Best Buddies International

Best Buddies.

Best Buddies_® 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).

Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide.  Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States, and in 50 countries around the world.  Best Buddies’ 8 formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies, Jobs, Ambassadors and Promoters – positively impact nearly 700,000 individuals with and without disabilities worldwide.  Best Buddies volunteers annually contribute, at no cost to their communities, support services that equate to more than $155.2 million USD.

As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with IDD secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships.

Although Best Buddies has advanced tremendously in its short existence, many areas of the country and many regions of the world still lack programs to help people with IDD become part of mainstream society.  With that in mind, Best Buddies is systematically implementing its 2020 Initiative, which will witness the organization’s continued significant growth, both domestically and overseas. 

Be gentle.

Homecoming Queen and she rocks her extra chromosome.

Alex's story makes me smile.  Inclusion, friendship, everything we can hope for our children.  Although the title of this piece could be better, it shows a happy group of friends enjoying a high school milestone.

Royalty: Gull Lake High School's Homecoming King and Queen, Pat Gaudard and Alex Milan pose side-by-side in their gold and silver crowns

Miss popular: While spending half of her time in a special education classroom, Alex, seen on the arm of Pat, is known by all students who describe her as spirited and charismatic

Popular, funny, and often seen on the arm of one of her high school's football players, classmates of Alex Milan say it was a given she'd be voted this year's homecoming queen.

What they don’t say was a factor, however, was her physical disability: Down Syndrome.

'Everybody knows her and she's so charismatic ... she's always trying to cheer people up,' Gull Lake Senior Khelsea Younker in Richland, Michigan, told MLive.com.

A student within Gull Lake Community Schools since the sixth grade, despite spending part of her day in a special-education classroom, everyone’s said to know her as the spirited, highlight in the halls.

'I think everyone kind of knew she was our homecoming queen from the start,' Homecoming King Pat Gaudard said while seated beside Alex and her friends. 

'...that's her personality, she's a princess,' he said to Alex’s blushing squeeze into his arm.

In a landslide victory battling nine other girls for the crown, it was during half-time of their homecoming game last Friday that Alex took to the football field to receive a sparkling tiara, wand and an arm full of red roses beside Pat.

'Every day she comes in and tells me she wants to be the queen and wear the crown,' her special education teacher Tasha Harrison at Gull Lake told WWMT.

All her: Classmates of Alex, seen walking with her in the halls, say that the high school senior's disability had nothing to do with her votes but that it was all her personality and charm

Having readied a camcorder to capture the moment Alex heard her name voted to the homecoming court – showing the astonished 18-year-old clapping and racing from her chair around the room – Alex’s popularity was already well known by Ms Harrison making her win perhaps less of a surprise, though no less than an absolute joy.

‘She’s just a magnet. People just want to be around her because of her personality and because of her charisma. People stop by the room all the time and just want to say hi to Alex,’ she said.

'She's so friendly and definitely loves everybody and I think that's a great way to represent Gull Lake,' student Hadlee Hoeksema said.

'We didn't nominate her because she has Down Syndrome. We nominated her because she's the nicest person in our class'

         - classmates of Alex to her mother

Alex's mother Jodie Milan says she can attest to that from the countless text messages received from her daughter's friends congratulating her win.

'They were saying, "We didn't nominate her because she has Down Syndrome. We nominated her because she's the nicest person in our class,"' Mrs Milan said. 'It's nice that they look away from the disability and see her as a real person.'

Beginning a magical day for the school's young queen, a limo donated by a community resident drove Alex and her friends to lunch before taking them to have their nails, makeup and hair done - all services donated to the girls.

What made the event far more memorable, however, was Alex's escort onto the field.

Arm-in-arm, her father Jeff Milan escorted his daughter out, himself suffering terminal lymphoma. 

Welcoming them was a standing ovation.

'There was not a dry eye anywhere,' Mrs Milan said of the night.

