This month’s recipient of Postscripts Fresh Ideas recognition goes to Best Buddies Texas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is an organization with almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide.
As part of its many programs, Best Buddies middle school and high school programs are
designed to foster one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies middle schools and high schools programs help create an inclusive school climate for students early on in their educational development.
According to its website, when people with disabilities are unable to attain or maintain a job, it is most often due to an absence of social skills, rather than an inability to perform the work required. Best Buddies offers participants socialization and leadership opportunities, as well as job coaching, thereby providing the necessary tools for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to become more independent and more included in the community. To learn more about Best Buddies, check out their website.
Want to nominate a school district administrator, teacher, or program to highlight in next month’s Postscripts Fresh Ideas Section? Fresh Ideas recognizes any school program or organization that brings about positive changes in curriculum, extra-curricular activities, or the school environment as a whole. Fill our the form below or email Legal Digest at Jennifer.childress@legaldigest.com.
