Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8468 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2016 E M B R A C E ! m'brās/ verb e Our newest section, Embrace! was created to provide information and human interest articles to help families with differently-abled children. Whether your child has ADHD, Autism, Down syndrome or any other special need that qualifies him or her for programs in public schools, we will be researching and covering important, educational and inspiring content that addresses a wide variety of issues. Who’s Your Buddy? Embrace! is generously sponsored in part by Ilana and Semyon Narosov Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Building one-to-one friendships between people with and without IDD, is witnessed locally with great success throughout our schools, starting in middle school and continuing through college programs. Best Buddies High School Friendship Program The high school program fosters one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD. In this time of heightened social and emotional development, that can be difficult even for teenagers without IDD, and the Best Buddies High Schools program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life. We asked local students to share how the Best Buddies program impacted their lives, and their answers showed that the friendships are indeed mutual. Best Buddies has impacted my life in a way that I could have never imagined. I joined Best Buddies after I moved to Highland Park High School my junior year. I was sitting in my government class when I heard a cute, high-pitched voice from the seat behind me. I turned around, and SaraWaterman had the biggest smile on her face.We started talking and I fell in love with her from that first day I talked to her; she was so silly, happy, and loving to everyone around her which only made me want to be friends with her more. I found out about Best BuddiesandimmediatelypursuedthepositionofpublicrelationscoordinatorbecauseIwanted to spend time with more people like Sara. I found out that officers were able to pick which person they wanted as their best buddy; I couldn’t help but think of Sara from the start, and from there, our friendship only grew. Spending time with Sara (aka Happy) helped me grow in so many ways. From ice cream and bowling dates to school dances, she changed my life and taught me what was really important. She taught me to love others and to always be kind to those around me. Sara has the sweetest heart and she truly is one of my best buddies in the wholeworld.IwouldnotbethesamepersonIamnowwithoutSara,and,eventhoughIamin collegenow,IwillneverlettherelationshipIhavewithherleavemylife. Iambeyondgrateful and blessed to have found this organization, and most importantly, Sara Waterman, my best buddy and my best friend. - Jacuilyn Adair Best Buddies is a program that was established to create inclusion in schools by creating friendships with peers with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The Plano West chapter encourages peers and buddies to interact outside of school twice a month, attend monthly chapter events such as holiday parties and a special prom, and socialize in the community. Best Buddies is about transforming the world we live in today into a world where people with disabilities are included, accepted, and respected. Maria, my buddy with Down syndrome, and I go to lunch, shop at the mall, swim, and go to concerts just like any other group of friends would. In addition to encouraging friendships, Best Buddies also aids individuals with IDD by teaching them leadership and lifestyle skills necessary to enter the workforce. Being friends with Maria has changed my life because it taught me the true of value friendship and kindness. - Sarah Balis Sara and Jacuilyn Maria and Sarah