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
Ohio Chapter Listing
Elementary Schools 
Middle Schools
High Schools 
Colleges 
Citizens programTo join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
- Barrington Elementary School (Columbus, OH)
API address [ 1780 Barrington Road, Columbus, OH, 43221, US, null, null, 40.0003315, -83.0556862, null]
- Colerain Elementary School (Columbus, OH)
API address [ 499 E Weisheimer Rd, Columbus, OH, 43214, US, null, null, 40.0541933, -83.00685260000002, null]
- Elm School (Cincinnati, OH)
API address [ 134 Elm Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45215, US, null, null, 39.2206947, -84.4703109, null]
- Hamilton Elementary School (Elyria, OH)
API address [ 1215 Middle Ave, Elyria, OH, 44035, US, null, null, 41.3542699, -82.1087046, null]
- Luis Muñoz Marín Dual Language Academy (Cleveland, OH)
API address [ 1701 Castle Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44113, US, null, null, 41.4710262, -81.694321, null]
- Paul L Dunbar Elementary School (Cleveland, OH)
API address [ 2159 W 29th St, Cleveland, OH, 44113, US, null, null, 41.4810163, -81.7040593, null]
- Powers Elementary School (Amherst, OH)
API address [ 393 S Lake St, Amherst, OH, 44001, US, null, null, 41.3938743, -82.2378749, null]
- Wilbur Wright PreK-8 School (Cleveland, OH)
API address [ 11005 Parkhurst Dr, Cleveland, OH, 44111, US, null, null, 41.4600681, -81.76408359999999, null]
Middle Schools
- Amherst Junior High School (Amherst, OH)
API address [ 548 Milan Ave, Amherst, OH, 44001, US, null, null, 41.395186, -82.23772699999999, null]
- Claggett Middle School (Medina, OH)
API address [ 420 E Union St, Medina, OH, 44256, US, null, null, 41.14351080000001, -81.8578656, null]
- Edgewood Middle School (Wooster, OH)
API address [ 2695 Graustark Path, Wooster, OH, 44691, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Hastings Middle School (Upper Arlington, OH)
API address [ 1850 Hastings Ln, Upper Arlington, OH, 43220-4809, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Jones Middle School (Columbus, OH)
API address [ 2100 Arlington Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43221, US, null, null, 39.9996975, -83.0600664, null]
- Princeton Community Middle School (Sharonville, OH)
API address [ 200 Viking Wy, Sharonville, OH, 45246, US, null, null, 39.2741959, -84.448526, null]
- Riverside School (Cleveland, OH)
API address [ 14601 Montrose Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44111, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Walter G. Nord Middle School (Amherst, OH)
API address [ 501 Lincoln Street, Amherst, OH, 44001, US, null, null, null, null, null]
High Schools
- Bay High School (Bay Village, OH)
API address [ 29230 Wolf Rd, Bay Village, OH, 44140, US, null, null, 41.48569579999999, -81.94251679999999, null]
- Boardman High School (Youngstown, OH)
API address [ 7777 Glenwood Ave, Youngstown, OH, 44512, US, null, null, 41.0112451, -80.6693027, null]
- Canal Winchester High School (Canal Winchester, OH)
API address [ 300 Washington St, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, US, null, null, 39.8365653, -82.8124708, null]
- Central Crossing High School (Grove City, OH)
API address [ 4500 Big Run South Road, Grove City, OH, 43123, US, null, null, 39.8966675, -83.11291829999999, null]
- Edgewood High School (Trenton, OH)
API address [ 3045 Busenbark Rd, Trenton, OH, 45067, US, null, null, 39.4661539, -84.49188000000001, null]
- Franklin Heights High School (Columbus, OH)
API address [ 1001 Demorest Road, Columbus, OH, 43204, US, null, null, 39.9324758, -83.0912501, null]
- Grandview Heights High School (Columbus, OH)
API address [ 1587 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH, 43212-2825, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Granville Middle and High School (Granville, OH)
API address [ 248 New Burg Street, Granville, OH, 43023, US, null, null, 40.0784181, -82.5262482, null]
- Grove City High School (Grove City, OH)
API address [ 4665 Hoover Rd, Grove City, OH, 43123-8621, US, null, null, 39.8713068, -83.0736951, null]
- Lincoln West School of Global Studies (Cleveland, OH)
API address [ 3202 W 30th St, Cleveland, OH, 44109, US, null, null, 41.4662595, -81.7022118, null]
- Little Miami High School (Morrow, OH)
API address [ 3001 U.S. 22 3001 E, Morrow, OH, 45152, US, null, null, 39.3566339, -84.159623, null]
- Lorain County JVS High School (Oberlin, OH)
API address [ 15181 OH-58, Oberlin, OH, 44074, US, null, null, 41.2621922, -82.21299139999999, null]
- Marion L. Steele High School (Amherst, OH)
API address [ 450 Washington St, Amherst, OH, 44001, US, null, null, 41.4045008, -82.2229488, null]
- Medina High School (Medina, OH)
API address [ 777 E Union St, Medina, OH, 44256, US, null, null, 41.144693, -81.851278, null]
