Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization’s five key mission pillars. The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD.
BESTBUDDIES® Ambassadors
Offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces and government.
BESTBUDDIES® Promoters
Empowers youth to become advocates for people with IDD and help open new Best Buddies chapters and programs by organizing special events that promote awareness to the disability rights movement.
BESTBUDDIES® Transitions
Offers a combination of classroom-based training, experiential learning, and corporate mentorship to help students with IDD explore post-secondary options, prepare for independent living, and identify career ambitions. Workshops and activities offer experiences that aid youth with IDD in their transition into adulthood.
How the Ambassadors Program Works
How the Promoters Program Works
How the Transitions Program Works
Connecticut Chapter Listing
Elementary Schools 
Middle Schools
High Schools 
Colleges To join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
- Bradley School (Derby, CT)
API address [ 155 David Humphrey Road, Derby, CT, 06418, US, null, null, 41.31837549999999, -73.0636377, null]
- Doolittle School (Cheshire, CT)
API address [ 735 Cornwall Ave, Cheshire, CT, 06410, US, null, null, 41.4984538, -72.9237492, null]
- Eli Whitney School (Enfield, CT)
API address [ 94 Middle St, Enfield, CT, 06082, US, null, null, 41.6667996, -72.9222631, null]
- Irving School (Derby, CT)
API address [ 9 Garden Pl, Derby, CT, 06418, US, null, null, 41.3277057, -73.0881101, null]
- Mead Elementary School (Ansonia, CT)
API address [ 75 Ford St, Ansonia, CT, 06401, US, null, null, 41.3376107, -73.0507978, null]
- Moody School (Middletown, CT)
API address [ 300 Country Club Rd, Middletown, CT, 06457, US, null, null, 41.5638231, -72.7120319, null]
- Norton School (Cheshire, CT)
API address [ 414 North Brooksvale Road, Cheshire, CT, 06410, US, null, null, 41.4794835, -72.9183724, null]
- Perry Hill School (Shelton, CT)
API address [ 60 Perry Hill Rd, Shelton, CT, 06484-6038, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Prendergast Elementary School (Ansonia, CT)
API address [ 59 Finney St, Ansonia, CT, 06401, US, null, null, 41.3326407, -73.0595108, null]
- Sweeney School (Windham, CT)
API address [ 60 Oak Hill Drive, Windham, CT, 06226, US, null, null, 41.72517939999999, -72.2285547, null]
- Vance Elementary School (New Britain, CT)
API address [ 183 Vance Street, New Britain, CT, 06052, US, null, null, 41.6542926, -72.7931985, null]
Middle Schools
- Ansonia Middle School (Ansonia, CT)
API address [ 115 Howard Ave, Ansonia, CT, 06401-2220, US, null, null, 41.3412912, -73.0846724, null]
- Cross Street Intermediate (Naugatuck, CT)
API address [ 120 Cross Street, Naugatuck, CT, 06770, US, null, null, 41.4710159, -73.0435485, null]
- Dag Hammarskjold Middle School (Wallingford, CT)
API address [ 106 Pond Hill Rd, Wallingford, CT, 06492, US, null, null, 41.434875, -72.8182945, null]
- Derby Middle School (Derby, CT)
API address [ 73 Chatfield St, Derby, CT, 06418, US, null, null, 41.3341187, -73.0991043, null]
- Dodd Middle School (Cheshire, CT)
API address [ 100 Park Pl, Cheshire, CT, 06410-2145, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Hillcrest Middle School (Trumbull, CT)
API address [ 530 Daniels Farm Rd, Trumbull, CT, 06611-5547, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- John F. Kennedy Middle School (Enfield, CT)
API address [ 155 Raffia Rd, Enfield, CT, 06082-5691, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- John F. Kennedy Middle School (Southington, CT)
API address [ 1071 S Main St, Southington, CT, 06479-1672, US, null, null, 41.5779336, -72.8937557, null]
- Nathan Hale Ray Middle School (East Haddam, CT)
API address [ 73 Clark Gates Rd, East Haddam, CT, 06469, US, null, null, 41.519975, -72.4450005, null]
- Seymour Middle School (Seymour, CT)
API address [ 211 Mountain Rd, Seymour, CT, 06483-2339, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Shelton Intermediate School (Shelton, CT)
API address [ 675 Constitution Blvd N, Shelton, CT, 06484-6304, US, null, null, null, null, null]
High Schools
- Ansonia High School (Ansonia, CT)
API address [ 20 Pulaski Hwy, Ansonia, CT, 06401, US, null, null, 41.3266921, -73.0654308, null]
- Brookfield High School (Brookfield, CT)
API address [ 45 Long Meadow Hill Rd, Brookfield, CT, 06804-1311, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Cheshire High School (Cheshire, CT)
API address [ 525 S Main St, Cheshire, CT, 06410-3198, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Coventry High School (Coventry, CT)
API address [ 78 Ripley Hill Rd, Coventry, CT, 06238-1630, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Crosby High School (Waterbury, CT)
API address [ 300 Pierpont Rd, Waterbury, CT, 06705, US, null, null, 41.5477546, -72.9739097, null]
- Darien High School (Darien, CT)
API address [ 80 High School Ln, Darien, CT, 06820-3331, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Derby High School (Derby, CT)
API address [ 75 Chatfield St, Derby, CT, 06418, US, null, null, 41.3336597, -73.0979851, null]
- East Lyme High School (East Lyme, CT)
API address [ 30 Chesterfield Rd, East Lyme, CT, 06333-1201, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Edwin O. Smith High School (Mansfield, CT)
API address [ 1235 Storrs Rd, Mansfield, CT, 06268-2244, US, null, null, 41.8026713, -72.24414019999999, null]
- Ellington High School (Ellington, CT)
API address [ 37 Maple St, Ellington, CT, 06029, US, null, null, 41.91001200206114, -72.46211696996453, null]
- Enfield High School (Enfield, CT)
