Student Spotlight: Meet Alex!

Two images of Alex smiling; the Best Buddies logo is at the bottom of the image

Best Buddies is a “nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” I have been involved with Best Buddies for over 7 years now and my experience so far has been amazing. I have had the opportunity to do a lot of fun things and I am an ambassador and intern now which have helped me develop my leadership, public speaking, and self-advocacy skills over the past few years.

In 2018, I had the opportunity to speak at Oakhurst Country Club Golf Course in Grove City Ohio in 2018. I also got the opportunity to go to Bloomington, Indiana for a weekend at the end of July 2018 for a Best Buddies Leadership Conference to be on the Ambassador’s Track. I got to give a keynote speech at the Gala in 2018. I also got to lead a webinar called Spread the Word to End the Word. I also got to speak at the Miranova 2 Ohio Equities in the fall of 2018.

In May of 2019, I got to speak at The Ohio State House. I got to testify. At the beginning of the school year in 2019, I got to speak at the Best Buddies Information Session to people who wanted to join Best Buddies that are new. As an Ambassador, I have participated in Champion of the Year, which is a contest to see who can raise the most money for Best Buddies, for the past three years.

Being part of Best Buddies led to an internship. I intern virtually and write about what I do for Best Buddies, get more people involved with Best Buddies, and assist with developing their newsletter. I love that Best Buddies has allowed me the opportunity to build on and learn new skills, make and create new friendships that last a lifetime, get more involved in my community.

-Written by Alex Rogers, TOPS Student

Source: “About (Ohio).” Best Buddies International, 26 Oct. 2020, www.bestbuddies.org/ohio/about.

International Day of People with Disabilities

Today we celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities!

Tan background image with a white logo for the International Day of People with Disabilities; under the logo are the letters I, D, P, W, D, with the sign language symbol for each letter represented next to them. The bottom of the image has the date "December 3, 2020" and the quote "Not all disabilities are visible" written in white text.

We are proud of how far we have come in the last 10 years to advance inclusive opportunities for our students. It is our passion to help students with disabilities achieve their dreams of independence and inclusion. Our students enjoy engaging in inclusive Ohio State academic coursework and work experiences while developing independent living and self-advocacy skills and participating in campus and community organizations, social activities and events.

THEN (2010-11)

NOW (2019-20)

  • 8 internship opportunities
  • 53 unpaid internship opportunities
  • 21 paid student employment and
    internship positions
  • Average pay: $8.43/hour
  • Average pay: $12.43/hour
  • Average work hours: 20/week
  • Average work hours: 25.8/week
  • 58% graduates
    competitively employed
  • 79% graduates
    competitively employed
  • 7 courses in 5 departments
  •  Over 150 courses in over 40 departments
  • 13 peer mentors
  •  56 peer mentors
  •  No on-campus living options
  • On-campus living options at
    University Village and Residence Halls

Ohio is home to 1.6 million people with disabilities. It is vital that we continue to celebrate and embrace our differences with empathy and understanding as well as remove barriers for individuals with disabilities to fully participate and be included in our society.

To learn more about the International Day of People with Disabilities, please visit https://idpwd.org/

Image Source: https://idpwd.org/