapter at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio was presented with this year’s Overall Outstanding Chapter Award at Best Buddies International’s 26th annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference.  Miami University was selected from more than 436 Best Buddies college programs throughout the world and many College Outstanding Chapter applicants as […]

Jody Mann is truly a star within the community! She has been attending the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, for 11 years where she has been able to continuously develop her natural leadership abilities; she was also one half of the first buddy match ever made at Miami University. Jody not only continues to be an excellent mentor and role model in our chapter, but also she has begun to be a champion throughout the state!