BEST BUDDIES UMANITOBA 2014/2015

WHAT IS BEST BUDDIES? Best Buddies is a national charitable organization that helps provide meaningful friendships for people with intellectual disabilities. Through Best Buddies, students and people with intellectual disabilities are matched in one-to-one friendships and spend time enjoying the same experiences most people take for granted: going for coffee, watching a movie or simply enjoying the company of a friend.

WHAT IS AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY? An intellectual disability, also referred to as a developmental disability, is a term used to describe any condition that includes a lifelong impairment to a person’s ability to learn or adapt to their environment. An intellectual disability is not the same as a mental illness, psychological disability, learning disability, or psychiatric condition. An intellectual disability refers to a group of disorders in one or more central nervous system processes, causing a disability to appear in one or several of the following: reasoning, processing, memory, calculation, coordination, social interaction and emotional articulation. People with intellectual disabilities do not necessarily have a recognizable condition. The degree of disability can vary greatly from person to person, as everyone is an individual. Some examples of intellectual disabilities include Down Syndrome and William’s Syndrome. Although not an intellectual disability, people on the Autism Spectrum are also welcome to join Best Buddies.

THE VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT University students and adults with intellectual disabilities from SCE Lifeworks and Prairie Places agree to be paired with each other for one school year. The pairs are then responsible for: Contacting each other once a week by telephone, e- mail, letter or note Meeting each other 2-3 times per month for a one-to- one activity Participating in group activities during the school year

WHO BENEFITS FROM BEST BUDDIES? We all do! The friendships formed through the Best Buddies Program add a new dimension to the lives of all people involved. A Best Buddies friendship also helps to build acceptance amongst the volunteers and in the community.

HOW DO I JOIN? 1. Online Registration 2. Interviews and Reference Checks 3. Criminal Record checks

1. ONLINE REGISTRATION Information you will need: Availability 1 Reference (can be an employer, volunteer coordinator, teacher, family friend) 1 Emergency contact Online Registration Link Go to and fill out the formhttp://

2. INTERVIEWS After the initial registration period, short interviews are held and reference checks are done. This screening process ensures the safety of the participants and provides more insight as to why you are interested in Best Buddies.

3. CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK If screening is successful, participants will be asked to provide a Criminal Record Check done by the RCMP. There is a cost, however we have a form to waive the fee that can be found in our Facebook group. You do not need your criminal record check to participate in the Meet & Greet Event, but will need it to hang out with your Buddy one-on-one. If you choose to complete your check online, the website is : kService.aspx If you provide your receipt, Best Buddies will reimburse you for the online fee, as the letter cannot be used for online applications.

QUESTIONS? Feel free to questions, ideas, updates, etc. to