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Nonprofit Creates One-to-One Friendships Between Volunteers and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Elizabeth Salazar & Jamauriah Rodgers

WGCU is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act this month by being a part of the “Move to Include” initiative. It’s a nationwide public media effort to motivate people to embrace different abilities and include all people in all aspects of life.

This week we’re learning about the international nonprofit Best Buddies, which creates one-to-one relationships between volunteers and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Guests:

  • Melanie Musick, Area Director for Bestbuddies International.
  • Addison Berger, president of the Best Buddies chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University.
  • Ellie Salazar, president of the Best Buddies chapter at Lehigh Senior High School.
  • Jamauriah Rodgers, Ellie Salazar's buddy who just graduated from the Lehigh Senior High School.