Lorain County JVS is excited to announce the launch of the
Best Buddies program, a global initiative dedicated to fostering one-to-one friendships and leadership development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies’ mission is to break social, physical, and economic barriers, creating inclusive opportunities for people with IDD.
“As a supervisor, I saw the opportunity to bring the Best Buddies program to LCJVS as a way to foster inclusion and build meaningful relationships between students of all abilities,” said Michelle McClintic, LCJVS Supervisor. “This program is crucial because it aligns with our values of inclusivity and career readiness. Best Buddies helps students build confidence, develop leadership and communication skills, and learn the importance of working with a diverse range of people—skills that are essential for success in any workplace and for fostering a supportive, inclusive community.”
The initial implementation of Best Buddies will take place in LCJVS’s Project Life 101 classroom, where students with diverse abilities will partner with peers to create meaningful and supportive friendships. Victoria Santiago, LCJVS Project Life 101 Instructor, expressed her enthusiasm for the program, stating, “I am thrilled to be implementing the Best Buddies program at LCJVS. This program promotes mentorship, friendship, integration, and kindness. I am excited for my students to make meaningful friendships, to be in an inclusive environment, and to have fun. My hope for the program is that it will create lifelong friendships for my students and that they will become more comfortable being social. I also hope to expand Best Buddies outside of my classroom and to have more students at LCJVS join in the coming years.”
Sue Pohorence, LCJVS Career Connections Instructor and co-leader for Best Buddies shared the transformative impact she has witnessed. “Hearing them greet each other in the hallways and seeing their genuine smiles sets a good example for the student body and warms the hearts of their teachers.” She added, “Best Buddies follows the simple concept of friendship at its core, but it has far-reaching effects that can change how people feel about each other and themselves.”
LCJVS anticipates that the program will impact not only the students directly involved but also the school community by creating an environment where students learn from each other’s diverse experiences. Megan Lodge, parent of LCJVS Project Life student Ryan Lodge, voiced her support, saying, “We have seen the benefit of inclusive peer relationships throughout Ryan’s life. Having a formal program like Best Buddies to foster those relationships and provide ALL students an opportunity to get to know individuals who are differently abled than them is a win for all. We are looking forward to Ryan establishing these relationships and hopefully having them carry on well past his schooling years.”
By implementing Best Buddies, LCJVS aims to empower students to advocate for inclusion, gain leadership experience, and make an enduring difference in their community. Best Buddies chapters worldwide have proven successful in promoting equality, reducing social isolation, and helping students become more compassionate leaders, and LCJVS is eager to bring these opportunities to its students.