Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

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.

Join a Program or Volunteer

Indiana Chapter Listing

Promoters chapters

Ambassadors program

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 4337 Caledonia Way, Indianapolis, IN, 46254-3641, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Bishop Chatard High School (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 5885 N, Indianapolis, IN, 46220-2840, US, null, null, 39.86181759999999, -86.1275101, null]
Guerin Catholic High (Noblesville, IN)
API address [ 15300 Gray Rd, Noblesville, IN, 46062-9234, US, null, null, 40.0106603, -86.08696479999999, null]
Hobart High School (Hobart, IN)
API address [ 2211 E 10th St, Hobart, IN, 46342, US, null, null, 41.5200779, -87.2318198, null]
Indiana Connections Academy (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 450 E 96th St 500 500 Ste 500, Indianapolis, IN, 46240, US, null, null, 39.9283568, -86.15061299999999, null]
Mount Vernon High School (Fortville, IN)
API address [ 8112 N 200 W, Fortville, IN, 46040-9747, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Saint Joseph High School (South Bend, IN)
API address [ 453 N Notre Dame Ave, South Bend, IN, 46617-2335, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Greenfield Central Junior High School (Greenfield, IN)
API address [ 1440 N Franklin St, Greenfield, IN, 46140-9132, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Beiriger Elementary School (Griffith, IN)
API address [ 601 N Lillian St, Griffith, IN, 46319-3806, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Blackford Primary School (Hartford City, IN)
API address [ 400 E McDonald St, Hartford City, IN, 47348, US, null, null, 40.4599465, -85.3637625, null]
Crestview Elementary School (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 7600 E 71st St, Indianapolis, IN, 46256-1912, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (Cedar Lake, IN)
API address [ 12900 Fairbanks St, Cedar Lake, IN, 46303-9446, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Eisenhower Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 1450 S Main St, Crown Point, IN, 46307-8443, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Herron Preparatory Academy (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 110 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, US, null, null, 39.7889994, -86.1555027, null]
Hoosier Prairie Elementary School (Terre Haute, IN)
API address [ 2800 W Harlan Dr, Terre Haute, IN, 47802, US, null, null, 39.3458045, -87.4618734, null]
Jerry Ross Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 11319 Randolph St, Crown Point, IN, 46307-8612, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Joan Martin Elementary School (Hobart, IN)
API address [ 301 E 10th St, Hobart, IN, 46342, US, null, null, 41.5209919, -87.2570133, null]
Monon Trail Elementary School (Westfield, IN)
API address [ 19400 Tomlinson Rd, Westfield, IN, 46074, US, null, null, 40.0692405, -86.1399574, null]
Mount Tabor Elementary School (New Albany, IN)
API address [ 800 Mt Tabor Rd, New Albany, IN, 47150, US, null, null, 38.3301339, -85.8174701, null]
Park Elementary School (Fairmount, IN)
API address [ 500 S Sycamore St, Fairmount, IN, 46928, US, null, null, 40.4113623, -85.64709979999999, null]
Pendleton Elementary School (Pendleton, IN)
API address [ 327 S East St, Pendleton, IN, 46064-1213, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Pittsboro Elementary School (Pittsboro, IN)
API address [ 206 N Meridian St, Pittsboro, IN, 46167, US, null, null, 39.8661045, -86.4687704, null]
Sand Creek Elementary School (Fishers, IN)
API address [ 11420 E 131st St, Fishers, IN, 46038-6618, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Solon Robinson (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 601 Pettibone St, Crown Point, IN, 46307, US, null, null, 41.4065675, -87.3581954, null]
Thorpe Creek Elementary (Fishers, IN)
API address [ 14642 E 126th St, Fishers, IN, 46037-6966, US, null, null, null, null, null]
William Penn School 49 (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 1720 W Wilkins St, Indianapolis, IN, 46221-1175, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Winfield Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 13128 Montgomery St, Crown Point, IN, 46307-9258, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

Offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government.

Attend a Training

Host a Training

Male Buddy Ambassador speaking at an event podium

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

Empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.

Join a chapter

Group of Promoter Chapter members playing football on a field

How The Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

When a Best Buddies participant joins the Ambassador program, they enter into a series of group and private training in speech writing and public and conversational speaking to become advocates for themselves and the disability rights movement.

Public Speaking

Once trained, Ambassadors work with Best Buddies staff to identify public speaking opportunities in their local community, where they can share their personal stories with Best Buddies chapters, businesses, legislators, interest groups and donors.

Speech Coaches

Each Ambassador is paired with a speech coach, who helps them brainstorm, organize, write, edit and practice a speech and provides one-on-one attention as needed.

Ongoing Development

Throughout their participation in the program, Ambassadors have access to a variety of ongoing advocacy trainings led by Best Buddies staff.

Advancement

As Ambassadors gain advocacy experience in conversational and public speaking, they have the opportunity to grow into a State or Global Ambassador where they may be invited to speak nationally or internationally on behalf of Best Buddies.

How The Promoters Program Works

Connect

Students attending a school without a special education program can join a Promoters chapter to develop connections with people with IDD, or can start one by contacting their local Best Buddies state office.

Ongoing Support

Each Promoters chapter is led by a President from the student body and a Faculty Advisor, and is assigned a Best Buddies staff person who offers regular support and guidance.

Advocate

Once formed, Promoters chapters host events, activities, fundraisers and assemblies where they advocate for people with IDD, educate the public about inclusion and promote the ideals of the Best Buddies mission.

Events

Throughout the school year, Best Buddies encourages all Promoters chapters to host as many activities as possible (minimum of 4) on and off campus that are inclusive of people with IDD.

Leadership Development (Indiana)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Indiana Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

How The Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How The Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

Best Buddies in Indiana

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (Indiana)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Indiana Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES® Promoters

How The Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How The Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

Best Buddies in Indiana

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters