Advocate

You can have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). When you help Best Buddies enhance the lives of this underserved group of individuals, you contribute to the creation of a more inclusive world for all. There are so many ways you can advocate for the Best Buddies mission – find one (or more) that are right for you from the suggestions below!

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See more at youtube.com/bestbuddies.

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General Support

Join me in support of @bestbuddies - the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Learn more at bestbuddies.org.

Join Best Buddies and help expand their mission of inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities! Learn more at bestbuddies.org.

Friendship Focused

Everybody Needs a Best Buddy! ❤️  Get involved today at bestbuddies.org.

To the world, you may be just one person, but to one person, you may be the world. Join Best Buddies and help end the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Leadership Focused

Best Buddies offers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to become strong advocates for themselves and their peers. Learn more at bestbuddies.org.

Jobs Focused

Did you know that 81% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) do not have a paid job in their community? Best Buddies Jobs helps people with IDD find and maintain competitive and meaningful employment. Learn more at bestbuddies.org/jobs.

Don't let dreams remain dreams. Unlock someone’s potential by sponsoring, hiring or mentoring a buddy today at bestbuddies.org.

Let’s commit to building a more inclusive workplace. Hire people with intellectual and developmental disabilities today! To get started, visit bestbuddies.org/jobs

Living Focused

Best Buddies Living fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to become active, contributing citizens who live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at bestbuddies.org/living.

Profile Pictures:

• Change your profile picture and/or cover photo to promote the Best Buddies mission of friendship, jobs, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities amongst your social networks.

What drives your passion for improving the quality of life for people with IDD with Best Buddies? Tell us how your involvement in the disability rights movement and the organization has impacted your life so that we can share your story and inspire others to get involved.

The more personal and powerful it is, the more likely you are to create change!

Whether you’re a CEO, employee, parent, child or friend, you can advocate for the hiring of people with IDD. Share this compelling Jobs study with executives and hiring managers at your workplace or local businesses within your community and educate them about the untapped talent available within the IDD community!

Refer them to the Best Buddies Jobs program for more information on how to start hiring today!

Support Best Buddies mission of one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with IDD year-round by celebrating these annual events in your community.

Best Buddies Friendship Walks – Best Buddies Friendship Walks are a powerful social movement that supports inclusion and acceptance. The series of fifty Friendship Walks that take place across the country changes lives, as participants fundraise and walk for inclusion, friendship, leadership, and opportunity for people with and without IDD.

Best Buddies Month – A month-long celebration each year in March commemorating the Best Buddies mission. #BestBuddiesMonth is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders.

Spread the Word to End the Word Annual Day of Awareness - The annual day of awareness is held the first Wednesday of every March. While most activities are centered on or near that annual day in March, people everywhere can help spread the word throughout their communities and schools year-round thru pledge drives, youth rallies and online activation.

Best Buddies Leadership Conference - Over the past 26 years the Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) has inspired thousands of leaders to be Best Buddies advocates and to bring about social change in their communities. Held every July at Indiana University, this is a once in a lifetime experience that unites Best Buddies leaders, volunteers, and community advocates from around the globe. Conference attendees gain knowledge in order to take effective action for a common cause, while discovering the importance of their actions, responsibilities, and energy.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. Join in the annual celebration on the anniversary of this landmark legislation and encourage your peers to do the same.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month – Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

A wide variety of informative resources are available for people with IDD, their families and caregivers:

• Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD)
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
• Disability.gov
• Interactive Autism Network
• Job Accomodation Network
• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)
• National Disability Rights Network
• National Fragile X Foundation
• Office of Disability Employment Policy
• Project Search
• The Arc
• Vocational Rehabilitation Agency