Best Buddies at Memorial University @ Best Buddies Program

Best Buddies builds friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Throughout their participation, people with an IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals take for granted. The Best Buddies high school program brings together high school students with and without an IDD in the hope that they will develop lasting friendships. The Best Buddies College and University Program pairs students in post-secondary institutions with adults living in the community with intellectual or developmental disabilities. To be involved in the college and university program, people with intellectual disabilities must be receiving services from a partner community agency.