Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization’s five key mission pillars. The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD.

Join a Program or Volunteer

Indiana Chapter Listing

Promoters chapters

Ambassadors program

To join a chapter, click a school name below

Ben Davis University High School (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 1155 S High School Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46241-3121, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Bishop Chatard High School (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 5885 N, Indianapolis, IN, 46220-2840, US, null, null, 39.86181759999999, -86.1275101, null]
Blackford High School (Hartford City, IN)
API address [ 2392 IN-3, Hartford City, IN, 47348-9597, US, null, null, 40.4851894, -85.3764217, null]
Herron High School (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 110 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, US, null, null, 39.7889994, -86.1555027, null]
Saint Joseph High School (South Bend, IN)
API address [ 453 N Notre Dame Ave, South Bend, IN, 46617-2335, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Ben Davis Ninth Grade Center (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 1150 N Girls School Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46214, US, null, null, 39.8337326, -86.2807452, null]
Hasten Hebrew Academy (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 6602 Hoover Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, US, null, null, 39.8765052, -86.1759706, null]
Indiana Connections Academy (Indianapolis, IN)
API address [ 6640 Intech Blvd #250 Ste 250, Indianapolis, IN, 46278, US, null, null, 39.8757865, -86.2752505, null]

Beiriger Elementary School (Griffith, IN)
API address [ 601 N Lillian St, Griffith, IN, 46319-3806, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Boone Grove Elementary School (Valparaiso, IN)
API address [ 325 W 550 S, Valparaiso, IN, 46385, US, null, null, 41.3555398, -87.1284182, null]
Eisenhower Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 1450 S Main St, Crown Point, IN, 46307-8443, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Georgetown Elementary School (Georgetown, IN)
API address [ 8800 High St, Georgetown, IN, 47122, US, null, null, 38.2958479, -85.97148159999999, null]
Hickory Elementary School (Avon, IN)
API address [ 907 Avon Ave, Avon, IN, 46123, US, null, null, 39.749501, -86.39812889999999, null]
Jerry Ross Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 11319 Randolph St, Crown Point, IN, 46307-8612, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Joan Martin Elementary School (Hobart, IN)
API address [ 301 E 10th St, Hobart, IN, 46342, US, null, null, 41.5209919, -87.2570133, null]
Lake Street Elementary (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 475 Lake St, Crown Point, IN, 46307, US, null, null, 41.4099425, -87.37587789999999, null]
Mount Tabor Elementary School (New Albany, IN)
API address [ 800 Mt Tabor Rd, New Albany, IN, 47150, US, null, null, 38.3301339, -85.8174701, null]
New Britton Elementary School (Fishers, IN)
API address [ 8660 East 131st Street, Fishers, IN, 46038, US, null, null, 39.9797435, -86.01592889999999, null]
Park Elementary School (Fairmount, IN)
API address [ 500 S Sycamore St, Fairmount, IN, 46928, US, null, null, 40.4113623, -85.64709979999999, null]
Pendleton Elementary School (Pendleton, IN)
API address [ 327 S East St, Pendleton, IN, 46064-1213, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Sand Creek Elementary School (Fishers, IN)
API address [ 11420 E 131st St, Fishers, IN, 46038-6618, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Solon Robinson Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 601 Pettibone St, Crown Point, IN, 46307, US, null, null, 41.4065675, -87.3581954, null]
South Haven Elementary School (Valparaiso, IN)
API address [ 395 Midway Drive, Valparaiso, IN, 46385, US, null, null, 41.5436904, -87.14201, null]
Southridge Elementary School (Highland, IN)
API address [ 9221 Johnston St, Highland, IN, 46322, US, null, null, 41.5460062, -87.44344939999999, null]
Thorpe Creek Elementary (Fishers, IN)
API address [ 14642 126th St, Fishers, IN, 46037-6966, US, null, null, 39.9739776, -85.9021546, null]
Timothy Ball Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 720 W Summit St, Crown Point, IN, 46307, US, null, null, 41.428264002981, -87.375211756385, null]
Wadsworth Elementary School (Griffith, IN)
API address [ 600 N Jay Ave, Griffith, IN, 46319, US, null, null, 41.5320069, -87.4198997, null]
Winfield Elementary School (Crown Point, IN)
API address [ 13128 Montgomery St, Crown Point, IN, 46307-9258, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

Offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government.

