Best buddies in pennsylvania inclusion project for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities for school-based programs that promote inclusion, leadership development, and friendship

This $125,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, under the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (CFDA 84.215) program, will fund the Best Buddies in Pennsylvania Inclusion Project. This initiative supports school-based programs that promote inclusion, leadership development, and friendship for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The grant will be used to establish meaningful one-to-one friendships, provide pre-employment training, and develop leadership skills for individuals with disabilities across Pennsylvania from July 2024 through June 2026. As a non-profit organization focused on creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Best Buddies International, Inc. will deliver these services to the target population in the Miami, FL area.