The Best Buddies College/University Program pairs students in post-secondary institutions with adults from the community with intellectual disabilities.

To be involved in the college/university program, people with intellectual disabilities must be receiving services from a local community agency.

How can you be involved in your chapter?

Peer buddies are students paired in a one-to-one friendship with a person who has an intellectual disability. Buddies are adults from the community with intellectual disabilities. Matches are made for at least one academic year.

Associate members are students who are part of the chapter but who are not paired in one-to-one friendships. Associate members can play support roles and help plan events. They can also participate in group events

A team also needs leaders. Willing students and staff members, along with Best Buddies Canada staff, work to make sure each chapter is running well.

The Campus Coordinator is a student who volunteers to run the program and recruit volunteers.

The Buddy Advocate is a person with an intellectual disability who is a member of a Best Buddies Chapter and who helps the Campus Coordinator manage the chapter by providing ideas and suggestions and listening to the ideas and concerns of other chapter members.

The Host Site Coordinator is a staff member from a community agency who works with individuals with intellectual disabilities. The HSC serves as a resource for students who need more information about intellectual disabilities and as a contact for the buddies if they have concerns.

The Staff Advisor is a teacher who assists students with volunteer recruitment and working with the school’s administration. This positional is optional.

Other optional Executive positions are open to students, and include activities coordinator, membership coordinator and fundraising coordinator.

How much work is involved in running a chapter?
Check out our chapter timeline.