Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represent 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.

The Best Buddies Ambassadors program 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. Michael Mortensen is a Best Buddies New York State Ambassador.

Check out Michael’s story in his own words below.

“Hi, my name is Michael Mortensen. I’m 26 years old and am currently a Best Buddies Ambassador and part of the Friendship Program at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. I have been involved in Best Buddies since 2011 – almost half of my life!

Before I became part of Best Buddies, I didn’t have many friends and felt left out. This all changed when I joined Best Buddies in my first year at Garden City High School. I realized that Best Buddies was a place where I could feel comfortable and where my disabilities didn’t define how others treated me. The advisors and students were all committed to the Best Buddies mission of inclusion, and I made many new friends. We did fun activities and discussed upcoming events like the Friendship Walk at our after-school meetings. I’d also see my buddies outside of school, and we would have fun bowling, going out to eat, going to the movies, or just hanging out.

Mrs. Kear was my Best Buddies advisor in high school. She encouraged me to become an advocate by attending an Ambassador workshop on Long Island, where I participated in a speech writing and presentation class. She also encouraged me to attend the 2016 Best Buddies International Leadership Conference (BBLC) in Indiana. I was the first student with a disability from my high school to attend BBLC, and I loved it! BBLC is a life changing weekend, where people from chapters all over the world get together to discuss ways to spread the Best Buddies mission and to participate in many fun events. My chapter’s president, Caroline, and I gave a speech about our experiences in Best Buddies. We introduced Anthony Shriver, who is the founder of Best Buddies, to everybody who attended BBLC. Before I joined Best Buddies, I could have never imagined speaking in front of so many people at an event like that!

After I graduated from high school in 2016, I continued my involvement with Best Buddies by fundraising for and attending the Friendship Walks and the Champion of the Year events on Long Island.

In 2018, I moved to Albany to attend a program for young adults with disabilities at The College of Saint Rose. I was so glad to learn that they had a Best Buddies chapter to join! I made new friends, was able to continue my advocacy, and became a Best Buddies New York State Ambassador. In 2020, I had the opportunity to meet with NY State senators via Zoom to talk about my experiences in Best Buddies. I recently participated in a “Lunch & Learn” Zoom meeting with corporate partners focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and I shared more about my personal experience. Later this summer, I’ll be attending the Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana for the fifth time!

Best Buddies is such a wonderful organization and has had a profound impact on my life and the lives of many others. It’s given me long lasting friendships, a feeling of belonging, and has boosted my confidence immeasurably. I am proud to be an advocate for Best Buddies. It’s so important to raise awareness of Best Buddies and the great impact it has in making the world more welcoming to people with disabilities, to spread the life-changing message of inclusion for ALL people, including those with disabilities.”