Did you know that 1 in 7 New Yorkers has a disability? Or that individuals with disabilities are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty, are less likely to be involved in their communities, and twice as likely to be unemployed? With only 11% of NYC subway stations wheelchair accessible, for many, simply leaving home is a daunting task. Parents of children with disabilities also often find it challenging to find appropriate and affordable sports and recreation programs where their kids can receive the individualized attention they need.
The good news is that you can help. By volunteering with New York Cares, you can make a difference by providing much-needed recreational and educational activities to kids and adults who might otherwise not have these opportunities.
You may already be familiar with projects we have been managing for years, such as Achilles Track Club, where volunteers run with disabled adults, or our popular monthly bowling trip with autistic adults. What you might not know, is that we are growing our programming serving clients with special needs at a rapid rate, with new opportunities becoming available every month.
You can now play Little League Baseball with disabled kids, helping them learn basic baseball skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. You can lead cooking and crafts activities for autistic kids, or you can help children and adults with disabilities as they ride horses. If something a bit more relaxed is your style, why not discuss poetry and short stories with blind adults, or help serve Sunday brunch while enjoying conversation and a competitive game of Bingo with hospital patients who have suffered brain injuries and who often don't receive many visitors? These are just a few of the options now available. Wherever your skills and interests lie, there is sure to be a program you'll enjoy.
If you are interested in signing up for a program serving kids or adults with special needs, but concerned that you don't have any experience, don't worry. All of our projects are designed so that anyone can participate; all you need is a desire to help. Our Team Leaders can also be a great resource and can tell you from their own experience what it is like to volunteer on their project, or answer any questions or concerns you might have. Why not see what you're missing and sign up for a Special Needs project today?
To learn more about volunteering on or leading a project serving children or adults with special needs, please contact Felicity Loome at 212-402-1150 or Felicity_Loome@nycares.org.
Did you know that 1 in 7 New Yorkers has a disability? Or that individuals with disabilities are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty, are less likely to be involved in their communities, and twice as likely to be unemployed? With only 11% of NYC subway stations wheelchair accessible, for many, simply leaving home is a daunting task. Parents of children with disabilities also often find it challenging to find appropriate and affordable sports and recreation programs where their kids can receive the individualized attention they need.
