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Best Buddies

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). These 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.

Chaparral Best Buddies is in it's fifth year, and it includes typical peers in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, and it includes buddies (students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities) from all grades, K-6.

The Chaparral Best Buddies Mission Statement was developed and voted on by the 2023-2024 Chaparral Best Buddies: 

To Build our Leadership Skills by Promoting Inclusion, Having Fun, and Making Friends!  

Last School year was our fourth year as a Best Buddies chapter, and it was a very successful year.  In fact, our school is one of the most involved and active elementary Best Buddies chapters in the state!  Below are some of the  events/activities our chapter participated in last year:

  • Best Buddies Peers interacted with Buddies during lunch, recess, and choice time in the cross-categorical special education classrooms throughout the school year.
  • Best Buddies Peers interacted with Buddies during our Best Buddies Days, which included Get to know Each Other Activities, Kickball, Holiday Caroling and Celebration, Valentine's Dance Party, and an End of the Year Celebration! 
  • We attended the “Spread the Word Inclusion” Carnival at Higley High School! This was a field trip during the school day where our peers and buddies enjoyed time together playing carnival games and hanging out.
  • Some of our members participated in the Friendship Walk!
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Please visit https://www.bestbuddies.org/ to learn more about this great organization!

You may also contact Kristy Diamond, Chaparral Best Buddies Chapter Advisor: Kristine.diamond@husd.org, 480-279-9742.