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Best Buddies
Welcome to Best Buddies 2011/2012!!!
If you joined us at Socs Day, please check on yourspace that you are signed up because a number of people did not enter the system correctly. If you didn't get forms but would like to get started, apply via Alive....
http://www.nuigalwaycki.ie
under 'people with special needs' you'll find the Best Buddies Programme! Fill in the form and a package will be sent out to you to get you started.Or...
look out for an email about an information night! :-)
The society aims to create a link with Ability West and work as a liaison, giving students the opportunity to work with young adults with intellectual disabilities. Ability West is a voluntary organisation based in Galway which provides a range of person- centred, high quality, community-based services to people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Ability West will be running a programme labelled 'Best Buddies', which is an American programme founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989. This programme will give people a chance to befriend a person with an intellectual disability.
If you are matched with a buddy, you commit to meeting with them up to twice a month, and making contact with them once a week, either by text, email or giving them a call. You will undertake a training evening with Ability West here in the college to make sure you are well-informed. What you do with you buddy is up to you - cinema, shopping, bowling, going for luch or a coffee..all the usual things you do with your friends! We also organise a group activity once a month, where all the college students and buddies can come together for an evening of fun, so we can all get to know eachother. Highlights of the year include the christmas party and the Best Buddies Ball in May - a formal event enjoyed by everyone.
However in relation to the society, it is not obligatory to commit to the programme and become a volunteer with Ability West , as the society's role is two-fold... to direct people who wish to volunteer in the direction of Ability West, and to raise awareness about disability around college through campaigns and events. These events can be undertaken by all members, such as speed-dating in the dark, 'Ban the R-Word' and information evenings among others. There will also be fundraisers for Ability West and other organisations and many social events, all with the ultimate goal of stripping away the connotations that lie on people about people with intellectual disabilities.
The society aims to give students an opportunity to get involved with Ability West and different programmes it offers, specifically 'Best Buddies'.This is important because 1 in 10 people have an intellectual disability. This society will give students an opportunity to understand what an intellectual disability is and help breakdown the existing barriers that may prevent them from meeting and getting involved in the life of a peer who has an intellectual disability. It also gives students an opportunity to promote equality.Garda vetting is undertaken by Ability West for students getting involved in programmes involving service-users with special needs.
The Irish Times have launched a microsite to follow up on the Monday EYV (European Year of Volunteering) supplement: http://www.irishtimes.com/society/eyv2011/. The microsite includes the content of the published supplement. However, the Times would like to add more content to the site during the month that it is online. They would like to add volunteer stories http://www.irishtimes.com/society/eyv2011/volunteers.html in particular. They are accepting completed written pieces to post online.
See Siun's write-up here:
Siún O'Rourke
WHEN SIÚN O’Rourke left Dublin to study psychology and Irish at NUI Galway, she worried that she would be isolated in her new home and quickly set about making connections.
“I thought voluntary work would be a good way of making friends so I made contact with the campus volunteering network and found Ability West. I have a sister with a learning disability so this is an area I feel comfortable with.”
Initially, O’Rourke did the occasional run into town with groups of young people with intellectual disabilities, taking them shopping or for coffee. Over the years, her involvement grew. Next year, she will take up the role of president of the Best Buddies Society in NUIG, a group that matches students with people with intellectual disabilities from the community for friendship and social activities.
“The Best Buddies Society has been very successful at NUIG,” says O’Rourke, who helped set it up last year. “Between here and GMIT we have 50 pairings this year.”
The pairing system is very important to people with disabilities, says O’Rourke. “At college, we take for granted things like going for a coffee in a group, sending and receiving texts from friends, going to the cinema with someone other than a family member. For someone with an intellectual disability, it can be difficult to make the connections necessary for these kinds of activities. They see their brothers and sisters going off with friends or hanging out on campus, and they would love to have their own social scene.”
Part of the reason why Best Buddies has been so successful is because it places relatively slight demands on the volunteers. “All we ask is that they meet up with their buddies once a fortnight, and get in contact by text or phone once a week. We provide a day’s training for volunteers to help them overcome any misgivings they may have and address issues such as safety.”
O’Rourke is now in the first year of a masters programme in Applied Behavioural Analysis and expects to continue working in the area of learning development.
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.