It's no secret that friends make our lives easier, but finding genuine community and support as a person with an intellectual and developmental disorder (IDD) can often be challenging. Join State Director Rebecca Williams and her team this Friday to learn about Best Buddies in Maine, a local 501c3 dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of students and adults with intellectual and developmental disorders.

 

 

Best Buddies International is a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their programs empower people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy, and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

Rebecca Williams brought Best Buddies to Maine back in 2019, inspired by her two nieces with Down syndrome, Maggie and Caitlin, who differ in every possible way besides their shared diagnoses. She recognized the individual needs of each person with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and she was impressed by the Best Buddies model’s individualized approach to friendship, employment, and leadership. In tandem with her sister, Rachel, Best Buddies has expanded the Maine office to four full-time employees, over 40 school and community friendship chapters, and countless corporate and community supporters across the state.

 

Julia Preston started her Best Buddies journey at the University of Virginia in 2019, where she joined her school’s chapter as a general member. After a handful of group events, she was matched with her first buddy, Jessica Lewis, and bonded with her over a shared love of music and vocal performance. Julia’s love of Jessica and the Best Buddies mission brought her up to Maine as the state’s Deputy Director of Communications and Stewardship, and she’s been working to increase the organization’s reach and visibility across the state ever since.