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Friendship (Michigan)

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One-to-One Friendship Programs

Best Buddies Friendship programs represent one of our organization’s four key mission pillars.  These programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.

Join a Chapter
Two participants walking down street together

BESTBUDDIES® Elementary Schools

Builds connections and community between young students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through inclusive activities and social-emotional learning tools that promote one-to-one friendship, acceptance, and interaction at an early age.

Join a chapter
two young best buddies participants with their arms over each others shoulders

BESTBUDDIES® Middle Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without IDD, in which they share interests, experiences, and activities. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development.

Join a chapter
two middle school participants smiling

BESTBUDDIES® High Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without IDD. In this time of heightened social and emotional development that can be difficult even for teenagers without IDD, the Best Buddies High Schools program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.

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Two female High school students standing back to back and smiling

BESTBUDDIES® Colleges

Fosters one-to-one friendships between college students without IDD and their peers on campus or in the community with IDD. Young adults with IDD historically have been isolated at home or in work environments. The Best Buddies Colleges program is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in their local campus and community life.

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two college program participants hugging

BESTBUDDIES® Citizens

Supports the development of friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. Many people with IDD have limited opportunities for social interactions after they leave the school environment. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.

Join a program
Two male citizen program members flexing their muscles

e-Buddies ®

e-Buddies provides opportunities for volunteers with and without IDD to develop friendships online and create connections using the power of technology. The program provides the opportunity for members to connect through the e-Buddies social platform, which is designed to expand friendships and create shared experiences through virtual social events. Anyone age 13 and older can participate in e-Buddies. Our program is available throughout the United States and internationally for English-speaking people.

More Info
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How our Friendship programs Work

Matching

A participant with IDD is paired with a person without IDD based on location and shared interest for at least one year of friendship. For school programs, matches typically start at the beginning of the school year.

Meet-ups

Participating in activities and spending quality in-person time together at least twice a month is suggested for buddy pairs of all ages.

Events

Best Buddies Offices and Chapters plan events, host group activities, support friendship matches and are available for onsite support.

Communication

Buddy pairs connect at least once a week by email, phone call, texting, social media or written correspondence.

Email

For e-Buddies, participants communicate via email at least once a week for a year.

Monitoring

Best Buddies staff members maintain regular contact with Friendship program participants to ensure the quality of matched pairs.

Michigan Chapter Listing

Filter by
radius-pinElementary Schools middle-schools-pinMiddle Schoolshigh-schools-pinHigh Schools colleges-pinColleges radius-pin  Citizens program
To join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
    No chapters currently
Middle Schools
  • Pioneer Middle School (Plymouth, MI)

    API address [ 46081 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, MI, 48170, US, null, null, 42.3568789, -83.49491859999999, null]

High Schools
  • Dakota High School (Macomb, MI)

    API address [ 21051 21 Mile Rd, Macomb, MI, 48044, US, null, null, 42.6453044, -82.9096452, null]

  • Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen, MI)

    API address [ 4000 J. Maddy Pkwy, Interlochen, MI, 49643, US, null, null, 44.6288519, -85.7689346, null]

  • Lincoln High School (Ypsilanti, MI)

    API address [ 7425 Willis Road, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, US, null, null, 42.15851989999999, -83.611379, null]

  • Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (Canton, MI)

    API address [ 8400 North Beck Road, Canton, MI, 48187, US, null, null, 42.3466313, -83.4988379, null]

  • Regina High School (Warren, MI)

    API address [ 13900 Masonic, Warren, MI, 48088, US, null, null, 42.5283025, -82.98514329999999, null]

  • South Lyon High School (South Lyon, MI)

    API address [ 1000 N Lafayette St, South Lyon, MI, 48178, US, null, null, 42.45853719999999, -83.65416809999999, null]

  • Ypsilanti Community High School (Ypsilanti, MI)

    API address [ 2095 Packard Street, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, US, null, null, 42.2432871, -83.6451563, null]

Colleges
  • Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI)

    API address [ 8975 Old 31, Berrien Springs, MI, 49103, US, null, null, 41.9565183, -86.3591143, null]

  • Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant, MI)

    API address [ Warriner Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48858-4679, US, null, null, 43.5911786, -84.77533079999999, null]

  • Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)

    API address [ Oakwood Center Lot, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, US, null, null, 42.2497637, -83.6287739, null]

  • Grand Valley State University (Allendale Charter Township, MI)

    API address [ Cook-Dewitt Center, Allendale Charter Township, MI, 49401-9401, US, null, null, 42.9638087, -85.8883334, null]

  • Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)

    API address [ 220 Trowbridge Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824-3407, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Oakland University (Rochester, MI)

    API address [ 318 Meadow Brook Rd, Rochester, MI, 48309-4454, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Spring Arbor University (Spring Arbor, MI)

    API address [ 106 East Main Street Chapman Welcome Center, Spring Arbor, MI, 49283, US, null, null, 42.205639, -84.55406769999999, null]

  • University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

    API address [ 530 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1303, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Wayne State University (Detroit, MI)

    API address [ Welcome Center, Detroit, MI, 48202-1347, US, null, null, 42.35699229999999, -83.065201, null]

  • Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI)

    API address [ 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008-5200, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Citizens
  • Oakland County Citizens (Oakland County, MI)

    API address [ null, Oakland County, MI, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Washtenaw County Citizens (Ann Arbor, MI)

    API address [ null, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, US, null, null, 42.2660881, -83.7146001, null]

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

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