Volunteer Network

Join a network of people who work to strengthen communities

The newest service of the MODDRC is the Volunteer Network. This network provides opportunities for parents, self-advocates, professionals or other interested individuals to “volunteer” their time to give back to the disability community. There are many ways that you can get involved that will not only be a benefit to yourself but also to the many other people who are touched by disability.

The opportunities are usually sent by email and if or when you have time to participate is decided by you. These opportunities are designed to utilize the strengths and talents of individuals with disabilities, parents and family members. Your experience matters, we need you.

Some volunteer opportunities may be to :
1. Assist by reviewing or writing products (videos, newsletter, brochures, training curriculum, etc.)
2. Become a Sharing Our Strength mentor.
3. Get involved in your local community by joining local boards or committees, serving as a trainer, telling your story.

If you have any questions or you want to find out more details about this network, please call 800-444-0821.

Please complete the following form if you are interested in volunteering.
Volunteer Application
Date: / MM / DD / YY
First Name:
Last Name:
Street Address:
Street Address 2:
City:
State:     Zip:
County:
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Other Phone:
Email:
Can you accept calls at work? Yes   No
Preferred times to be contacted: AM   PM Any
How do you prefer to be contacted? Phone   Email   Mail  
What is your relationship to the person with a disability?
Mother Father
Sibling Grandparent
Self-Advocate Other Family Member
Friend Professional
Other:
If other, please describe:
Opportunity Interests
Please read through the following list of leadership/volunteer opportunities and place a check mark by those you are interested in (you can check as many as you would like).
 Information
Review or write products (e.g., provide a written personal perspective on your experience with disability for the website; or share information about a particular disability or related topic).
Display Assistant (taking MODDRC display and handout materials to conferences, transition fairs, back to school fairs, community events).
 Peer Support
Be an SOS mentor
Quick match (a match consisting of one phone call that focuses on a particular issue or question)
Traditional match (a match consisting of a minimum of four contacts by phone or email over an eight week period)
Assist with SOS Mentor Training in your area (consists of helping with setting up training dates, locations, and recruiting new mentors to attend training. It can also involve becoming an SOS trainer).
 Leadership:
Advisory Boards (from time to time there are opportunities to serve on advisory and other types of boards that pertain to developmental disabilities. Often, a parent or self-advocate is sought, and you could be informed as these opportunities arise).
Educational Awareness Activities (e.g., providing testimony, talking to others about your experiences with disability, assist as a trainer or presenter at conferences).
Assist with SOS Mentor Training in your area (consists of helping with setting up training dates, locations, and recruiting new mentors to attend training. It can also involve becoming an SOS trainer).
 Please indicate other ways you would like to be involved that are not shown above?
Language/Ethnicity
Main language spoken at home:
Other language(s) spoken:
What is your ethnicity?
African American Asian
Hispanic Native American
Caucasian Multi-ethnic
Prefer not to say Other:
If other, please describe:
Marital Status
What is your marital status? Single   Married / Partner   Prefer not to say  
About the Person with a Disability
First Name:
Last Name:
Birth date: / MM / DD / YY
Gender: Male   Female
Primary Diagnosis:
Secondary Diagnosis:
Other Diagnosis:
School District, if applicable:
Other disabilities, special healthcare needs, or concerns:
Other Family Members with a Disability
First Name:
Last Name:
Birth date: / MM / DD / YY
Gender: Male   Female
Primary Diagnosis:
Secondary Diagnosis:
Other Diagnosis:
Please List the Birth Year(s) and Gender(s) of Siblings Without Disabilities:
Birth year: Gender: Male   Female
Birth year: Gender: Male   Female
Birth year: Gender: Male   Female
Birth year: Gender: Male   Female
Birth year: Gender: Male   Female
Birth year: Gender: Male   Female
Please Indicate if You Have Attended / Completed Any of the Following (check all that apply):
Partners in Policymaking Program Year Completed: State Attended:
MPACT Advocacy or Mentor Training Year Completed: State Attended:
Any other mentor, peer support, or advocacy training? Type of training:
 Location:
Who provided the training?:
Have you advocated for your own or someone else's rights, needs, etc? Please explain:
Have you provided peer support for another parent or self-advocate? Please explain:
Sharing Experiences
Please check all of the following that you or your child has had experience with and you feel comfortable discussing with another parent:
 Medical
Home nursing care
G-tube feeding
Gavage feeding
Dorsal rhizotomy
Shunting
Sleep issues
Seizures
Tracheostomy
Botox injections
 Sensory
(Visual) wears glasses
Moderate visual impairment
Severe visual impairment
Functionally blind
 Mobility
Ambulatory
Uses wheelchair
Uses walker and/or
Other, if other, please describe:
 School
Daycare
Transition to school age services
Early childhood special education
Classroom inclusion
Self-contained education setting
Home schooling
IEP issues
Accomodations/adaptations
Transition from school to adult life
 Communication
No formal communication
Speaks, but difficult to understand
Uses communication system
Classroom inclusion
Uses assistive technology
Uses facilitated communication
Surgeries or medical procedures, please specify:
Special diet, please specify:
Sharing Experiences, Part 2
Please check all of the following items that you have experience with:
 Therapy
HBO therapy
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech & language
Sensory integration
Music therapy
Orientation & mobility
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Hippotherapy (horseback riding)
 Other
Advocacy
Legal rights
Challenging behaviors
Sibling relationships
Recreation
Self-injurious behavior
Housing/community living
Friendships
Community inclusion
Grandparent relations
Respite care
Premature birth
Prenatal diagnosis
Medicaid waiver (Lopez, home/community, etc.)
Guardianship options and alternatives
Adaptive equipment/assistive technology, please specify:
Communication devices, please specify:
Are there any other topics or areas of expertise you feel confident speaking about with another parent?
Questions / Comments