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Friendships are a major part of the high school 
experience. Students with developmental disabilities 
often walk the same halls with peers in high school, 
but they rarely have the opportunity to become 
friends with them, Now by joining the Best Buddies
club, students can make special friendships during 
their high school years.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver (his mother,
Eunice Shriver,started the Special Olympics), Best 
Buddies has grown from one chapter on one college 
campus to become an international organization. Best
 buddies envisions a world where people with disabilities 
are so successfully integrated into our schools, our
 workplaces, and our community that their services 
will one day become unnecessary.

In the Best Buddies club at South High School, general
education high school students are matched one-to-one 
friendship with a student with a developmental disability. 
Buddy pairs enjoy spending time together in such activities 
as going to the movies, watching high school sporting 
events, having lunch together, hanging out, and talking on
the telephone. Meetings are held 2 times a month during 
lunchroom J-1. Peer Buddies are required to call or hang 
out with their buddy 1 time a week.

Spending time with a new friend enables both 
students to develop greater self-confidence. It helps 
the individuals with developmental disabilities to become 
more socially integrated and feel more comfortable within 
their school and community.