Primary Services:

• Comprehensive Disability Related Employment Programs  [Show Definition Details]

  Description

  This program secures jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and continuously and independently support themselves. Matches skilled and qualified individuals with IDD with businesses seeking enthusiastic and dedicated employees. Through the Jobs program, Best Buddies develops partnerships with employers, assists with the hiring process and provides ongoing support to the employee and employer.

  Hours

  Mon-Fri 9:00AM-5:00PM

  Required Documents

  Online job interest form

  Eligibility

  People with intellectual and developmental disabilities

  Fees

  No Fees

  Intake Procedure

  Fill out online form to receive information on job opportunities

  Service Area

  Statewide

  Geography Served

  Rhode Island

  Telephone Numbers

  • Name:	Main Phone
    Number:	617-778-0522

    [Edit Service Details]

• Disability Rights Groups  [Show Definition Details]

  Description

  Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities. Programs Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

  Hours

  Mon-Fri 9:00AM-5:00PM; Event times vary

  Required Documents

  None

  Eligibility

  All

  Fees

  No Fees

  Intake Procedure

  Attend local event

  Service Area

  Statewide

  Geography Served

  Rhode Island

  Telephone Numbers

  • Name:	Main Phone
    Number:	617-778-0522

    [Edit Service Details]

• Leadership Development  [Show Definition Details]

  Description

  Best Buddies Leadership Development programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD. Leadership Ambassadors offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government. Leadership Promoters empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.

  Hours

  Mon-Fri 9:00AM-5:00PM

  Eligibility

  All

  Fees

  No Fees

  Intake Procedure

  Call

  Service Area

  Statewide

  Geography Served

  Rhode Island

    [Edit Service Details]

• Peer Role Model Programs  [Show Definition Details]

  Description

  Best Buddies Friendship programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy. They offer e-Buddies: a safe place online to develop one-to-one friendships between people with and without IDD. By joining e-Buddies, participants become more comfortable using technology to communicate with friends, gain computer literacy skills, and are better equipped to socialize online in the future.

  Hours

  Mon-Fri 9:00AM-5:00PM

  Eligibility

  Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers, College Students and Adults.

  Fees

  No Fees

  Intake Procedure

  Call

  Service Area

  Statewide

  Geography Served

  Rhode Island

    [Edit Service Details]