Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization’s five 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.
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.
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.
BESTBUDDIES® Transitions
Offers a combination of classroom-based training, experiential learning, and corporate mentorship to help students with IDD explore post-secondary options, prepare for independent living, and identify career ambitions. Workshops and activities offer experiences that aid youth with IDD in their transition into adulthood.
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.How the Transitions Program Works
Eligibility
Individuals with disabilities beginning at age 14; an annual Best Buddies Consent Form, proof of disability and/or registration documentation may be required by local vocational rehabilitation agencies, where appropriate.Educator Collaboration
Best Buddies Transitions offers students an opportunity to practice and apply career readiness and independent living skills in enriching, community-based learning experiences with support from Best Buddies staff and supporting corporate partners.Implementation
Participants will meet with Best Buddies staff on a regularly scheduled basis to engage in one-to-one programming, small-group sessions, or classroom-style lessons on topics covered by the five Pre-ETS Components, as outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014:- Self-Advocacy/ Mentoring
- Job Exploration Counseling
- Workplace Readiness
- Work-Based Learning Opportunities
- Post-Secondary Counseling
Iowa Chapter Listing
Elementary Schools 
Middle Schools
High Schools 
Colleges 
Citizens programTo join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
- Ashland Ridge Elementary School (Ankeny, IA)
API address [ 2600 NW Ash Dr, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.75339, -93.6120451, null]
- Carlisle Elementary School (Carlisle, IA)
API address [ 430 School St, Carlisle, IA, 50047, US, null, null, 41.49701109999999, -93.4890549, null]
- Centennial Elementary School (Altoona, IA)
API address [ 910 7th Avenue Southeast, Altoona, IA, 50009, US, null, null, 41.6418449, -93.45813580000001, null]
- Crocker Elementary School (Ankeny, IA)
API address [ 2910 SW Applewood St, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.6997565, -93.63492169999999, null]
- Hanawalt Elementary School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 225 56th Street, Des Moines, IA, 50312, US, null, null, 41.5797385, -93.6931767, null]
- Heritage Elementary School (Ankeny, IA)
API address [ 301 Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.711286, -93.604199, null]
- Hubbell Elementary School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 800 42nd Street, Des Moines, IA, 50312, US, null, null, 41.5925441, -93.675882, null]
- Mitchellville Elementary School (Mitchellville, IA)
API address [ 308 Elm Ave NW, Mitchellville, IA, 50169, US, null, null, 41.6704286, -93.3638479, null]
- Morris Elementary (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 1401 Geil Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50315, US, null, null, 41.5255065, -93.6363196, null]
- Perkins Elementary (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 4301 College Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50310, US, null, null, 41.6080206, -93.6769095, null]
- Valerius Elementary School (Urbandale, IA)
API address [ 3305 92nd St, Urbandale, IA, 50322, US, null, null, 41.6251165, -93.74311229999999, null]
- Webster Elementary School (Urbandale, IA)
API address [ 12955 Aurora Ave, Urbandale, IA, 50323-2464, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- West Willow Elementary School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
API address [ 6225 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405, US, null, null, 41.9703918, -91.75258099999999, null]
Middle Schools
- Carlisle Middle School (Carlisle, IA)
API address [ 325 Scotch Ridge Rd, Carlisle, IA, 50047, US, null, null, 41.4977254, -93.5015298, null]
- Evans Junior High School (Ottumwa, IA)
API address [ 812 Chester Avenue, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, US, null, null, 41.0032004, -92.43485840000001, null]
- Hoyt Middle School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 2700 E 42nd St, Des Moines, IA, 50317-4006, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Humboldt Middle School (Humboldt, IA)
API address [ 1500 Wildcat Road, Humboldt, IA, 50548, US, null, null, 42.71506429999999, -94.23230439999999, null]
- Johnston Middle School (Johnston, IA)
API address [ 6501 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA, 50131-2932, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Merrill Middle School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 5301 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312-2123, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Parkview Middle School (Ankeny, IA)
API address [ 105 Northwest Pleasant Street, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.7327483, -93.6039402, null]
- Southeast Polk Junior High School (Pleasant Hill, IA)
API address [ 8325 North East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill, IA, 50327, US, null, null, 41.5983325, -93.43881189999999, null]
- Taft Middle School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
API address [ 5200 E Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405, US, null, null, 41.9806716, -91.7382928, null]
- Urbandale Middle School (Urbandale, IA)
API address [ 7701 NW Aurora Ave., Urbandale, IA, 50322-1723, US, null, null, 41.63810060000001, -93.72431089999999, null]
