About e-Buddies

"My e-Buddy and me, we are learning that we are a lot a like. He might not have known an athlete like me before, but now I think he thinks of me like any other friend. And I am."
- Robert Plante, Special Olympics Athlete

Best Buddies International is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies has grown from one chapter on one college campus to a vibrant, international organization. Our programs today reach all 50 of the United States, and Best Buddies operates accredited international programs in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, England, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

What is e-Buddies?

e-Buddies is one of the six programs offered by Best Buddies. e-Buddies fulfills the mission of Best Buddies by facilitating e-mail friendships between children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their peers who do not have intellectual disabilities.

Individuals are matched in e-mail friendships based on age, gender, geography, and similar interests. e-Buddies never matches individuals that reside in the same state. We ask members to e-mail each other at least once a week.

e-Buddies provides individuals with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to develop new friendships while acquiring much needed computer skills. The benefits of that are immeasurable.

How e-Buddies Works

[ About Intellectual Disabilities ]

[ Frequently Asked Questions: What is e-Buddies? ]

[ e-Buddies Code of Conduct ]

[ Is e-Buddies Safe? ]

[ e-Buddies E-mail System ]

[ e-Buddies Group Administration Tool ]

Resources for e-Buddies Participants

[ Frequently Asked Questions for e-Buddies Participants ]

[ Online Tutorials: Getting Started with e-Buddies ]

[ Junk E-mail Filters ]

[ e-Buddies Computer Toolkit ]