Meet Best Buddies - Macy McGrath & Josh Hanna - Inspiring Perspective

By Erin Boaz

You’re about to read one of the most inspiring “perspective” stories to date.

Meet Best Buddies, Macy McGrath and Josh Hanna. Macy is 21 years old and is a senior at Ball State University. She will graduate with a degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with a focus on autism and plans to get her Master’s Degree in Special Education at Purdue University. Macy currently works in the Adaptive Program at the Monon Center in Carmel. After graduation, Macy hopes to change the world in the name of inclusion and friendship. Her dream is to share her story of friendship with others all over the country through writing and speaking opportunities. Macy hopes to own a day-center for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Her vision is to create a space where they provide community service, social interactions, and creating friendships. Her goal is to have a place where others in the community can get to know the students and understand the genuine love they bring to the world. Josh was diagnosed with autism when he was 18 months old. He is now 22 years old, graduated from Fishers High School, and now attends Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) High School and is in his final year of the vocational program. In addition, he holds down two jobs: Four Day Ray and Marshall’s. Josh’s favorite TV shows are Arthur and Veggie Tales, his favorite video game is Mario, and he loves to make people laugh.

Josh and Macy met at Riverside Junior High in 2012 when Macy was a peer tutor in Josh’s Special Education class. Soon after meeting, they became inseparable. They joined Special Olympics swimming and hung out twice a week for practice. Once they were in high school, they joined a program called Best Buddies. Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization “dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).” Josh and Macy immediately connected and their relationship has blossomed into a genuine friendship. Macy calls Josh her best friend, and he calls her his best friend.

In regards to the impact Josh has had on Macy’s life, she shared with me that meeting Josh has completely changed her life. She said, “It has shown me that there are so many more important things out in the world than just me.” It has shown Macy that being a friend to someone with special needs can impact their life in a bigger way than you could ever imagine. Josh has shown her what true friendship is.

I love Macy’s perspective when I asked for her insight and wisdom on their friendship. Macy said, “just because they have special needs doesn’t make them not human. They want the same things that everyone else wants – a friend, someone to laugh

with, someone who loves them, someone to text and hang out with.” She goes on to say, Josh is her biggest inspiration, motivation, and supporter. He has the biggest heart of anyone she has ever met. He constantly is trying to make others laugh and feel loved, he is always laughing and telling jokes, and he is very loyal. She went on to share that they are truly are best friends and not just doing it for a requirement for a club, class, or resume.

Josh supports Macy in everything she does and no matter what he tells her “good job, Macers, so proud.” Without Josh, Macy isn’t sure what she would be doing. But one thing is for sure, she can’t imagine life without him.

As I write this article, I want to take a moment and share how their story impacted me on a personal level. While spending time talking to Macy, not only did my heart swell with joy, along with some tears of love and gratitude, I was deeply humbled and inspired. Their friendship emanates inclusion, acceptance, and a level of love that is not seen often enough in this world. Keep in mind this was all a possibility because of a peer tutoring class eight years ago.

Moving on to memories and funny stories.

Josh likes to do just about anything from video games to playing on his computer to going on the scariest ride at Kings Island to eating at his all-time favorite restaurant, Four Day Ray. Kings Island is an annual tradition. Macy finds it funny that Josh is scared of the rides and screams his head off, but as soon as it’s over, he’s ready to do it all again.

Another memory that goes down in the books is Trick or Treating together every Halloween. Now that they are older, they stay indoors and pass out candy. They keep it festive by dressing up in whatever Josh’s favorite character was during that year. Macy’s favorite tradition is their BFF Christmas tradition where every Sunday in December, they put on their pajamas and drive around looking at lights.

Here are a couple more funny memories. Josh thinks that farts are hilarious…as does Macy. A few weeks ago he had a sleepover with Macy’s boyfriend and they were supposed to go to bed around 11 pm. Macy received a Facetime call soon thereafter. Josh had farted and they were both laughing so hard they were crying...at 12:30 in the morning!

Josh is scared of Macy’s dog and they were trying to get a picture of Josh on her back and the dog came out and started trying to jump up on both of them. Josh was freaking out and Macy had to run around the house with Josh on her back so he felt safe that he wouldn’t get bit by her dog!

Macy and Josh love to laugh and be silly. They sing and dance in the car on the way to Four Day Ray. She loves when they go on walks together and just laugh the whole time. They also enjoy doing other activities together such as swimming, bowling, the Zoo, Conner Prairie, cookouts, hanging out with her family, Holiday World, working out, and eating out (Four Day Ray is Josh’s all-time favorite restaurant!). One of the challenges with planning different activities is that it can be disappointing for Josh at times though when plans change.

When it comes to challenges Josh faces, Macy speaks up, especially around the “R-word.” Macy explains that this is the hardest to witness and hearing that word just absolutely breaks her heart. She has taken a big stance on trying to end that word, “when people don’t agree or make fun of what I’m doing, it hurts. It feels like an uphill battle at times,” but it won’t stop her from spreading love, acceptance being an example of inclusion. The thing that keeps her going is remembering why it matters. She shares, “when I feel like nobody is listening to me or caring, I just remember why I fight so hard, and that reason is Josh.” At the end of the day, Macy is grateful to have an amazing best friend that makes her so happy. She realizes that others don’t get to have Josh as a friend and that’s sad because they’re missing out.

Josh is involved in Hamilton Southeastern Best Buddies and Unified Sports. While in high school, Macy was the president of Fishers Best Buddies and they participated in three Special Olympic sports together. One of the biggest accomplishments that Macy loves to brag about is how Josh won the 100m race in the Unified Track State Meet in high school. Another accomplishment is that in 2020, Macy was nominated for a Best Buddies Indiana Award and Josh was her Campaign Manager! They learned how to advocate for what we believed in all around the community. What she appreciates the most about our community is the opportunity to grow friendships and have plenty of places to do fun things.

Macy summarized it all by saying, “I couldn’t survive without Josh by my side. I want the world to see how genuine and “normal” it is to befriend someone with IDD and how much it can change your life.”

You can keep up with their adventures on their Instagram account @macyandjosh. They also have a website (mrmcgrath8.wixsite.com/ macyandjosh/our-story) together where they share stories, pictures, and YouTube videos.

Do you have a sibling with special needs and would like to share your story & perspective in an upcoming issue of Special Needs Living? Email us at SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com.

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