Best Buddies Webinar with Autism NOW June 2, 2011

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e-Buddies

FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY



Liz Smith - Deputy Director, e-Buddies

Best Buddies International

PRESENTED BY



Mission: To establish a global volunteer movement that creates

opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadershipdevelopment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989

International Non-Profit Presence in all 50 states and 50 countries

Participants

Students and adults with and without IDD Participants with IDD ± Autism, Intellectual

Disability, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, etc.

BEST BUDDIES OVERVIEW

Social inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities



STATE OFFICES

Arizona

California

Connecticut Delaware

Florida

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana Iowa

Kentucky

Maryland

Massachusetts

Nevada

New York Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Texas

Utah Virginia

Wisconsin

INTERNATIONAL OFFICES

Australia

Argentina

Canada

Colombia

Cuba Curaçao

Denmark

Ecuador

Egypt

England

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Ghana

Guatemala

Honduras

Hong Kong

Iceland

India

Ireland

Israel

Jordan

Kenya Korea

Lebanon

Malaysia

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Pakistan

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Qatar

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Singapore

Spain

St Kits &

Nevis Sweden

Tanzania

Thailand

Turkey

United ArabEmirates

Venezuela

Vietnam




Friendship (one-to-one)

Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges

Citizens e-Buddies

Integrated Employment

Boston, Los Angeles, Miami

Leadership Development

Ambassadors


Programs



Participants with IDD Inclusion

Social skills

Self-advocacy

Higher self-esteem and confidence

Participants without IDD Greater acceptance

Special education careers

Generational effect Society

More inclusive and accepting


Outcomes



One-to-one e-mail friendships

A person with IDD is matched in an e-mail

friendship with someone without IDD in another

state

E-mails exchanged weekly

Started in 1999

Ted Leonsis Foundation

E-BUDDIES

E-mail pen pal program for people with IDD



Age: 10 and up

Setting: e-Buddies can be included in a classroom

curriculum or done at home Commitment: matched e-Buddies are asked to e-

mail each other once a week

Cost: e-Buddies is always free for people with

intellectual and developmental disabilities

E-BUDDIES

E-mail pen pal program for people with IDD



Computers/Internet are a part of society

Keeping in touch with friends/family

Getting a job Entertainment

Independence

Confidence

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER EDUCATION



Cost

Literacy

Relevance

*Survey conducted by the FCC about internet use in 2009

OBSTACLES OF GETTING ONLINE*



Education e-Buddies can help participants develop skills in

the following areas:

� Computer skills� Communication skills

� Reading and writing skills

� Social skills

Motivation

IEP Benchmarks

Easy to add to any curriculum

THE BENEFITS OF E-BUDDIES



Safety

All applicants are screened

� References

� Background checks

All communication is via our E-mail System

All participants are matched in different states

� In person meetings are not allowed




Comfortable place to communicate

Social anxiety that accompanies in-personcommunication is not relevant for e-mail

friendships Participants can communicate at their own

pace

Fun!

e-Buddies get to make a new friend withsomeone they would likely have never met




Joining e-Buddies

To join all participants fill out the online

application at www.ebuddies.org

Each person needs an e-mail address and

contact information for three references

Parental consent is needed for underage

applicants

HOW E-BUDDIES WORKS



HOW E-BUDDIES WORKS

www.ebuddies.org



Application Process

Can take 1-3 weeks

After references respond and screening

completed, applicant is approved

Matching Process

Once approved, staff begin working to find amatch

e-Buddies are matched based on age, gender and similar interests

HOW E-BUDDIES WORKS



E-mail System

Filters out personal identifying information

(phone number, address, etc.)

Filters out vulgar language

Let¶s users participate without giving their real

e-mail address to their e-Buddies

Automatic reminders are sent after 15 and 22days without e-mailing

HOW E-BUDDIES WORKS



E-MAIL S YSTEM

[email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

Both participants send and receive e-mails to/from

[email protected]. The E-mail System recognizes the e-

mail addresses and forwards to the appropriate e-Buddy.

HOW E-BUDDIES WORKS



Group applications available

Shorter applications for each participant

Group profiles created that allow you to:� View your group's roster

� Add new participants to the group

� Track and read e-mail exchanges between

participants

HOW E-BUDDIES WORKS

Groups for classes or agencies



GROUP ADMINISTRATION

Managing e-BuddiesMembers



Safe

Fun

Easy Free

JOIN E-BUDDIES!



Liz Smith

Deputy Director, e-Buddies

[email protected]

www.ebuddies.org

www.bestbuddies.org

QUESTIONS

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Best Buddies Webinar with Autism NOW June 2, 2011

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