Staying Connected

There are a lot of ways to stay connected to friends that have IDD that you were best buddies with. You could call, send letters, text, email, hang out or volunteer or work where they go to camps. If you are moving away, going to a different school, or its just summer vacation it is good to stay in touch.

Working over summer at a camp for a friend is a great. You get to spend a lot of time with them and meet more of their friends and make even more friends of your own.  I know it helped me get to know a lot of the people that were going to be in best buddies in the other schools around my area. It is very helpful to know their names and personalities before they get to school or when your friend is talking about them.

Texting and calling them can be a great way to stay in touch. It is a great quick and easy way to keep up on what they are doing. If they have their own phone this is the best way to go if you moved a long way away.  This is a nice way to not spend a long time to try to communicate with them.

Emailing is becoming more outdated but a lot of people with IDD can use it because their parents will allow it more than having a phone. This is a very effective method of communication with them because they can use it and it is relatively easy to use.

Hanging out with your friend with IDD is a great way to stay connected over summer or if you change schools and stay in the same area. If you move it becomes a lot more difficult but it can be done over breaks and when you come back to visit home.  You can do any activities you do with your other friends or invite them to come with you and your other friends to do things.

Sending letters is very outdated but believe it or not it brightens up their day. It is great to get a letter from someone just because. It shows that they are willing to put time and effort into trying to talk to you. It is also nice because they don’t get much mail of their own. It would make them feel special.