Engaging Volunteers with Disabilities: A Qualitative Study

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kimberly Miller, AP Assistant Professor and Research Associate (Creator)
Stuart J. Schleien, Professor & Chair (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Many volunteer administrators often wonder what they can do to increase their volunteer base and improve the efficiency, longevity, and morale of their current volunteers and staff. One virtually untapped, and certainly underutilized, population from which new volunteers may be recruited comprises individuals with disabilities. Volunteer coordinators with limited-to-no experience engaging volunteers with disabilities may be concerned, however, that increased time and money to supervise may be required, or special accommodations may be needed, to engage this population. These concerns are commonly cited by volunteer coordinators as barriers to successfully engaging volunteers with disabilities (CSV's Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme, 2000; Graff & Vedell, 2003; Miller, Schleien, & Bedini, 2003). Nevertheless, many agencies have deemed these barriers worthy of addressing and overcoming.

Additional Information

Publication
Stroud, S., Miller, K., Schleien, S., & Merrill, M. (2005). Engaging volunteers with disabilities: A qualitative study. Journal of Volunteer Administration, 23(4), 6-15.
Language: English
Date: 2005
Keywords
Volunteers, Disabilities, Engagement

Email this document to