API address [ 1264 Enfield St, Enfield, CT, 06082-4947, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Fairfield Ludlowe High School (Fairfield, CT)
API address [ 785 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824-5061, US, null, null, 41.1489593, -73.2627143, null]
- Fairfield Warde High School (Fairfield, CT)
API address [ 755 Melville Ave, Fairfield, CT, 06825-2050, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Glastonbury High School (Glastonbury, CT)
API address [ 330 Hubbard St, Glastonbury, CT, 06033-3047, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Granby Memorial High School (Granby, CT)
API address [ 315 Salmon Brook St, Granby, CT, 06035-1834, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Joel Barlow High School (Redding, CT)
API address [ 100 Black Rock Tpke, Redding, CT, 06896-3000, US, null, null, 41.3005145, -73.33927609999999, null]
- Lakeview High School (Litchfield, CT)
API address [ 86 Wamogo Road, Litchfield, CT, 06759, US, null, null, 41.7267116, -73.2246255, null]
- Lyman Hall High School (Wallingford, CT)
API address [ 70 Pond Hill Rd, Wallingford, CT, 06492-4849, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Nathan Hale-Ray High School (East Haddam, CT)
API address [ 15 School Road, East Haddam, CT, 06469, United States, null, null, 41.4939554, -72.4409711, null]
- Newtown High School (Newtown, CT)
API address [ 12 Berkshire Rd, Newtown, CT, 06482-1321, US, null, null, 41.4099636, -73.27110259999999, null]
- North Haven High School (North Haven, CT)
API address [ 221 Elm St, North Haven, CT, 06473-3251, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Oxford High School (Oxford, CT)
API address [ 61 Quaker Farms Rd, Oxford, CT, 06478-2736, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Pomperaug High School (Southbury, CT)
API address [ 234 Judd Rd, Southbury, CT, 06488-1920, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Sacred Heart School Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
API address [ 1177 King Street, Greenwich, CT, 06831, US, null, null, 41.0658757, -73.69230329999999, null]
- Seymour High School (Seymour, CT)
API address [ 2 Botsford Rd, Seymour, CT, 06483-2373, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Shelton High School (Shelton, CT)
API address [ 120 Meadow St, Shelton, CT, 06484-2276, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Simsbury High School (Simsbury, CT)
API address [ 34 Farms Village Rd, Simsbury, CT, 06070-2344, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Southington High School (Southington, CT)
API address [ 720 Pleasant St, Southington, CT, 06489-2713, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Staples High School (Westport, CT)
API address [ 70 North Ave, Westport, CT, 06880-2720, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Trumbull High School (Trumbull, CT)
API address [ 72 Strobel Rd, Trumbull, CT, 06611-5510, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Waterford High School (Waterford, CT)
API address [ 20 Rope Ferry Rd, Waterford, CT, 06385, US, null, null, 41.339537, -72.128648, null]
- Watertown High School (Watertown, CT)
API address [ 324 French St, Watertown, CT, 06795-2929, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Westhill High School (Stamford, CT)
API address [ 125 Roxbury Rd, Stamford, CT, 06902-1215, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Woodland Regional High School (Beacon Falls, CT)
API address [ 135 Back Rimmon Rd, Beacon Falls, CT, 06403-1025, US, null, null, null, null, null]
Colleges
- Central Connecticut State University (New Britain, CT)
API address [ 1615 Stanley St, New Britain, CT, 06051-2439, US, null, null, 41.6907573, -72.77097719999999, null]
- Eastern Connecticut State University (Windham, CT)
API address [ Communication Building, Windham, CT, 06226-2211, US, null, null, 41.7209067, -72.21838149999999, null]
- Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT)
API address [ 1073 N Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824-5171, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT)
API address [ 275 Mt Carmel Ave, Hamden, CT, 06518-1905, US, null, null, 41.4197818, -72.8915502, null]
- Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT)
API address [ 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield, CT, 06825-1090, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT)
API address [ 501 Crescent St, New Haven, CT, 06515-1330, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- Trinity College (Hartford, CT)
API address [ 300 Summit St, Hartford, CT, 06106-3100, US, null, null, null, null, null]
- University of Connecticut (Mansfield, CT)
API address [ Charles B. Gentry Bldg, Mansfield, CT, 06269-9005, US, null, null, 41.8085708, -72.25387909999999, null]
- University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT)
API address [ Beatrice Fox Auerbach Hall, West Hartford, CT, 06117-1545, US, null, null, 41.7949001, -72.7157659, null]
Citizens
- Connecticut Citizens (New Britain, CT)
API address [ 74 Vine St, New Britain, CT, 06052, US, null, null, 41.6634723, -72.7937101, null]
- East of the River Transition Academy (Colchester, CT)
API address [ 119 Lebanon Avenue, Colchester, CT, 06415, US, null, null, 41.5784984, -72.32893270000001, null]
- F.R.I.E.N.D of Oxford CT Citizens at Quarry Walk (Oxford, CT)
API address [ 220 Main St, Oxford, CT, 06478, US, null, null, 41.4243838, -73.10703790000001, null]
- New Britain Senior Center Citizens (New Britain, CT)
API address [ 55 Pearl St, New Britain, CT, 06051, US, null, null, 41.6628145, -72.77760479999999, null]
- Pfizer Connecticut Citizens (North Haven, CT)
API address [ null, North Haven, CT, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.
