The Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009

I was delighted to get an e-mail from the Best Buddies organization last week about a bill in the U.S. Senate -- S.694, The Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009 -- that would provide funding for this program that fosters friendships between people with intellectual disabilities and non-disabled peers. My name was on the mailing list because I had inquired in the past about bringing Best Buddies to my home state, which has no program at present. When I heard about the huge amount I'd have to fundraise to get an office opened in our area, I put the idea in my "What I'd do if I had unlimited time and a lot better people skills" folder and regretfully moved on. But according to last week's e-mail, if the bill becomes law, the funding it provides could help establish Best Buddies in states like mine that are currently unserved, without that huge fundraising requirement. As requested, I contacted my senators about the bill; if your state is Best Buddies-less, urge your own lawmakers to add their names as co-sponsors, too. You can get contact information from the U.S. Senate site.