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>>Um, so Best Buddies is a nation-wide organization designed to help, uh, people who don't have
disabilities form friendships with people that do. The chapter here at the University
of Illinois is the first chapter I've worked with but it is designed to get
people with disabilites out of the house after work and socializing time for them.If they
run out of things to do then they come to campus and they get to experience the true
college life and the activities that go along with it, such as
well, apple picking or going bowling and all that fun stuff.But, it's something for them
to look forward to so their day to day thing is switched up.A typical day for them is to
get up, go to work or go to classes, and then come back
and sit at home and talk to their parents or their siblings, so this gives them the
opportunity to make friends with people that they normally would not have the chance to
interact with. Um, it's such a benefiting program because, not only
do you learn so much about yourself but you learn so much about people that are less fortunate
than you and it makes you want to be a better person. You spend so much time, like, hanging
out with people that don't have disabilities and hanging
out with someone who does, it's eye opening. And, it's just, it's life changing. It makes
you not take for granted what you have and cherish what you have and put forth the effort
to give people who don't have what you have the opportunity to
earn it. And, that's what I've taken away from Best Buddies. I know it's what a lot
of other college buddies have taken away from it and with the buddies with different disabilities
in the program, you learn to look past them. Like, with my
buddy, I don't see her as Faith the disabled person, I see her as Faith, the person. You
have to, like, you have to look past it and not let the disability shape and design what
they are. Because they're people first.
[music]
>>All Matt cares about is having a good time and being a good friend. He makes me want
to be a better person each time I'm with him.
>>It's kind of cool to have best buddy right by my, right by my side.
>>I think it's one of the best organizations in the country because it promotes the simple
concept of friendship. Friendship between someone who doesn't have
an intellectual disability and someone who does.
>>I like my best buddy. >>Anything you want to say? What does best
buddies mean to you? >>Friendship!
>>Awh! [Laughter] Very nice.
>>One of the activities that Best Buddies did this year was a Talent Show, which is,
we had every buddy decide if they wanted to participate in the show and highlight their
talents, which ranged from telling jokes to ballroom dancing to singing a song.
And, it's, it was an opportunity for everyone to just sit back and just have a good time.
There was no judgement at all and everyone was a winner in the end.
[singing and laughter] >>Charles, dance. Do something cool!
>>[singing] I have been blessed, and I feel like I've found my way. I thank God for all
I've been given at the end of every day. I have been blessed.
>>[singing] You can dance. You can jive, having the time of your life. Oh, see that girl,
watch that scene, diggin' the dancing queen!
>>[singing] Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow 'til there's none. When I'm stuck with
a day that's grey and lonely, I just stick up my chin and grin and say, Oh! The sun'll
come out tomorrow so you gotta hang on 'til tomorrow, come what may. Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I love ya tomorrow, you're always a day away.
[music]
>>[singing] Lean on me. When you're not strong, and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry
on. For, it won't be long, 'til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.
>> We all need friendship and support and I look at, you know, all the opportunities
that I've had in my life and the support that I need, you know, through the most diffucult
times and, you know, I think often special needs children don't have that same. There's
just not many out there that have, you know, the kind of
support that they need to, to work through issues in their life and Best Buddies is a
program that provides that support that's really necessary for all human beings, so
in that sense, they kind of go above and beyond. Um, you work hard to
cultivate the relationships and hopefully the relationships last many many years.
>>I think no matter where you are in this country, if you're a college student, or if
you're a high school student, you should find out whether or not there's a Best Buddies
program at your school. And, if there isn't, you should find out why, and then you should
create one, and then you should volunteer. So, get out there. Find
out about Best Buddies. Do it. Go for it. Become a friend for no other reason than to
make one. >>I hope some more people join Best Buddies
because it's fun. >>That's a good thing.
>>Yeah. Real good thing. That way you won't be lonely and stuff like that.
>>Yeah. >>Without a buddy you're nothing.
>>Really? >>Yeah, you know.
>>Yeah. >>You won't be able to have fun without a
buddy. >>Yeah.
>>Yeah, that's a good thing too, I mean no! That's not a good thing. [laughter]
>>We know what you mean. [laughter and music]