Tarjan Center at UCLA | Service Inclusion Project

Should I create special volunteer opportunities just for people with disabilities?

We all use shorthand categories to give order to the world and cut down on information overload. And it can be tempting to want to create or identify volunteer positions specifically designated for people with disabilities. But don’t!

People with disabilities are a diverse group. Don’t make assumptions about what a person with a disability can or cannot do. When you preemptively decide which positions a person with a disability can and cannot do, without first consulting them, you rob him/her of self-determination, and you might inadvertently create barriers to matching a person with the best position.

Then what can I do to ensure that a volunteer with disability finds the right position?

Have a clearly defined volunteer job description. Make sure you use essential functions to determine what duties are critical to the job. Don’t confuse what needs to be done with how it needs to be done. A person with a disability might have an alternative but equally effective way to complete a task. By having a well-thought out job description and by sharing that description with potential volunteers you will enable volunteers to effectively ask for any reasonable accommodations/adjustments needed to participate.

For more information about essential functions and job descriptions visit: Creating an Inclusive Environment: A Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National and Community Service Programs.
Or The National Service Inclusion Project Fact Sheet: The Essential Functions of a Service Position.

Remember that you’re looking for a qualified person, who can do the job, with or without reasonable accommodations. *A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment to a volunteer position or volunteer site or the way that things are usually done that allows a qualified individual with a disability to complete the application process, perform the essential functions, or enjoy equal access to the benefits and privileges of service.
* Definition taken from the National Service Inclusion Project Fact Sheet on Reasonable Accommodations Click here to see.

You are not required to offer a position to a person with a disability who is not qualified. But you are obligated to make your volunteer positions available to individuals with disabilities who can do the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

For more information about Reasonable Accommodations visit Creating an Inclusive Environment: A Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National and Community Service Programs.
Also visit the Job Accommodation Network www.jan.wvu.edu/
Or try: Acommodations and Support: Including Special Populations in Leadership and Decision Making Activities.

Finally, you might want to download two Fact Sheets on Reasonable Accommodation courtesy of the National Service Inclusion Project: RA Fact Sheet & RA Step by Step

There a few things you can do, ahead of time, to prepare your organization to engage volunteers with disabilities. Evaluate your volunteer sites for basic physical accessibilityClick Here. Know which ones meet ADA standards and which don’t. Try to make all of your sites fully accessible, if possible.

Also, provide inclusion training to staff and site supervisors. You might consider providing training on how to interact with people with disabilities, how to use a TTY or relay service, how to hire a sign language interpreter, how to put materials in alternate formats, how to provide reasonable accommodations, and/or how to identify meeting places that are accessible—to name a few.

Back to FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

For Programs Looking to Include Volunteers with Disabilities

For Individuals Looking to Volunteer

How do I decide where to volunteer?
Should I disclose that I have a disability?
If I apply for AmeriCorps could I lose my federal aid?

Guides and Learning Materials

Are you looking for information about Disability Etiquette?

Disability Etiquette: Tips for Interacting with People with Disabilities [PDF]
People First Language [PDF]
Words with Dignity [PDF]
Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilities [PDF]

Are you looking for information about Accessibility?

A Model for Accessibility [PDF]
ADA Checklist for Existing Facilities [PDF]
ADA Guide for Small Businesses [PDF]
Making Accessibility Real: A Guide to Planning Meetings, Conferences and Gatherings [PDF]

Are you looking for information about Reasonable Accommodations?

National Service Inclusion Project’s Fact Sheet on Reasonable Accommodations [PDF]
National Service Inclusion Project’s Step by Step Process for Providing Reasonable Accommodations [PDF]
Accommodations and Supports for Including Special Populations in Leadership and Decision Making Activities [PDF]

Are you looking for information about Essential Functions?

National Service Inclusion Project’s Fact Sheet on Essential Functions [DOC]

Are you looking for information about Self Disclosure?

Disabilities and Self Disclosure [DOC]

Are you looking for general information about Including Persons with Disabilities in Service?

Creating an Inclusive Environment: A Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National and Community Service Programs Visit Website
Inclusive Recruitment Practices [DOC] [PDF]
Ways to Motivate, Engage, and Keep Members [DOC] [PDF]

Do you have suggestions for other topics and resource materials surrounding including volunteers with disabilities? Please contact us.