Launch Buddies Facilitator's Guide
How to start a creative media group where young adults with disabilities write, film, and share their own stories
Start a self-advocacy media group of your own
Launch Buddies Facilitator's Guide is a 49-page, step-by-step guide to starting a creative media group where young adults with disabilities write, film, and share their own stories. It is the playbook behind Launch Buddies Media, the Saturday studio in Bothell, Washington, whose self-advocacy videos are used in special education classrooms across the country. It is built on the My Keys to the Future transition curriculum, so every video connects to real IEP transition skills.
Price: $39. Read the free sneak peek on this page before you buy.
Who this guide is for
- Special education and transition teachers who want peer-made video models and a meaningful project for their students
- Adult transition programs, day programs, and community organizations serving young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Job coaches, speech-language pathologists, and parents who want to start a small studio group
Inside the 49-page guide
- Peer mentoring: how experienced members become Launch Leaders who welcome and coach new members
- The LAUNCH script formula: a six-part structure (Look and Launch, Amplify, Use a Story, New Idea, Connect and Challenge, Hope) that helps every member write a strong script in their own words
- A format for hard topics: my struggle, three things I learned, how it has gone, and a call to action
- A predictable session routine: welcome, the Key of the day, a mini-lesson, create, 2 Stars and 1 Wish feedback, and wrap-up
- Welcoming new members: a three-session welcome period and a caring way to handle "not ready yet"
- Studio setup and costs: a simple set you can build with a phone, a microphone and good light
- Privacy: how to protect members, with privacy forms
- Printable templates: script templates and more
Why creative media builds self-advocacy
Writing and filming a short video asks young adults to name what they know about themselves, organize their thoughts, practice speaking, and accept feedback. Those are the same skills they need in IEP meetings, job interviews, and community life. Seeing their finished video shared with others builds confidence that carries far beyond the studio.
Key terms, explained simply
- Self-advocacy: knowing yourself, knowing what you need, and speaking up for it.
- Peer mentoring: experienced members teaching and encouraging newer members. In Launch Buddies, mentors are called Launch Leaders.
- Video modeling: learning a skill by watching someone do it on video. Videos made by peers are often more motivating than videos made by adults.
- 2 Stars and 1 Wish: a kind feedback routine: two things that went well and one thing to try next time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need expensive equipment?
No. The guide shows how to start with a phone on a stand, a lapel microphone, and good light, and grow from there.
Can I see it before I buy?
Yes. Open the free sneak peek flipbook on this page.
How is it connected to the free Launch Buddies flipbook?
The free flipbook, Launch Buddies: Our Voices, Our Stories, shows the Buddies and their videos. The Facilitator's Guide is the detailed how-to for running a group of your own.
Who wrote it?
Barb Beck, M.Ed., the founder of Launch Buddies Media.
Related guides on the MyKey Bookshelf
- Launch Buddies: Our Voices, Our Stories: free flipbook of self-advocacy videos
- My Keys to the Future: 14-Key IEP transition curriculum
- IEP Planner by MyKey: student IEP meeting prep
About the author
Barb Beck, M.Ed., is a special education transition specialist who has walked beside young adults with disabilities and their families since 1992. She is the author of the My Keys to the Future transition curriculum and the founder of MyKey Plans in Bothell, Washington.