Volunteer
Opportunities & Community Outreach Was one of your resolutions for 2008 to become more active and informed about the community? If it was, Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara is just the place you were looking for. For more than 50 years, Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, a United Way agency, has been providing individuals of all ages with intellectual and other developmental disabilities the skills necessary to achieve independence in their daily lives and enjoy community-based recreation, residential, employment and volunteer opportunities. The agency depends a great deal on the support of volunteers and interns from the community to enhance the programs and services provided year-round across Niagara County. I invite you to consider one of the many volunteer opportunities available – the rewards are immeasurable. We also offer a Speaker’s Bureau to the
public in an effort to share the expertise and experience in working with people with
developmental disabilities of our employees. Board of Directors and Committees Volunteer positions are available on the agency board of directors, which meets monthly and provides oversight, guidance and financial direction to the agency. Board members will serve a three-year term beginning in June 2008. All candidates for the Board must:
Standing committee positions are also available and focus on personnel, finance, guardianship, nominating and the various programs offered to people with disabilities. If you are interested, or wish to nominate someone, complete the Board of Director Application or the Committee Application available here. Please consider offering your time and talents and return your completed application by the Friday, February 22, 2008 deadline. Volunteer & Intern Opportunities We also offer a wide variety of other volunteer
opportunities to meet your interests and needs:
For the potential volunteer/intern, we offer:
To view and/or
print the volunteer application...click here
Advocacy Program
Opportunities
Unlimited of Niagara is also recruiting caring individuals who are interested in becoming
advocates and enhancing the lives of people with developmental disabilities. An advocate
provides advice to help individuals with disabilities to make important, everyday
decisions that improve the quality of their lives. The agency will conduct thorough
training so every advocate becomes an educated and informed supporter to promote
independence, inclusion and productivity for individuals with disabilities. Volunteers
should be patient, supportive and good listeners. Parents, family members and friends of
individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as staff members from other human
service agencies, are encouraged to consider an advocacy role. Therese Mudd,
Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara’s chair of the Advocacy Consultant Group, says,
“it is helpful for volunteers to have an understanding of disability issues and
concerns, but anyone with a desire to help is welcome.” This program stems from
federal regulations and state policies, which specify that advocates must be appointed to
represent individuals who have no other person in their life to assist them in attaining
their rights. For
more information about the advocacy program please call Sally at (716) 297-6400 or
complete the volunteer application. Speakers'
Bureau
Our employees
possess a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience in working with people with
developmental disabilities and educating the community. We would appreciate the
opportunity to come to your business, organization, service club, church or school, to
share information on a topic of your choice. Our
presentations can be formal, informal or round-table discussions and can accommodate small
to large size groups. Programs are offered free of charge to any organization in
need of a speaker, but a donation to the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation,
Inc. is appreciated.
To receive a Speakers' Bureau directory or for more information, call Roxane Albond-Buchner, Manger of Communications at 297-6400 or ralbondb@buffnet.net.
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 Connie S. Brown
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