by Chloe Powell
Student volunteer, Bailey Richardson, with Best Buddies Zach and Daniel
Crafts, food, karaoke and great community. These are just some of the reasons a student might like to join Bellarmine’s Best Buddies program.
Best Buddies is an on-campus organization that allows students to develop one-on-one friendships with individuals who have intellectual development disabilities (IDD).
According to the National Disability Resource Collaborative, there are an estimated 7 million people in the U.S. who have an intellectual disability.
Students who want to get involved are encouraged to commit to at least one year of involvement and can join by either becoming a buddy pair or associate member. Buddy pairs talk or text once a week and plan a fun activity with their buddy once per month. Students who join as associate members do not get assigned to one-on-one pairs but join monthly chapter events.
The following events are held this semester.
- November: Friendsgiving
- January: BU men’s basketball game
- February: Valentine’s Day
- March: Best Buddies Kentucky Spring Dance
- April: Best Buddies Kentucky Friendship Walk
Times and locations can be found on Engage.
Common activities at chapter events include crafts, food and karaoke. Professor Ali Taylor, who advises the organization, said karaoke is favorite among the buddies.
Twelve Bellarmine students have signed up to be involved this semester as either a buddy pair or associate member. There are 12 buddies in the program, three of whom still need buddy pairs. Buddy pair matches are made through a get-to-know-you event and a matching tool survey.
Taylor said she is passionate about the program because she has a younger brother with an intellectual disability and she loves showing others that they can learn from people different than them.
Taylor described the Best Buddies program as an experience that will “truly allow you to shine and make such a huge impact on others.”
She encourages students to come to a Best Buddies event and check it out even if they are nervous about getting involved. She said the group is “a very friendly group who love to laugh and have a good time.”
Sophomore Jordyn Gerdes, who got involved with Best Buddies this semester, said her favorite part about the program is being able to interact with people from different backgrounds.
“It’s a great community to get involved with in a positive and welcoming atmosphere,” she said.
Junior Ariel Spoor, who has been involved in Best Buddies programs since high school, decided to get involved with Best Buddies at Bellarmine because she has family members with intellectual disabilities and is majoring in special education.
She said chapter meetings are a fun place to hang out with friends and individuals with IDD are no different from everyone else.
Students who are interested in getting involved can learn more at https://www.bestbuddies.org/kentucky/friendship or email to Taylor at ataylor9@bellarmine.edu.
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