1:1 PROGRAM BUDDY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Core Responsibility: To accompany a child or teen at our group programs and provide them with the 1:1 attention they require to be successful in social situations.
This core responsibility will be met by the volunteer’s dedication to:
- Assisting the child with emotion regulation (ex. offering the child a snack and redirecting them to a video game or favourite activity when they are upset, co-regulating by modelling deep breaths and calming techniques for the child and validating their emotions)
- Encouraging social interaction between the child and others at program (ex. "can you ask that boy what his name is and what grade he is in?," "why don't we ask Breann and Ben if they would like to play a board game with us?")
- Being the child's friend when they have a hard time making friends at program (some kids will want to just play and do things with you, and that's okay!)
The recreation coordinator will help you meet this core responsibility by:
- Being present and keeping an eye and ear on you at program so that you will have support if you need it
- ALWAYS being available for you to ask questions and express concerns (Breann would be more than happy to connect with you both inside and outside of program via email, phone, or in-person, to support you and offer guidance)
- Giving you a background on the child you are paired with beforehand and, if they have met the child prior, informing you of best and most successful approaches for the specific child
This volunteer role will give you hands-on experience working with youth with special needs. It will allow you to learn about the lives of these children and help develop an understanding of how to support children with special needs. Most of all, you will be making a significant difference in the life of a child and their family. Children with a higher level of need are often excluded from social programs and events due to the fact that there are no resources or accommodations in place to support them. This negatively affects the child's self-esteem and mental health, while also causing caregiver burnt out. With your help, we want to address this need for support and make a difference.