{"id":147,"date":"2017-07-24T11:44:12","date_gmt":"2017-07-24T16:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thepottershouse.org\/bestbuddies\/?page_id=147"},"modified":"2020-07-29T10:05:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T15:05:14","slug":"get-involved","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/legacy.thepottershouse.org\/bestbuddies\/get-involved\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Involved"},"content":{"rendered":"

Best Buddies Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.<\/p>\n

Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful relationships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy & communication skills, and feel valued by society.<\/p>\n

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Best Buddies Friendship Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Best Buddies Friendship programs\u00a0represent one of our organization\u2019s three key mission pillars. \u00a0These programs build one-to-one friendships between\u00a0people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social mentoring 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.<\/p>\n

How the Friendship Program Works<\/strong><\/p>\n