From the Virtual Interactive Appendix to ...Supervising Volunteers...

Volunteers Working with People with Disabilities

Volunteers who work with adults having severe developmental disabilities may need extra support and coaching, especially in the beginning. It may be emotionally difficult for volunteers to work with individuals who have developmental or physical disabilites causing a change in physical appearance or affecting vocabulary skills. Volunteers may feel embarrassed by some of the behaviors of the clients or may be fearful of being hurt. Other issues may surface: volunteers may feel helpless, hopeless, sad or angry.

Good training is a must, as is open communication. Volunteers must feel that they can ask questions, seek guidance or just vent frustrations. Showing interest in their work and expressing appreciation are also very important. Our supervisors teach volunteers about our philosophy of normalization: giving clients the most normal environment possible where they develop life skills to the greatest possible extent. Volunteers not only teach clients basic skills like holding a spoon; they also serve as role models.

Supervisors teach volunteers ways to communicate with clients with disabilities that affect their vocabulary skills such as sign language, language boards and touch. Volunteers also learn to look for smiles and head movements. Supervisors help volunteers learn to look for progress so they can see the positive, not just the negative. We assure volunteers that clients have feelings and that friendship with the volunteers improves their quality of life. When a client is able to leave the center for a group home in the community we can all celebrate; and our volunteers know they were part of what made this possible.

Dolores Cattiny, CVA, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, North Jersey Developmental Center, Totowa, NJ

Please share your experiences supervising volunteers in special settings/assignments.

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