Best Buddies Capital Region

Imagine a world where people with disabilities are fully integrated and valued for the skills and abilities they bring to our schools, workplaces, and communities. This is the world Best Buddies seeks to create. At 54 area middle schools, high schools, and colleges, youth-led Friendship Chapters match students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities with typical peers – enriching the lives of all involved. When they age out of the school system, young adults can join the Citizens program, which sponsors social events and new friendship matches, or the Jobs program, which helps them secure employment and thrive in a job that matches their interests, talents, and goals. The Ambassadors program provides training in speech writing and public speaking, empowering participants to share their stories and become self-advocates. Nearly 30,000 people in Greater Washington are touched by these programs. Let’s grow the circle of friendship.