At Best Buddies Leadership Conference supporters, members learn ‘yes, they can’

For most of their lives, many of the 1,300 people who were gathered in the IU Auditorium on Friday have heard the word “can’t.”

At the opening ceremony of the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference, they heard the opposite: Yes, you can.

“‘I think she can’t.’ I’ve heard people say this so many times,” said Rachel Lipke, an intellectual and developmental disabilities self–advocate. “I’ve had a lot of difficulties in my life, but I’ve made sure to turn the word ‘can’t’ into ‘can.’”

The ceremony kick started a four-day conference, bringing together volunteers from all over the world involved in Best Buddies.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver and has grown from one chapter to 1,500 branches worldwide in just 22 years.

“It’s 2011 now, it’s their time; they’ve waited long enough,” Shriver said. “This is the most successful Best Buddies has ever been in the worst of economies. And it all starts right here in this room.”

Shriver recalled being in the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge last year and being greeted by a beautiful woman with perfect hair and makeup.

The woman was Lauren Porter, an actress on the popular TV show “Glee.” She portrays Becky Jackson, a student with Down syndrome.

Porter was even recognized by the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who were also in the lobby, Shriver said.

“These young girls who are billionaires knew exactly who Lauren P. was,” he said. “It’s time that all the millions of people with these type of intellectual disabilities have these opportunities. They belong in the Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge.”

Best Buddies grant writer Missy Collins said she agrees with Shriver, and individuals with IDD deserve equal opportunities. 

“I remember I was on a plane with my friend Katie and the stewardess told us we couldn’t sit in the exit row,” Collins said. “She said Katie couldn’t sit there because she had a disability.

“I said, ‘She just gave a speech to the president of Goldman Sachs, I think she’s more than capable of following the directions on this card.’”

The stewardess bumped Collins and Katie up to first class.

Lipke said these stories illustrate a point she tries to make as often as possible when
talking to people with IDD. They should be proud of who they are, she said.

“This is the way you were made, this is the way you were born and this is the way you were brought into this world,” Lipke said. “It has taken me a long time to be a person that is proud to have a disability, but Best Buddies has given me that support to know ‘Yes, I can!’