- Weeks Middle School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 901 E Park Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50315-2450, US, null, null, 41.5546679, -93.5999382, null]
- Winterset Middle School (Winterset, IA)
API address [ 706 W School St, Winterset, IA, 50273, US, null, null, 41.3213511, -94.0217369, null]
High Schools
- Adel-Desoto-Minburn High School (Adel, IA)
API address [ 801 Nile Kinnick Drive South, Adel, IA, 50003, US, null, null, 41.609758, -94.01437969999999, null]
- Carlisle High School (Carlisle, IA)
API address [ 430 School St, Carlisle, IA, 50047, US, null, null, 41.49701109999999, -93.4890549, null]
- Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
API address [ 4545 Wenig Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402-2212, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Dallas Center - Grimes High School (Grimes, IA)
API address [ 2555 W 1st St, Grimes, IA, 50111-4928, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Dowling Catholic High School/Ruby Van Meter School (West Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 1400 Buffalo Rd, West Des Moines, IA, 50265-1626, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Harlan High School (Harlan, IA)
API address [ 2102 Durant St, Harlan, IA, 51537-1221, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Humboldt High School (Humboldt, IA)
API address [ 1500 Wildcat Road, Humboldt, IA, 50548, US, null, null, 42.71506429999999, -94.23230439999999, null]
- Interstate 35 High School (Truro, IA)
API address [ 405 E North St, Truro, IA, 50257, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Johnston High School (Johnston, IA)
API address [ 6500 NW 100th St, Johnston, IA, 50131-2932, US, null, null, 41.6739239, -93.7024453, null]
- Lincoln High School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 2600 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA, 50315-1909, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Martensdale-St. Marys High School (Martensdale, IA)
API address [ 390 Burlington Ave, Martensdale, IA, 50160, US, null, null, 41.37514059999999, -93.7388278, null]
- Mason City High School (Mason City, IA)
API address [ 1700 4th St SE, Mason City, IA, 50401-4409, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- North High School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 501 Holcomb Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50313, US, null, null, 41.6176713, -93.6228884, null]
- Prairie High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
API address [ 401 76th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404-7035, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Roosevelt High School (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 4419 Center St, Des Moines, IA, 50312-2234, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Solon High School (Solon, IA)
API address [ 600 W 5th St, Solon, IA, 52333-8828, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Southeast Polk High School (Pleasant Hill, IA)
API address [ 8325 N E University Ave, Pleasant Hill, IA, 50327-8031, US, null, null, 41.6003817, -93.4357697, null]
- Urbandale High School (Urbandale, IA)
API address [ 7111 NW Aurora Ave., Urbandale, IA, 50322-1741, US, null, null, 41.6383976, -93.7151111, null]
- Valley High School (West Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 3650 Woodland Ave, West Des Moines, IA, 50266-1970, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Waukee High School (Waukee, IA)
API address [ 555 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA, 50263-8171, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Waukee Northwest High School (Waukee, IA)
API address [ 655 10th St, Waukee, IA, 50263, US, null, null, 41.6054922, -93.8929565, null]
- Winterset High School (Winterset, IA)
API address [ 624 Husky Dr, Winterset, IA, 50273-2268, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Colleges
- Central College (Pella, IA)
API address [ 812 University St, Pella, IA, 50219-1902, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Drake University (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50311-4516, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Grand View University (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ 1500 Morton Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50316-1647, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Iowa State University (Ames, IA)
API address [ 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA, 50011-7163, US, null, null, 42.0236502, -93.6459454, null]
- Simpson College (Indianola, IA)
API address [ Kent Campus Center, Indianola, IA, 50125-1201, US, null, null, 41.366707, -93.5655326, null]
- University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
API address [ 5 W Jefferson St, Iowa City, IA, 52240-1315, US, null, null, 41.661897, -91.5364924, null]
- University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)
API address [ 1227 W 27th St, Cedar Falls, IA, 50614-0012, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Upper Iowa University (Fayette, IA)
API address [ 605 Washington St, Fayette, IA, 52142-9206, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Wartburg College (Waverly, IA)
API address [ 100 Wartburg Blvd, Waverly, IA, 50677-2215, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Citizens
- Iowa Citizens - Des Moines Metro Area (Windsor Heights, IA)
API address [ 7518 Hickman Rd, Windsor Heights, IA, 50324, US, null, null, 41.61399110000001, -93.72060189999999, null]
- Sammons Financial Citizens (Des Moines, IA)
API address [ null, Des Moines, IA, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.
