In Ann Arbor and across Washtenaw County, a growing community initiative is working to bring people together through friendship. Best Buddies Michigan, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is currently seeking more volunteers to help meet increasing demand in its local Citizens program.
Lydia Goff is the Lead Program Manager of Best Buddies Michigan. She has been in the role for almost 2 years.
According to Goff, the organization’s Washtenaw County Citizens chapter has expanded quickly since it launched about 1.5 years ago. With that growth has come a new challenge: a waiting list of adults with IDD who are hoping to be matched with volunteers.
“Since its inception a year and a half ago, our Washtenaw County Citizens chapter has grown significantly, and we are now seeing a growing waitlist of adults with IDD eager to be matched with a volunteer in a one-to-one friendship,” Goff said. “That is why we are actively recruiting volunteers—to meet this demand and continue building our inclusive community.”
How the citizens program works
The Citizens program focuses on adults who are past college age and looking to maintain meaningful social connections. Participants with IDD—referred to as “buddies”—are paired with volunteers based on shared interests, availability, and similar age.
“Our Best Buddies Citizens chapter in Washtenaw County is an adult friendship program for post-college-aged adults with and without IDD in the Ann Arbor area,” Goff said. “Volunteers without IDD come from a variety of backgrounds, including professionals and retirees, and are paired in a one-to-one friendship with a buddy based on similar age, availability, and interests.”
Once matched, the pair is encouraged to stay in regular contact and spend time together each month. The chapter also organizes group activities in the Ann Arbor area, such as bowling, movie nights, meals out and nature walks.
“These activities provide opportunities for buddies and volunteers to connect, socialize and build friendships beyond their one-to-one pairings,” Goff said.
Addressing social isolation
For many adults with IDD, the transition to adulthood can be particularly isolating. While support systems exist during school years, they often become more limited after age 26.
“After that, opportunities for social programming and community engagement become much more limited, which can lead to increased social isolation,” Goff said. “The Best Buddies Citizens program helps fill this gap by providing adults with IDD a social community, fun group events to look forward to, and the opportunity to be paired one-to-one with another adult who shares similar interests.”
Volunteers make the difference
The program’s greatest need right now is simple: more volunteers willing to commit to friendship.
“The primary need in Washtenaw County is for more volunteers willing to commit to a one-to-one friendship with a buddy,” Goff said. “The commitment is very flexible and simply involves adding another friend to your life.”
Volunteers typically spend about three to five hours per month participating in chapter events, meeting with their buddy or staying in touch through text, email or video calls.
“The people who make great volunteers for the Citizens program are open-minded, patient and kind—someone who is excited to build a meaningful connection and invest in friendship,” Goff said. “Volunteering with Best Buddies is incredibly rewarding, and you truly get out of it what you put in.”
Friendships that go beyond the program
Over time, these friendships can become deeply meaningful relationships that extend far beyond casual meetups. Goff shared several examples from across Michigan that demonstrate the program’s impact.
“For example, one volunteer was a bridesmaid in her buddy’s wedding, another invited her buddy to her baby shower, and another involved her entire family in creating a memorable Christmas gift delivery for her buddy,” Goff said. “These stories really illustrate how the friendships go beyond casual hangouts—they create lasting, meaningful connections for everyone involved.”
Other ways to get involved
Beyond one-to-one friendships, volunteers can support the organization in several other ways, including helping start new chapters at schools or supporting employment initiatives that connect adults with IDD to jobs. The organization also hosts statewide events that celebrate its mission.
“We also have our statewide Friendship Walk coming up on April 26 at the Detroit Zoo, a fun, family-friendly and free event that celebrates our inclusive movement,” Goff said.
Strengthening the community
Goff believes the program aligns closely with the values of the Ann Arbor community.
“Ann Arbor is a city that deeply values community, belonging, and inclusion,” she said. “By building inclusive friendships through the Best Buddies Citizens program, we bring those values to life — creating meaningful connections between adults with and without IDD, reducing social isolation and fostering a culture of acceptance.”
How to become a volunteer
For those interested in volunteering, the first step is to complete an online membership application. After that, applicants go through a background check, a phone screening and an onboarding process designed to help volunteers build respectful and meaningful friendships.
“Forming friendships as an adult can be challenging for anyone, so by getting involved, you’ll also experience the positive impact these connections can bring to your own life,” Goff said.
As the Washtenaw County chapter continues to grow, organizers hope more community members will step forward to help expand opportunities for connection.
“Inclusive friendships help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and feel valued in their community,” Goff said. “And what better place to do that than in Ann Arbor?”
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
