The Department of Special Education (SED) prides itself in fostering the growth of committed educators at all stages of their professional careers to fight the shortage of special educators. To support this mission, SED founded the Best Buddies Scholarship for incoming freshmen looking to become Special Education Teachers and join ISU’s chapter of this organization. Students Kaida Valdez and Tyler Wilson are among the passionate, dedicated students to receive the first Best Buddies Scholarship Award for the 2024-2025 school year.
Best Buddies is an international organization which facilitates integrating people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) with their communities. K-12 schools and Universities commonly host chapters of the organization to foster connection and combat social isolation among their student population. Valdez and Wilson both participated in their High School chapters of Best Buddies prior to attending Illinois State University (ISU), leading them to pursue special education.
Valdez came to join her school’s chapter of Best Buddies during her junior year, which began her interest in becoming an educator. “I didn’t really know anything about special education when I started high school,” she admits. After gaining a close mentorship with her teacher and chapter advisor, she was convinced to pursue a career working with people with disabilities, “Her character had a big influence on me, so I just decided to join Best Buddies. At first it was just another club to be a part of, but it gave me an opportunity to meaningfully connect with new people that I would have never been introduced to.”
The program offered her the chance to connect with individuals she otherwise would not have met, broadening her perspective and shedding light on the often overlooked aspects of special education. By her senior year, Valdez served on her chapter’s executive board, coordinating events and promoting inclusivity across her school and community.
Unlike Valdez, Wilson knew he wanted to get involved before he ever attended a meeting, “At my K-8 school we had a class where general education students could work with students with disabilities, but it conflicted with my other classes,” he said. “However, after seeing my peers participating I just knew I would join Best Buddies my freshman year.”
Beginning high school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic made participating difficult. “Everything was modified because you couldn’t do everything in person, but as time went on, I just slowly got more involved and became more passionate.” By the end of his high school career, Wilson was fully committed to pursuing a career as a Special Education teacher.
“The biggest thing, the thing that I enjoyed the most was just seeing the impact I can make on people’s lives and building friendships,” he said. “Seeing that you can change someone’s life by just simply being a friend is something that had a great impact on me, and so I knew from being in Best Buddies that by going into special education I could continue to change lives through working with and teaching individuals with disabilities.”
Valdez had a similar experience in deciding to pursue a career in special education. As a board member for her Best Buddies chapter, she found passion and purpose leading the organization, “I got to make my community a more inclusive place for everyone, and I got to see the thinking behind making that inclusivity happen, all the things we have to consider. It was such a great opportunity to be one of many minds coming together to work for other people. I think that’s why I picked special education, to be an advocate for other people.”
“There’s no light shed on special education and how we should connect people with their community without a stigma around it,” Valdez said. “In many schools and communities, special education is such a small part of the education conversation, and it is stigmatized. Becoming a teacher is a way for me to also be an advocate for breaking down these negative thoughts about special education and people with disabilities.”
Wilson’s first-hand experience connecting with Best Buddies similarly broke down stigmas and barriers separating people with disabilities and the rest of their community. “Interacting with individuals with disabilities can be uncomfortable for many, but embracing that discomfort opens your eyes and mind to new perspectives,” he explains. “I realized that having an open mind and willing to take on new ideas and interact with different people is a lifelong skill. Going into special education, I want to put that skill toward supporting others and helping improve their lives by working with people and communities.”
Both students connected with SED at ISU through their Best Buddies chapters. Wilson’s school hosted a series of leadership training, one of which was sponsored by SED faculty and staff, “I was able to learn about the field of special education and the history of disability rights in our society,” he said. “ISU staff gave a presentation about their special education programs and how to connect with the Best Buddies chapter on campus. That’s when I learned about the scholarship. I applied and ultimately got it, which was just wonderful.”
Valdez was connected with the scholarship through her connection with her chapter. Knowing she wanted to attend Illinois State after being taught by College of Education alumni at her school, she collaborated with her Best Buddies advisor, who supported her in applying for several scholarships and enriching experiences, including ISU’s own RSO.
“I just stumbled across the scholarship application as I was signing up for Best Buddies, and applied on a whim, and I was just so happy to see that other people were recognizing this amazing organization that I love,” she said. “I got the acceptance letter in the mail later, and I couldn’t believe I had won! It was such a rewarding and exciting feeling to be recognized for something I care so much about.”
She also noted the importance of her teacher and chapter advisor, who supported her in the college admissions process as the first in her family to attend college, “She is just amazing. without her, I wouldn’t be in college.”
The pair are each enjoying their first semester at Illinois State, with Wilson saying, “All the staff, all professors and all the RSO’s that are here are just great at keeping you involved and making you feel at home. SED at ISU really is a community.”
“The professors have been great to work with, which I’m so grateful for,” said Valdez. “Going into special education can be very difficult, but also very rewarding, and these instructors are preparing us to have a strong mind and passion to do the job.”
As Kaida and Tyler continue their studies at Illinois State, they remain passionate members of Best Buddies and are building their skills as future special education teachers to continue advocating for inclusion and community.
Current or incoming ISU students can get involved with Best Buddies through Redbird Life.
