Imagine unlocking a treasure trove of enthusiasm and dedication—this is what volunteers with disabilities bring to the table! Volunteer Fairfax has crafted a comprehensive suite of resources designed to help nonprofits not only welcome these remarkable individuals but also support them in their volunteer journey. And guess what? Making accommodations is easier than you might think. By embracing volunteers with disabilities, nonprofits can tap into a loyal network that extends beyond the individual to their family and friends. With the right resources at hand, nonprofits can transform their approach and reap the benefits of a diverse and vibrant volunteer base. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into this rewarding opportunity together!
Check out the following resources for nonprofits:
Nonprofits and county agencies that post volunteer opportunities can use this toolkit to learn:
• How to welcome volunteers with disabilities, and why this is good for their organizations,
• How to support volunteers with disabilities, including how to provide reasonable accommodation and,
• How to use the VMS to self-identify as an organization that welcomes volunteers with disabilities.
This short video for nonprofits and county agencies that post volunteer opportunities in the VMS is a companion piece to the Toolkit for Nonprofits. It is a follow up to the Volunteer Fairfax webinars on inclusive volunteering that were attended by nearly 200 volunteer managers in 2023.
View Inclusive Volunteering Training Video
Volunteer Fairfax’s VMS is a searchable database of volunteer opportunities throughout Northern Virginia. Individuals with disabilities can use the “Inclusive” filter to find opportunities with organizations that have self-identified as prepared to welcome and support volunteers with disabilities. If a volunteer opportunity does not use the Inclusive icon, the Toolkit for Volunteers provides guidance for the individual to approach the organization with a request for reasonable accommodation.
Individuals with disabilities who want to volunteer, and those who support them, can use the Toolkit for Volunteers to learn:
• How to search the Volunteer Fairfax volunteer management system (VMS) for volunteer opportunities,
• How to identify organizations that have completed VF’s training on accommodations people with disabilities, and
• How to request a reasonable accommodation for a volunteer position This initiative is the result of a multi-year collaboration between VF staff, individuals with disabilities, family members, service providers and advocacy groups. We are excited to share these important resources with our nonprofit partners.
This initiative is the result of a multi-year collaboration between VF staff, individuals with disabilities, family members, service providers and advocacy groups. We are excited to share these important resources with our nonprofit partners.