Conference builds friendship

The 24th Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference: Buddies without Borders, which took place at IU, celebrated Best Buddies International’s programs from around the world, according to a press release.

More than 1,700 student leaders, volunteers and staff from these programs showed up to participate in the conference July 19-22.

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization that works to establish a global volunteer movement to create employment, leadership development and one-to-one friendship opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), according to the release.

The organization was founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver. It has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,500 middle school, high school and college chapters worldwide, according to the release.

The organization’s eight formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies, Jobs, Ambassadors and Promoters — work with and engage participants in the United  States and 50 countries and impacts the lives of around 700,000 people both with and without disabilities around the world, according to the
release.

People with IDD are able to attain jobs, live on their own, become leaders and build friendships as a result of their involvement with the organization, according to the release.

“The 24th Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference was an incredible celebration of our global programs, and amazing start to the 2013-2014 academic year,” Tiffany Cannava, Best Buddies vice president of state operations and programs, said in the release.

“Best Buddies’ leaders from around the world truly personify “Buddies Without Borders” and are the future of our organization, helping us achieve our goal of creating a world of full inclusion for people with IDD in our communities.”

The conference brought together student leaders from Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Promoters chapters around the world.

Best Buddies Board Member Lauren Potter, an actress best known for her role as Becky Jackson on the television show “Glee,” opened the conference.

Aside from Potter, the conference included a special performance by Mike Berkson and Tim Wambach of Handicap This! Productions, according to the release.

There was also a performance from the 2013 Buddy Talent Contest Winner Mike Carol and special guest Lisa Smith, who shared her art of interpretive signing.

Dr. Karen Gaffney, the first living person with Down syndrome to receive an honorary doctorate degree, gave a keynote address at the conference, according to the release.

Gaffney received the degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from the University of Portland this past May for her work raising awareness of the abilities of people who have Down syndrome and helping to reduce cultural bias.

The conference honored a Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Promoters chapter with the 2012-2013 Overall Outstanding Chapter Award, according to the release.

The schools include Harbor Pilot Middle School in Dorchester, Mass., Cheshire High School in Cheshire, Conn., Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. and Riverdale Country School in Bronx, N.Y.

Daniel Noltemeyer was honored with the 2013 “Spirit of Courage Award” at the conference as well. The award is presented to a buddy ambassador on behalf of their work furthering the Best Buddies mission.

Several workshops were presented to conference participants.

During the conference, topics such as social inclusion, advocacy for people with IDD and volunteer management were discussed, according to the release, in preparation for the upcoming school year.

- Makenzie Holland