As people transition into high school, an incredibly social place, friendships are essential. Community is one of the most important parts of Perry Meridian High School, and the Best Buddies club implements just that.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization set out to assist those with special needs. They provide “housing, jobs, and assisting families of those with IDD [Intellectual Developmental Disabilities],” senior Abigail Miller who is the club’s president said. PMHS supports this organization by taking ownership in part of the efforts to raise money for the cause, while also “promoting friendships between those with and without disabilities,” Miller said. 

Best Buddies does this through “team-building games or activities” and “healthy competitions too”, Miller said. Many of the events hosted by this club are direct fundraisers for the nonprofit, such as the Friendship Walk that will be hosted in April. “We go on a big walk at White River State Park, […] talking and making new friends from other schools,” said Miller. “There are fun games and they often host a dance party.” Best Buddies also supports other organizations through events here at Perry, such as the “polar plunge” hosted schoolwide being used as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. 

However, many of these events cannot be hosted without a leader. Miller has been with Best Buddies since seventh grade, so she is currently in her sixth year of devotion to this community. Miller has known individuals with disabilities since she was around three years old, when her cousin was born with “severe autism”. Her family was a big part of her upbringing as well since both of her mother and grandmother are speech therapists. Being accustomed to that inclusion is what drove her to be a part of such an inclusive community. “I joined so I could make new friends, and I stayed because I had made those connections,” Miller said. The unlikely friendships between “people who would have never even talked to each other before” is Miller’s favorite part of the club. “I love how some of our pairs have become actual really close friends,” said Miller. 

For example, the friendship between sophomore Phillip Haugh and Gabriel Durham is the closest bond Miller has seen in Best Buddies. Durham is a neurodivergent individual who has previously had challenges reaching out to strangers, but being in this club has brought him real friends who support him greatly. When Haugh found out about Durham’s upcoming birthday, he was not going to allow him to spend it alone. “[Haugh] did all the outreach for [Durham’s] party and asked if I wanted to go. [We] were his only friends there,” Miller said. Durham’s birthday was a success, with Miller saying, “It was so fun! I had a great time meeting his family and hanging out with them.” The community brought together for a birthday party to make someone’s day better was both powerful and inspiring. “Phillip has been his first real friend, and it’s the type of friendship I’m in awe of,” Miller said. 

Even with the community growing bigger, some more awareness still needs to be brought to Best Buddies. When asked what her biggest struggle is in her position, Miller said, “I struggle when people use wrong or harmful language. I have a hard time understanding where they’re coming from and their lack of knowledge [about Best Buddies] I guess.” Many people surrounding Miller still use the R-slur, and “only focus on their disabilities.” These ideas anger Miller, as she believes that our community should “stand up and speak out for those who can’t stand up or speak out against uneducated people”. As difficult as it is to navigate the world on a daily basis, Miller wants to make aspects of life easier for those who struggle with disabilities. “Not everything can be made for everyone, and understanding how we can adjust those things will make the world more inclusive overall,” Miller said. 

Connection is what makes us human, and without it, life is less colorful. Miller wishes to encourage more inclusion in Best Buddies and other special education programs to hopefully educate more people about “not focusing on the disabilities, but the abilities the person has already.” Anyone can join Best Buddies by Emailing Abigail Miller or Ms. Cooper directly, and “you should join because everyone needs a friend.”