Page 7 - 2014 BestBuddies Massachussetts Annual Report

Cate & Syd
High School Buddies

Ziad
Global Ambassador

Barbara, Jobs Program Participant
Bob Friedman, Partner, Holland & Knight

Why We Matter

Over the past 50 years, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have gained many rights that have improved
their lives. Yet, our society is still far from inclusive. Tragically, a great number of people within the IDD community are stereotyped,
marginalized and live life as an invisible minority, often times unemployed and without the simple joys of genuine friendships that
others may take for granted. As one study notes, “Legal mandates cannot, however, mandate acceptance by peers, neighbors,
fellow employees, employers or any of the other groups of individuals who directly impact the lives of people with disabilities."*
This is where Best Buddies International comes into play. Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending
the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with IDD. For individuals within this community, Best
Buddies serves as a lifeline to creating life-long friendships, securing successful jobs, living independently and feeling valued
and respected by society.
Currently, an estimated 84% of adults (18+) with developmental disabilities do not have a paid job in the community. The Best
Buddies Jobs program has participants employed full-time who each have the potential to earn a total income upwards of $1
million over 30 years and contribute $250,000 in taxes back into the economy, rather than costing the government approximately
$750,000 each in Federal SSI and Medicaid support during that time period.
This is just one of many key examples of how Best Buddies is working to improve quality of life for individuals with IDD. Through
the creation of meaningful, lasting one-to-one friendships with peers without disabilities and the promotion of integrated
employment opportunities, Best Buddies is changing the world one friendship, one job and one leader at a time.
For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org.

*Teen Attitudes Toward Individuals with Mental Retardation, 2002

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