Best Buddies of LSU transformed the Union International Room on Monday night from a drab room with only chairs and tables into a Christmas extravaganza.
The evening’s activities included wreath decorating, a visit from Santa and lots of laughter.
Best Buddies is an international organization that pairs intellectually challenged individuals with people of average intelligence.
The organization’s goal is “to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment,” according to its Web site.
Kevin Carlisle, a biological sciences junior, is a volunteer for the organization. His buddy is Hardy Wood.
Carlisle said he knows they both benefit from the friendship but that he gets even more out of it than Wood.
“It’s kind of like when you would go to visit nursing homes in high school to make their [residents’] day, and they end up making your day,” he said.
Carlisle said his friendship with Wood demands a lot of his time, but he said it was worth it.
“We have to call once a week and do events like this twice a month,” he said. “The only regret I have is not spending more time with Hardy.”
Lively modern versions of old Christmas carols set the party’s mood. Santa asked the partygoers what they wanted for Christmas while intellectually challenged buddies greeted their college buddies with smiles and hugs.
Jeff Merlin, a biological sciences senior, is Best Buddies’ activities coordinator. He helped organize the party.
“It’s a great turnout,” he said. “It’s the people who make it happen.”
Patty Morgan was one of the intellectually challenged buddies at the party. With a smile on her face, she quickly told her favorite thing about Best Buddies.
“Meeting friends, being happy and joyful,” she said.
The Best Buddies Web site, www.bestbuddies.org, defines a person with an intellectual disability as “one who from childhood develops at a below average rate” and has “difficulty in learning and applying the skills needed for daily living.”
Testing methods to diagnose a person with an intellectual disability usually use an IQ range from 70 to 80 along with observing behavior.
A person of average intelligence and without a a mental disability should score 100 on most IQ tests, according to IQ Web sites.
Figures on the Best Buddies Web site estimated 14 million college students in the United States “make a difference in the lives of” 7.5 million people with intellectual disabilities.