Best Buddies Month - and Developmental Disabilities Awareness

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Best Buddies is a program that matches people with intellectual disabilities with volunteers for one-on-one friendships and employment integration. Best Buddies is a non-profit international organization, organized in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver. Through the organization, 350,000 disabled individuals are matched with buddies from Middle School, High School, colleges, International - in 34 countries, Citizens from the corporate and civic communities, and e-Buddies.

Any condition that impairs development of the brain before birth or during childhood can result in an intellectual disability. Three of the most common ones are fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Best Buddie, or start a program in your school, community or company, call 1.800.89. BUDDY. Be someone's buddy today & make the world a brighter place!

Thank you katiew for use of photo Dad's Birthday Dinner.