Special Olympics and Best Buddies Celebrate 6th Annual Spread the Word to End the Word® Day on March 5th

Washington, D.C. – 5 March 2014 – Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and supporters from around the world will unite today on the sixth Spread the Word to End the Word® day to continue building awareness for society to stop and think about its use of the R-word and rally people around the world to pledge respect toward all individuals, making the world a more accepting and inclusive place for all people, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

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Special Olympics and Best Buddies Congressional Briefing: Combating Bullying Against Those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Where:
Longworth House Office Building, Room 1539, Washington, D.C.

When:
Friday, June 28, from 12:30 to 1:30

We invite you to join us for an important briefing by Special Olympics and Best Buddies on addressing bullying of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in six children have a developmental disability. This briefing will highlight the important work that is being done to raise awareness about a significant issue facing some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“It Starts With A Voice”

Amy & Ben Wright

Amy and Ben Wright will be performing at the Leadership Conference this year.  Their two youngest children, Beau, age 7, and Bitty, age 2, have Down Syndrome.  Since their arrival, Amy and Ben have made it their mission to advocate for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and to help spread a message of inclusion and acceptance.

Best Buddies – Truly Rewarding on so Many Levels

Sometimes you participate in a group or an event because you “have to,” but then there are those rare times that you participate in something because you really want to – for me this can easily be said about my experience with Best Buddies. This sentiment is equally shared by my wife Julia and my boys, Nick and Anthony.

Ashlee Coffman: Exceeding All Expectations

Ashlee Coffman joined Best Buddies her freshman year at Corona del Sol High School. Since then she continues to participate as Best Buddies Arizona Buddy Ambassador, a role she has held since 2009. Her a sweet, caring demeanor, and steadfast determination to overcome any and every obstacle. This makes her an inspiration to all!

Every Step Counts

The Best Buddies Friendship Walk kicked off its 2012 season in Arizona. With close to 900 walkers showing up in support of our mission, they raised almost $50,000 in their first year. While the numbers were impressive, the stories were what made this event extraordinary.

Best Buddies Ambassadors

Every buddy needs a voice.

Growing up in Michigan suburbia, my mother was always the biggest advocate for my brother Ryan, a talented man with Down Syndrome.  This is a common story for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: society treats them unfairly and their parents fight the seemingly neverending battle for equal opportunities for education, independent living, integrated employment, accessible transportation, and the list goes on. Think of the possibilities for change, though, when parents get a new ally, a more powerful ally, a louder ally.