Volunteer

As a member of the DSRF volunteer team, your commitment to people with Down syndrome is priceless. Whether you’re assisting at a fundraising event or helping deliver one of our programs or services, you play a key role in helping our clients flourish.

Who are our volunteers? Many are students looking for meaningful experience working with people with disabilities as they prepare for careers in fields such as speech and language, physiotherapy, or education. Some are people with disabilities, putting their diverse talents to good use. Some are professionals who bring their skills and hobbies to our students as guest speakers, readers, or teachers. We also have many siblings, grandparents, and parents joining our extended family as volunteers.

We want to ensure equal access for all of our volunteer opportunities. We welcome volunteers with diverse abilities, and people of any age, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. We will provide accommodations wherever possible; please email our Employment Specialist Aja Masters at aja@dsrf.org for support with the application process.

Thank you for considering sharing your time and talent with our students. To apply to volunteer at DSRF, please complete our volunteer application form.

Position Summary:

With support from Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC)/DSRF staff, volunteer facilitators guide activities in weekly, community-based book clubs for adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. The primary function of this position is to promote literacy skills, social connectedness, and community inclusion for book club members. Working in teams of two or three, volunteer facilitators also provide NCBC staff with regular feedback.

Qualifications:

• Desire and commitment to work with adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities (previous experience is not necessary, but may be helpful)
• Ability to travel to weekly book club meetings (CURRENTLY Book Club is meeting online over Zoom)
• Enthusiasm, creativity, and good “people skills” are essential

Position Responsibilities:

• Promptly attend weekly, one-hour book club meetings at designated community location for the length of at least one book (approx. 14 weeks)
• Inform co-facilitator(s) and NCBC staff in advance (24 hrs if possible) of any absence
• Monitor member attendance
• Complete quarterly facilitator surveys and maintain communication with NCBC staff (i.e. respond to emails or phone calls)
• Notify NCBC staff two weeks in advance of needing a new book; lead members in a vote for the new book
• Use activities and strategies learned in training to promote literacy skills, social connections, and community inclusion among your book club members
• Respect the talent, abilities, and privacy of all book club members

Compliance Requirements:

• Criminal record check

Contact Eleanor Stewart  eleanor@dsrf.org for more information and interested candidates please complete our Volunteer Application Form

DSRF’s improv program Let’s InterACT depends on volunteers who:

• enjoy working with students with Down syndrome and other disabilities
• are dependable and there when needed
• have a positive attitude and high energy
• have a love for theatre and acting; no previous improv experience required, just a willingness to learn and a “YES and” attitude
• can provide a criminal record check for vulnerable populations

Volunteers are needed for both the Winter/Spring 2023 session (Jan 4 – Jun 14, 2023) and the Fall 2023 session (Sept 13 – Dec 13, 2023). The program runs on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 at DSRF’s Burnaby centre.

For more information, email liv@dsrf.org. To apply to volunteer, please complete our volunteer application form.

Are you interested in doing respite work for families? Email Aja for information.