“The most special experience is the look on each Buddy’s face as they sit together and visit. Our students have significant disabilities and behavioral issues and it’s not easy for a high school student to spend an hour sitting with a student who cannot talk or hear, but they do it well.”
Host Site Coordinator from Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, RI
“I was looking at the pictures from the last time we were at Mount and I was realizing how well some of our students are doing. Steven was sitting and laughing and talking with his Buddy and another student and he was really talking to them, not just using his usual script. Aaron, who is usually anxious, was very calm. Matthew’s IEP goal is to sustain a conversation for five minutes. At Best Buddies, he sustained a conversation with one of the students for twenty minutes!”
Host Site Coordinator from Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, RI
“The Buddies in Best Buddies do not care what you look like or where you come from; they don’t judge you. This is the reason why I love Best Buddies so much because the friendships that are formed are not ‘fake’ like some other friendships that people make; these friendships are real.”
Chapter President from Middletown High School, Middletown, RI
Nikki on her friendship with her Buddy: “Larry and I go way back, and as we have promised each other, we will go way forward as well. The most challenging part of this friendship is knowing that I will graduate in May and move somewhere where I will not be able to see Larry almost every week.”
Chapter Buddy Director from Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
