Preparing your organization to engage people with disabilities
Abstract
Presented are a series of considerations regarding organizational readiness and budget planning for service projects involving people with disabilities. Excerpted from the Effective Practices Guide to Creating Inclusive and Accessible Days of Service (2002), written in collaboration by City Cares, Points of Light Foundation, and Youth Service America, through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.Issue
Before jumping into planning a service event, take some time to do an honest assessment of how prepared your organization is to engage people with disabilities.Action
Organizational Readiness
For a project to be inclusive, the efforts to include people with disabilities must start with the planning. It is important to incorporate as diverse a set of abilities, experiences, and perspectives as possible in the leadership of the project to enrich the experience and learning of all involved. Diversity and inclusion from the outset will lead to a greater sense of ownership and commitment for those who participate on any level. To formalize this participation, convene a planning group of committed individuals, including those with disabilities, to allow for a consistent and organized method of including the talents and ideas of a diverse set of perspectives. Questions you should answer before involving people with disabilities in your organization.
- Describe your vision of people with disabilities in your organization.
- What is your motivation for wanting to involve people with disabilities in your organization?
- What expectations do you have for your organization and for people with disabilities?
- What role do you see people with disabilities playing in your organization?
- How do people with disabilities already participate with your organization?
- What resources in your organization exist to ensure success for involving people with disabilities in meaningful service?
- What organizations exist in your community that might be potential partners in supporting your efforts to engage people with disabilities?
- In what ways do you hope to expand meaningful service for people with disabilities in your organization?
Fundraising and Budgeting
- Planning an event that engages people with disabilities may require you to make additional considerations when allocating your money.
- First, plan well in advance. When you know what kind of service you will provide and whom you will support, you must take accommodations into account. Sign language interpreters, alternative formats for your materials, construction items, additional staff, and accessible transportation may be among the issues you will have to address in your budget. Consult your community partners, planning group, and other resources to find answers for your accommodation-related questions.
- Accommodations need not break the bank. Many accommodations don't require any additional costs; simply altering the way things are done can make it easier for a person with a disability to participate. Investigate in-kind donations and loaned materials before you spend the money. Good sources for in-kind donations include public transit systems, municipal parks, state/local governments, and school systems.
Context
The Effective Practices Guide to Creating Inclusive and Accessible Days of Service is a product of a year-long initiative conducted by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, which was funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Through the grant, the Points of Light Foundation worked in partnership with Compeer, Inc. and Volunteers of America to engage 20 volunteer centers and two state associations of volunteer centers in volunteer-service activities. The grant resulted in the participation of over 2,900 volunteers with disabilities in 60 service days throughout the year 2001.
Citation
Effective Practices Guide to Creating Inclusive and Accessible Days of Service (2002). Written in collaboration by City Cares, Points of Light Foundation, and Youth Service America. Additional contributions by Compeer, Inc. and Volunteers of America. Through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.Outcome
According to Robert K. Goodwin, president and chief executive officer of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, "This report represents what we hope will emerge as a successful process for including persons with disabilities that any organization can utilize when planning volunteer service activities. The outcomes align perfectly with our goal to engage more people in the vital work of contributing to their communities and helping solve serious social problems."Posted On
September 12, 2002Resources
From The Resource Center library:
Effective Practices Guide to Creating Inclusive and Accessible Days of Service
Item number: R2180
Source Documents
Related Practices
Related sites
National Service Inclusion Project