Hints and Tips for Volunteering in the Community

During 8th grade my son worked in the school library as a Media Aid. His job responsibilities included shelving books, straightening up the library, and making sure everything was turned off (including all the computers in the computer lab) at the end of the day. He also has been to the city library many times so he was quite familiar with it and was accustomed to the layout and what needed to be done. In April (during 10th grade) he and I went to the city library and talked with the librarian about volunteering and that he previously had worked as a Media Aid in middle school. We also disclosed that he had AS and that he has been on the honor roll since 6th grade. His name was added to the list for being a possible volunteer during the summer (community service is needed to graduate and they only take a few volunteers at the city library). We then practiced at home what happens during an interview and what questions they may ask so he would be familiar with what could happen and how he should answer the questions. He was later called and he was interviewed by the librarian. He discussed with her what he had done at the school library and had the Media Specialist as a reference. The city librarian asked him what he would like to do and told him what his responsibilities were. He was then scheduled to come every Tuesday for 2 hours for shelving books and was shown what he was supposed to do the first day he came. He enjoyed working in the library and the librarian said he was a very hard worker and a pleasure to have in the library. He was also welcomed to come back and volunteer any time.

My son is now 18 (senior in high school) and is very active at our church and has been the teen helper in his father’s 6th grade CCD (Sunday School) class for 3 years. Our congregation is small (250) and they are constantly asking for volunteers for various ministries and activities. We have been a member of the church since my son was 5 and his special needs are well known there and everyone knows us. He had just been confirmed and his father and I taught CCD and he thought it would be a good idea to be a teen helper. Plus his help was also needed because his father had 22 – 25 students in the class. His father informed him well in advance and showed him what he was supposed to do and what his responsibilities included (set up the classroom, help students with their work, review the material with the students at the end of class, clean up the classroom, etc.). Maybe one day he will feel up to teaching a class by himself which he has indicated that he would like to do.

A co-worker of at my husband’s work place mentioned that they need volunteers at the local soup kitchen (his wife runs it). They are aware of my son’s special needs and that he has volunteered at other places. This summer he plans on helping at the local soup kitchen while he is attending summer school at the community college. He is also planning to join The Knights of Columbus at our church with his father sometime soon.



What worked well?

• Informing others about his disability so they understand him and what his needs are.

• Being familiar with his surroundings and environment.

• Knowing exactly what he is supposed to do and when.

• Practicing interviews and how to answer questions is needed to help reassure him what will happen and what he should do during an interview.



What were the challenges?

Since my son and the personnel were introduced and prepared to everything above before he volunteered, the challenges were nonexistent and the experience for all was fantastic.



How were the challenges addressed?

Prior to volunteering, we made sure we did what I listed above so that any difficulties that could possibly happen would be addressed. Preparing and previewing for all novel situations in advance eliminated any problems that could have occurred.