Resources by Topic >> Social Development

Little Friends for Peace empowers children to use non-violent conflict resolution to solve problems and create a culture of peace.

The Be ONE Project's interactive program for middle school students catches kids at the critical juncture when they acquire the power either to be part of the problem or part of the solution. The magic of The Be ONE Project is its cornerstone philosophy that peer pressure can be captured and reversed, so that students challenge each other to include rather than to exclude, and to support rather than discourage each other. During a fun-filled day of interactive games, The Be ONE Project builds bridges, opens lines of communication, and instills a sense of trust and community. The Be ONE Project challenges students to focus on their similarities and celebrate their differences.

The Be ONE Project's three-hour program of games, activities and guided discussions fosters empathy through shared experience. Students see that they share the same struggles, and begin to see each other for who they are inside and for the potential they hold.

The Be ONE Project creates Positive Peer Pressure - students holding each other accountable to be kind and inclusive - by cultivating empathy. Middle schoolers who learn to approach each other with empathy will choose to help each other reach their potential rather than tear each other down. They go on to become high schoolers who practice empathy, and those high schoolers go on to become adults who practice empathy, every day, with everyone they encounter.

Best Buddies Maryland offers a variety of Best Buddies International programs that create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

These programs include:

• Best Buddies Middle Schools - Best Buddies Middle Schools fosters one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive school climate for students early on in their educational development.
• Best Buddies High Schools - Best Buddies High Schools fosters one-to-one friendships between students with and without IDD. The high school years are a time of heightened social and emotional development and can be difficult even for those without IDD. Best Buddies High Schools helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person's life.
• Best Buddies Colleges - Best Buddies Colleges fosters one-to-one friendships between college students and adults with IDD and college students without IDD. Historically, adults with IDD have been isolated in home or work environments. Best Buddies Colleges is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in campus and community life.
• Best Buddies Citizens - Best Buddies Citizens fosters one-to-one friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.
• e-Buddies - e-Buddies provides a safe online forum to develop one-to-one friendships between people with and without IDD. Technology is an integral part of society and by participating in e-Buddies, participants can develop the skills necessary to be able to communicate using a variety of sources.
• Best Buddies Jobs - Best Buddies Jobs is a supported employment program that secures competitive paying jobs for people with IDD, therefore enabling them to work as respected individuals. The program develops partnerships with employers, assists with the hiring process, and provides ongoing support to the employee and employer.

e-Buddies is an e-mail pen pal program that provides opportunities for e-mail friendships between people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their peers who do not have IDD.

Each participant is matched in a one-to-one e-mail friendship, and matched pairs are asked to exchange e-mails once a week for at least one year. Matches are made based on similar age, gender, geography (i.e. participants will NOT be matched with someone from the same state/province), and shared interests.

e-Buddies is open to anyone with an e-mail address who is 10 years old and up. Participants with IDD can sign up individually, or in groups through a special education class or a support service agency. e-Buddies is ALWAYS free of charge for participants with IDD.

e-Buddies is a program of Best Buddies International.

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC) helps girls to promote diversity, gain practical life skills, and connect with their community through a variety of artistic, educational, and environmental events. Some of these events include:

• Photography expos
• College and career conferences
• Nature workshops

IEL builds the capacity of individuals, organizations, systems and communities to work together to prepare all children and youth for post-secondary education, careers, and citizenship.

Kids Included Together specializes in providing best practices training for community-based organizations committed to including children with and without disabilities into their recreational, child development and youth development programs.

LAYC provides multi-lingual, culturally sensitive programs in the following areas:

• Educational Enhancement
• Social Services
• Workforce Investment
• Community Wellness
• Art + Media
• Advocacy

MCES informs the community about hidden disabilities, including autism, epilepsy and sensory integration disorders, and brings together children with and without disabilities together in an educational, fun and safe environment.

Parent to Parent USA (P2PUSA) is an organization that offers programming and parent-to-parent support to families with children that have disabilities, special healthcare needs, or mental health needs.

P2P organizes a one-to-one match between an experienced support parent and a non-experienced parent. This “match” allows the experienced parent to provide emotional support, provide assistance with finding resources, information, services, etc. and allows the opportunity for the non-experienced parent to form relationships and connections in the community. After the match is made, P2P will follow up and provide support to ensure that the match achieves the P2P organization’s goals.

People with intellectual disabilities can benefit from individualized sexuality education. Information about how to make safe choices will leave them less vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, rape and other abuses. Providing people with positive, healthy sexuality messages encourages appropriate behavior and increases self-esteem.

Planned Parenthood of Maryland offers one-on-one sessions that are tailored to meet the needs of each client. Possible topics include:

• Boundaries
• Puberty
• Hygiene
• Public versus private behavior
• Anatomy
• Birth control
• Preventing sexually transmitted infections
• Dating and relationships

*All one-on-one clients must present a valid ID. There is fee of $50 per hour-long session.*

Riverview School, an independent coeducational boarding/day school, provides a caring community for adolescents and young adults with complex language, learning and cognitive disabilities. The School is committed to developing student competence and confidence in academic, social and independent living skills.

Spreading the Word's mission is to share information and build community.

Use it to reach out for volunteers or new employees, recruit co-sponsors and event partners or publicize new research. Don't miss your chance to get the word out about the great work of your organization! The best part: Spreading the Word is free! Submitting information doesn't cost a thing.

Please be sure to submit all information by the Tuesday of the week you want your information to run.

This webpage offers a series of educative articles, compiled by Five 9 Call Center Software, on hearing impairment and accessibility issues. These articles provide specific information about:

• The history of telecommunications devices
• Telephone relay services
• Using a TTY system
• Accessing 9-1-1 emergency services
• Ongoing efforts to improve telecommunication
• Overcoming isolation through social media
• Making distance learning courses more inclusive
• The challenges of communicating in the workplace
• Accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act

This webpage also offers informative resources related to hearing impairment. These resources include:

• Webpages devoted to deaf culture
• Reviews of assistive technology products
• A database of closed-captioned, educational DVDs

At Volunteers of America, we are more than a nonprofit organization. We are a ministry of service that includes nearly 16,000 paid, professional employees dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Through our hundreds of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America touches the lives of more than 2 million people in over 400 communities in 46 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico each year. Since 1896, we have supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including veterans, at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions. Our work touches the mind, body, heart — and ultimately the spirit — of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.

Those We Serve

• Children, Youth and Families
• Homeless People
• Older Adults
• People with Behavioral Health Issues
• People with Disabilities
• Veterans
• Formerly Incarcerated

Focus Areas

• Assistance with Basic Needs
• Community Outreach and Investment
• Correctional Re-Entry Services
• Housing
• Mental Health
• Senior Living and Care
• Substance Abuse

Are You Between The Ages Of 18-26 With A Disability Who Wants To Help Other People With Disabilities? Are You Looking For Services To Help You Solve Everyday Issues? Do You Want To Learn About Advocacy?

Come discuss issues that affect you and others like yourself. The DCCIL Youth Peer Support and Group will provide you with an outlet to talk about issues that not only affect you, but others with disabilities. Connect with others and make a difference together.