- Miamisburg High School (Miamisburg, OH)
API address [ 1860 Belvo Rd, Miamisburg, OH, 45342-3870, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Midview High School (Grafton, OH)
API address [ 38199 Capel Rd, Grafton, OH, 44044-1137, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- North College Hill High School (Cincinnati, OH)
API address [ 1620 West Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45239, US, null, null, 39.2196338, -84.5506333, null]
- Olentangy Liberty High School (Powell, OH)
API address [ 3584 Home Road, Powell, OH, 43065, US, null, null, 40.2051392, -83.0975954, null]
- Reading Junior Senior High School (Reading, OH)
API address [ 810 East Columbia Avenue, Reading, OH, 45215, US, null, null, 39.2208016, -84.4265957, null]
- Southeast High School (Ravenna, OH)
API address [ 8245 Tallmadge Road, Ravenna, OH, 44266, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- St. Edward High School (Lakewood, OH)
API address [ 13500 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, OH, 44107, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Talawanda High School (Oxford, OH)
API address [ 5301 University Park Blvd, Oxford, OH, 45056-2619, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Upper Arlington High School (Upper Arlington, OH)
API address [ 1650 Ridgeview Rd, Upper Arlington, OH, 43221-2962, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Watkins Memorial High School (Etna, OH)
API address [ 1954 Warrior Way Southwest, Etna, OH, 43062, US, null, null, 39.958822, -82.66402509999999, null]
- Wauseon High School (Wauseon, OH)
API address [ 840 Parkview St, Wauseon, OH, 43567, US, null, null, 41.5535588, -84.12784669999999, null]
- West Geauga High School (Chesterland, OH)
API address [ 13401 Chillicothe Rd, Chesterland, OH, 44026-3532, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Westerville South High School (Westerville, OH)
API address [ 303 South Otterbein Avenue, Westerville, OH, 43081, US, null, null, 40.11778109999999, -82.9231795, null]
- Westlake High School (Westlake, OH)
API address [ 27830 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, OH, 44145-3032, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Wooster High School (Wooster, OH)
API address [ 515 Oldman Rd, Wooster, OH, 44691, US, null, null, 40.8375159, -81.94759379999999, null]
Colleges
- Baldwin Wallace University (Berea, OH)
API address [ Bonds Hall, Berea, OH, 44017-2005, US, null, null, 41.3685299, -81.8449705, null]
- Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH)
API address [ 838 E Wooster St, Bowling Green, OH, 43402-0001, US, null, null, 41.37436779999999, -83.6395368, null]
- Cleveland State University (Cleveland, OH)
API address [ Marketing Department (Jeanette Novakovich, Cleveland, OH, 44115-2214, US, null, null, 41.50207, -81.675294, null]
- Denison University (Granville, OH)
API address [ Slayter Student Union, Granville, OH, 43023, US, null, null, 40.0711678, -82.5238552, null]
- Franciscan University of Steubenville (Steubenville, OH)
API address [ J.C. Williams Center, Steubenville, OH, 43952, US, null, null, 40.37613030000001, -80.6204635, null]
- John Carroll University (University Heights, OH)
API address [ 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH, 44118-4538, US, null, null, 41.4900441, -81.5304575, null]
- Kent State University (Kent, OH)
API address [ Schwartz Center, Kent, OH, 44240-5190, US, null, null, 41.1468776, -81.3479638, null]
- Miami University of Ohio (Oxford, OH)
API address [ 501 E High St, Oxford, OH, 45056-1846, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
API address [ 154 W 12th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210-1302, US, null, null, 39.99702298082272, -83.01176303206559, null]
- Ohio University (Athens, OH)
API address [ Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701-2942, US, null, null, 39.3254804, -82.0981406, null]
- University of Dayton (Dayton, OH)
API address [ 300 College Park, Dayton, OH, 45469-0001, US, null, null, 39.7401831, -84.1790199, null]
- University of Toledo (Toledo, OH)
API address [ 2801 W Bancroft St, Toledo, OH, 43606-3328, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH)
API address [ 200 W Ward St, Springfield, OH, 45504, US, null, null, 39.93476400614472, -83.81452799021011, null]
Citizens
- Butler County Citizens Chapter (Hamilton, OH)
API address [ null, Hamilton, OH, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
- Cuyahoga County Citizens Chapter (Cuyahoga County, OH)
API address [ null, Cuyahoga County, OH, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
- Franklin County Citizens Chapter (Franklin County, OH)
API address [ null, Franklin County, OH, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.
