Engaging and Understanding Volunteers with Special Needs

Engaging and Understanding Volunteers with Special Needs By Jessica Deering Butterfly House, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden Jessica.deering@mobot.org 636-530-0076 X.12

Labels are for cans, not people. - Anthony Rapp –Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain –Do not allow yourself or others to be defined by your limitations, but rather, abilities. --Eric Duquette

Groups I have worked with • MERS Goodwill • Paraquad for Living • LifeSkills • Autism Speaks • ARC • Special Education programs • And more!

Basic tips • DO NOT ask if they have a disability!! • Do ask: • Can they perform the job • If, no, ask if they need an accommodation in order to perform the job • What will make it easier for them as each person’s needs may be different • Listen and be willing to think outside of the box when it comes to placement • Communication is key! • Often have a staff assistant with them, important for staff assistant to be interested in the volunteer assignment too

Group Activitiesindividual group size will be determined by # attending session Group A will be divided into groups & given a potential volunteer with a disability and a job description. You will have to decide how/if the job could be modified to meet the skills of the volunteer Group B will be divided into groups & given a card with a disability and the group will come up with the following: strengths, areas of concern, & tips for working with individuals w/disability

Attention Deficit DisorderADD or ADDH

Autism: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD

Cerebral Palsy or CP

Down Syndrome

Intellectual Disability (formerly known as “Mental Retardation”)

Learning Disabilities/Communication Disorders

Visual Impairment

Hearing Impairment

Mobility Impairment

Thank you to the following for helping me prepare this presentation: Craig Strohbeck, CTRS, Executive Director for Pathways to Independence Barbara Goode, St. Louis Walk Manager for Autism Speaks MERS Goodwill

Useful Sources from all of us Arc (works w/individuals with disabilities), http://www.thearc.org/ Americans with Disabilities Act, http://www.ada.gov/ Autism Speaks – Adults with Autism (http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/adults-autism) Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (www.afaa-us.org) “Thinking in Pictures” by Temple Grandin Autism and Asperger’s, http://www.quickoverview.com/overviews/autism-information.html Autism Spectrum Resource Center, Inc., http://www.ct-asrc.org/ Information & support for autism, http://www.koautism.ca/ Autism information, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705372191/Utah-autism-rate-doubled-between-02-and-08-data-shows.html Info about Asperger’s, http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/article_2086.shtml Paul McDonnell and Jane McDonnell - “A Baker’s Dozen” TIPS FOR WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE AUTISM Disability Resource Directory, http://www.d-r-d.com/disabilityresource.html Story, http://www.westsuburbanchamber.org/ Video Link: http://youtu.be/ViraivX2o2k Info on mental disorders, http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx National Institute of Child Health and Development, http://www.nichd.nih.gov/?health/topics/asd/cfm Job Development and Placement, http://www.diversityworld.com/Disability/jobdev.htm Products & services reviews by individuals w/ disabilities, http://www.jjslist.com/ Stories about getting jobs by those w/disabilities, http://www.realworkstories.org/

Engaging and Understanding Volunteers with Special Needs