Best Buddies to come to IU for annual leadership conference

For 22 years, an organization has been turning people across 50 states and six continents into best buddies.

The group, aptly named Best Buddies International, will be at IU from July 22 through 25 for its annual International Leadership Conference.

Created in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that creates a global volunteer movement to foster one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Shriver, the son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, will speak at this year’s conference, Director of Programs Mia Noller Mulholland said.

Participants should expect to hear from a number of speakers, as well as have a chance to discuss important issues amongst themselves, she added.

“There will be opening and closing ceremonies featuring speakers and performers with IDD, leadership development forums and round table sessions with fellow global leaders, and an awards ceremony celebrating outstanding chapters and leaders for the year,” Mulholland said.

Additionally, there will be a special performance by the Kandoo Band. The Connecticut-based group features members from five different states — all with a developmental disorder called Williams syndrome.

The conference’s opening and closing ceremonies will be open to the public, Mulholland said.

Opening ceremonies will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. July 22 at the IU
Audituorium. Closing ceremonies will be from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 24.

The opening ceremonies, as well as additional portions of the conference, including the Saturday morning education trainings and the Sunday evening closing ceremonies, will be streamed live at www.bestbuddies.org/lc2011.

Three student leaders will be honored at the event. K Scarry, Sarah Blais and Sam Civitae, all Waynesburg University students, will end their 78-day, 36-state “Spread the Word to End the Word” tour at the conference.

“We were traveling the country to promote social acceptance for people with disabilities,” Scarry said. “It’s an educational campaign that talks about celebrating people for their abilities and informs people about the hurtful use of the word ‘retard’ in
everyday speech.”

Scarry added that what she most enjoyed about the trip is something that can also be found at the upcoming conference, which will feature 1,200 participants from all over
the world.

“My favorite part was getting to know people all around the USA and hearing their stories,” Scarry said. “Just finding what made them beautiful was such a joy.”