This week is National Volunteer Week celebrating people who give their time and experience to benefit their community. Volunteering comes in many forms: one-day community events, long-term mentoring programs, school boosters and parent-teacher organizations, and arts programs are just a few examples. Volunteering can also include participating in research studies and sharing your experience through focus groups and advisory boards. We’ve highlighted research showing that people with disabilities may offer an untapped pool of volunteers with lots of skills and experience to share, but they may face barriers to fully participating in these activities.

Here are some resources from the NIDILRR grantee community to help identify and remove barriers to volunteering, from making events accessible to growing stakeholder advisory boards:

• The ADA National Network of ten regional centers can assist volunteers and organizations in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to access events, facilities, and services. These centers provide information and technical assistance to ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate. Find the center serving your area online or by calling 800/949-4ADA (4232).
• The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation for People with Serious Mental Illnesses has a large collection of resources for building inclusive communities, from recreation to civic engagement to places of worship.
• The RRTC on Learning and Working During the Transition to Adulthood (Transitions ACR) maintains a Family Advisory Board and a Young Adult Advisory Board. Board members meet regularly and use their lived experience with mental health to help researchers tailor their products and programs to meet the needs of the community. Transitions ACR shared their Tips and Tricks to Developing and Sustaining a Family Advisory Board in a recent webinar.
• The RRTC on Rural Solutions to Strengthen Disability Capacity offers a Community Assessment for Accessible Rural Events Toolkit, created to help community members make sure their community events are accessible and inclusive for volunteers who organize and staff events and the community members who attend.

In addition, these resources from elsewhere in the community can help in creating inclusive volunteering experiences:

• The Administration for Community Living (ACL) Community Care Corps includes a Learning Library which includes information on replicable approaches to building inclusivity and representation into volunteer programs.
• The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) article Volunteers and the Americans with Disabilities Act outlines how Titles I, II, and III of the ADA apply to volunteers with disabilities, and how JAN can help organizations identify accommodation solutions so volunteers can fully participate in activities and opportunities.
• Centers for Independent Living (CIL) can assist organizations in connecting with volunteers with disabilities who are ready to offer their time, experience, and ability. They may also be able to assist in ensuring an inclusive volunteering experience for all. Find the CIL serving your community.
• Volunteer.gov offers a searchable database of opportunities to volunteer at parks, facilities, and other areas managed by federal agencies.

Research studies are often seeking volunteers to help in testing interventions or technology, complete surveys, and participate in focus groups.

• Read our article about why and how to participate in research and sign up for our News and Notes from the NIDILRR Community and Beyond to learn about opportunities to participate in NIDILRR-funded studies!
• Research registries offer people with disabilities a place to volunteer for current and future studies. Check out the The Participant Registry at the RRTC on Improving Employment Outcomes for People who are Blind or Have Low Vision and the Research Registry for Technology and Disability from the Initiative to Mobilize Partnerships for successful Assistive Technology Transfer (IMPACT).
• The Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research hosted a webinar, Everything You Wanted to Know about Advisory Boards. These boards can offer opportunities for people with lived experience to provide advice and guidance to research and development projects. Researchers from two NIDILRR-funded centers shared their experience in incorporating best practices for authentic and meaningful engagement with their boards to reach their intended outcomes.

We hope these resources will help you find or organize an inclusive volunteer experience in your community!