The Nonprofit FAQ
| Organizations that Promote Volunteering by Persons with Disabilities |
| Jayne Cravens posted to NONPROFIT (see http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/nonprofit) on April 30, 2001: These are organizations that have a focus or commitment to promoting the involvement of people with disabilities as volunteers (as stated on their web site). Most of these organizations provide free online resources to help other organizations involve volunteers with disabilities. Corporation for National Service (CNS) / AmeriCorps CNS, through various AmeriCorps programs and resources, promotes the involvement of people with disabilities as volunteers:
International Year of Volunteers / United Nations Volunteers http://www.iyv2001.org and http://www.unv.org IYV, part of UNV, has resources in development regarding promoting the involvement of people with disabilities as volunteers (referenced in THE IYV 2001 GLOBAL UPDATE, August 2000 - Edition #19). UNV has also involved a number of volunteers with disabilities in developing countries; the story of one such volunteer in Cambodia was highlighted in a 1999 edition of UNV NEWS. Mobility International USA http://www.miusa.org/ "As a US-based national non-profit organization, the mission of Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is to empower people with disabilities around the world through international exchange, information, technical assistance and training, and to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in international exchange and development programs." MIUSA, with sponsorship from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, manages the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE). The NCDE works to educate people with disabilities and disability-related organizations about international educational exchange opportunities, promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all types of exchange, community and volunteer service programs. The NCDE also provides advice and technical assistance to international exchange organizations and colleges and universities on how to include people with disabilities in their exchange programs. Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation http://www.meaf.org "The MEA Foundation is dedicated to helping young people with disabilities, through technology, to maximize their potential and fully participate in society." MEAF has funded a number of initiatives focused on inclusion of youth as volunteers. People First http://www.open.org/~people1/ People First operates on the principle of self-determination and promotes involving people with developmental disabilities in leadership roles. These organizations are for and by the developmentally disabled living in institutions, foster homes, their parents' homes, group homes, or on their own. In addition to running their organizations, People First members sit on the boards of other local nonprofits, on state commissions for the disabled, and national/federal committees. In Salem, Oregon, where the organization began, one of the ran for city council and placed third of four candidates. The Missouri (USA) chapter offers "The People First Manual" [http://www.MissouriPeopleFirst.org/People%20First%20Information/PFManual2000.htm], for both People First members and supporters. The manual offers excellent information on working with volunteers with developmental disabilities ("Friendly REMINDERS for People who support other People"). There's also "How to Develop a Self-Advocacy Group, An Officer's Handbook of People first of Washington" [http://cdl.unch.unc.edu/devsites/asanc/OLD%20SITE/ie/handbook.htm]. There are People First organizations all over the U.S. and the United Kingdom, as well as affiliates in Australia, Canada and Japan. The first People First organization began in Salem, Oregon. Volunteer Service & Resource Project (VSRP)'s Mobile Volunteer Service TEAM http://www.geocities.com/givestore/mvst.html A program serving organizations involving volunteers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It provides "secure and diverse volunteer opportunities for individuals who cannot or choose not to volunteer on their own." Primary participants are adults with chronic mental illness, brain injury, neurological disabilities, and emotional problems that prohibit independent volunteer service. "Using a proven approach that organizes individuals into supervised teams, MVST participants serve community organizations that otherwise cannot accommodate people with limited skills or particular needs. Students in service learning programs or seeking community service work, adults adjudicated to complete community service, isolated older adults, physical therapy patients, and people who covet volunteer service, but lack confidence or the means to volunteer, also join the MVST." The Virtual Volunteering Project http://www.serviceleader.org/vv/atech/ "Online volunteering programs can allow for the greater participation of people who might find volunteering difficult or impossible because of a disability. This in turn allows organizations to benefit from the additional talent and resources of more volunteers, and allows agencies to further diversify their volunteer talent pool." The Virtual Volunteering Project Team researches and documents ways to accommodate and encourage such persons in online volunteering programs. The Project web site provides tips for outreach, accommodations, conversation, volunteer orientation and matching, evaluation and staff training regarding volunteers with disabilities, including information on accommodations for online volunteers who have learning disabilities or emotional and anxiety disorders (sometimes called "hidden" disabilities. The site also provides "First Person: Benefits of Virtual Volunteering for People With Disabilities," excerpts from testimonials showing first hand how virtual volunteering creates new opportunities for people with disabilities; and a list of examples of Involving Online Volunteers With Disabilities.
Posted 4/30/01 -- PB |