Best Buddies is an international organization dedicated to breaking the isolation between people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those without. Best Buddies is also a club in Cypress Creek High School, having the same goal to create friendships with students who have these disabilities- also known as IDD’s for short- to promote inclusion every Tuesday in room 4-108.
The goal of Best Buddies, according to Lindsay Fulop, the president of the club is to spread inclusion and create one-on-one bonds with each other. “It creates an environment where our students can feel safe, and it creates friendships and positivity throughout the school.”
But why should we trust Fulop? In addition to her strong goal, she also has a reasoning to why she has chosen to help facilitate and work with those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Best Buddies is left in great hands, as president Fulop was inspired to start the club in this school because of her past experiences. “I have a passion for working with students with IDDs, and I pack lead for one of the Unique Skills Classes, and I do special Olympics, so I wanted to be able to do something for them and incorporate it into school.”
This passion from president Fulop not only comes from her but also from those in the club. With others wanting to help and believe in this great cause as it helps everyone in the club become better people with a greater mindset.
A group member, Nicole Chatelain, believes the Best Buddies group is helpful to those with IDDs, as it gives them a chance to learn skills with their peers and interact with others to integrate them into society. “I believe it to be helpful not only so I can learn new skills, but to also help those who need it.” Not only do Best Buddies provide useful skills and develop meaningful bonds but it also teaches leadership, patience, and teamwork.
But what do they do in Best Buddies, In Best Buddies they stay in present as they keep up with the date as they have had for thanksgiving an event called Friendsgiving
Best buddies have holiday-based meetings to make the meetings feel exciting to attendees. “Have fun activities based off holidays. The most recent theme is a match party Halloween theme” said Fulop. They keep it trendy and fun in the club to keep it active and make it an environment everyone can love.