'What they did for Alex is a huge thing. It's something they should feel proud of their entire lives,' Gull Lake teacher and interim Vice Principal Matt Hawkins told MLive. ‘There's very few times in an educational career where you see such a large group of kids have this many staff people moved to tears.’

'I've had a lot of parents come up to me and say "Gosh thank you so much for the opportunity to have them learn from Alex and having her around us,’ Mrs Milan said with her voice cracking, ‘and that I think is important.'

Beloved: Alex's special education teacher says students will frequently come around asking specially just to see Alex

Be gentle.

Parent to Parent Support

Parent to Parent

Where can a new or expectant parent turn to get support from someone who has "been there, done that" when they have received the diagnosis that their child has an extra chromosome 21?  The Down Syndrome Information Alliance in Sacramento has started a program to answer this need.

Parent-to-Parent Program

Congratulations on your new baby!

The emotions you are experiencing right now are likely intense. These emotions are very typical. Although the potential needs of your baby may seem overwhelming to you right now, let us reassure you that your baby is more alike, than unlike, other babies. Your little one will bring you just as many happy moments and there will be just as many occasions for celebration.

As you begin caring for your baby, or even while you are pregnant, you might find it helpful to be in contact with another family of a young child with Down syndrome. Having just experienced many of the emotions you are now facing, they can offer a listening ear and kind words of support and understanding. A Parent Mentor can also help you make connections within your community to other families. They can answer many of your questions and be a great resource for you.

“Everyone wanted to help us, but none of our family or friends truly understood what we were going through. But our Parent Mentor understood… and gave us hope. Something nobody else could give us.” – A New Dad

DSIA’s Parent-to-Parent Program matches you with a Parent Mentor with similar experiences as your own. If you would like to be matched with a Parent Mentor, call DSIA’s Support Line at 916.842.7175 or e-mail support@downsyndromeinfo.org.

We are happy to offer new parents and baby the following gifts at no charge:

• Down Comforter Package: A New Parent’s Guide to Down Syndrome – DSIA’s parent guide that includes information on Down syndrome, messages of hope and inspiration from local families, and important resources for new parents.
• A Baby First – An original DSIA book featuring local infants and toddlers that shows the beauty of Down syndrome and presents compassionate information written by parents.
• Whispers of Hope – An original DSIA book featuring the experiences of local families raising children with Down syndrome.
• Dreams in Reality – An original DSIA video (on DVD) featuring local adults with Down syndrome living rich and rewarding lives in our community

All this and much more, all wrapped up in a handmade burp cloth for the newborn!

“I e-mailed DSIA shortly after my daughter was born. I was very anxious and needed direction after learning she was born with Down syndrome. My Parent Mentor responded to my message immediately with a compassionate response. She was so incredibly supportive. She even came to meet me and my daughter at the NICU. I knew nothing about Down syndrome at the time and my Parent Mentor patiently answered my questions. More importantly, though, I saw her passion as she spoke about her son who also has Down syndrome. As I sat there listening to her, I *knew* that I made the best decision of my life when I contacted DSIA. I’ve met so many wonderful families through DSIA and am excited for my daughter’s future. I’ve dismissed all the old stereotypes of Down syndrome and am now embracing the beautiful world that my precious daughter introduced me to the day she was born.” – A New Mom

Contact us to learn more about DSIA and how you can support our Parent-to-Parent Program. If you would like to be matched with a Parent Mentor, call DSIA’s Support Line at 916.842.7175 or e-mail support@downsyndromeinfo.org.

Be gentle.

Tuesday Smile

Be gentle.

Special Olympics Soccer Championships 2012

It's that time of year again.  Saturday was the Northern California Special Olympics Championships.  And I am proud to say that the Galt Chiefs Team 2 earned a SILVER medal.  Congratulations to the athletes (and the coaches) for all of your hard work.

 "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let be brave in the attempt."

Be gentle.