Deer Park High School hosted the Long Island Best Buddies Friendship Ball for students from across the island Friday night. 

"Best Buddies" pairs students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with their peers in schools worldwide, including on Long Island.

"The sense of community that it brings to everyone here is just unmatched. It's unbelievable," said Joseph Alo, a Deer Park High School Best Buddies advisor.

Jessica Martin, of Deer Park, said she’s learned so much from being in the Best Buddies organization and from her ‘best buddy’ SK Shahriar.

"Honestly, we've just gotten closer. It's an attachment in both ways so it's really great,” she said.

Deer Park High School special education advisor Gabriella Gilmartin says the ball is about more than having fun for the close to 300 students in attendance.

"Everyone has something to learn from everybody,” she said. “Right now in the world, all we need is a little bit more kindness and a little bit more friendship."

This is the first time Deer Park High School hosted the ball. 

This year’s theme was glow in the dark.