Attend a Training

Host a Training

best buddies ambassador giving a speech at a podium

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

Empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.

Join a chapter

group of best buddies promoters participants

BESTBUDDIES^® Transitions

Offers a combination of classroom-based training, experiential learning, and corporate mentorship to help students with IDD explore post-secondary options, prepare for independent living, and identify career ambitions. Workshops and activities offer experiences that aid youth with IDD in their transition into adulthood.

Join the program

Best Buddies Transitions program member at work on a farm

How the Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

When a Best Buddies participant joins the Ambassador program, they enter into a series of group and private training in speech writing and public and conversational speaking to become advocates for themselves and the disability rights movement.

Public Speaking

Once trained, Ambassadors work with Best Buddies staff to identify public speaking opportunities in their local community, where they can share their personal stories with Best Buddies chapters, businesses, legislators, interest groups and donors.

Speech Coaches

Each Ambassador is paired with a speech coach, who helps them brainstorm, organize, write, edit and practice a speech and provides one-on-one attention as needed.

Ongoing Development

Throughout their participation in the program, Ambassadors have access to a variety of ongoing advocacy trainings led by Best Buddies staff.

Advancement

As Ambassadors gain advocacy experience in conversational and public speaking, they have the opportunity to grow into a State or Global Ambassador where they may be invited to speak nationally or internationally on behalf of Best Buddies.

How the Promoters Program Works

Connect

Students attending a school without a special education program can join a Promoters chapter to develop connections with people with IDD, or can start one by contacting their local Best Buddies state office.

Ongoing Support

Each Promoters chapter is led by a President from the student body and a Faculty Advisor, and is assigned a Best Buddies staff person who offers regular support and guidance.

Advocate

Once formed, Promoters chapters host events, activities, fundraisers and assemblies where they advocate for people with IDD, educate the public about inclusion and promote the ideals of the Best Buddies mission.

Events

Throughout the school year, Best Buddies encourages all Promoters chapters to host as many activities as possible (minimum of 4) on and off campus that are inclusive of people with IDD.

How the Transitions Program Works

Eligibility

Individuals with disabilities beginning at age 14; an annual Best Buddies Consent Form, proof of disability and/or registration documentation may be required by local vocational rehabilitation agencies, where appropriate.

Educator Collaboration

Best Buddies Transitions offers students an opportunity to practice and apply career readiness and independent living skills in enriching, community-based learning experiences with support from Best Buddies staff and supporting corporate partners.

Implementation

Participants will meet with Best Buddies staff on a regularly scheduled basis to engage in one-to-one programming, small-group sessions, or classroom-style lessons on topics covered by the five Pre-ETS Components, as outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014:

Self-Advocacy/ Mentoring
Job Exploration Counseling
Workplace Readiness
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Post-Secondary Counseling

Leadership Development (Indiana)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Indiana Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

BESTBUDDIES^® Transitions

How the Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How the Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

How the Transitions Program Works

Eligibility

Educator Collaboration

Implementation

Best Buddies in Indiana

Best Buddies International

Leadership Development (Indiana)

Best Buddies Leadership Development Programs

Indiana Chapter Listing

BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES® Promoters

BESTBUDDIES® Transitions

How the Ambassadors Program Works

Advocacy Training

Public Speaking

Speech Coaches

Ongoing Development

Advancement

How the Promoters Program Works

Connect

Ongoing Support

Advocate

Events

How the Transitions Program Works

Eligibility

Educator Collaboration

Implementation

Best Buddies in Indiana

Best Buddies International

BESTBUDDIES^® Ambassadors

BESTBUDDIES^® Promoters

BESTBUDDIES^® Transitions