Disability in South Bay

Please select an activity of interest to you.

Achieve Kids Palo Alto (Palo Alto)

This organization serves Bay Area children, aged 5 to 22, with emotional and or developmental disabilities including mental retardation, autistic spectrum disorder, mood, disruptive behavior, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. Volunteers can help in the classroom during the day or in after school programs.

Achieve Kids San Jose (San Jose)

This organization serves Bay Area children, aged 5 to 22, with emotional and or developmental disabilities including mental retardation, autistic spectrum disorder, mood, disruptive behavior, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. Volunteers can help in the classroom during the day or in after school programs.

Canine Companions for Independence South Bay (South Bay Region)

Volunteer opportunties include being a puppy raiser or breeder caretaker. Call them to find out what is happening in your area.

Learning Ally South Bay (South Bay Region)

This organization provides over people with print disabilities the books they need to learn and succeed. They need volunteers to help record the books for the national library accessible to everyone in the U.S. Volunteers use onsite computers to produce books in accessible digital format on CD and downloadable audio textbooks. Volunteer opportunities include: (1) Narrate the text of a book and describe any visual elements. There is a need for volunteers proficient in technical areas and school textbooks. (2) Help guide the narrators by operating easy to use recording equipment and making corrections to the recorded material when needed. (3) Digital Audio Editors review files during the production process to ensure that high quality standards are met. (4) Spreading the word about these services at schools, community events and local conferences.

One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding (Morgan Hill)

Therapeutic riding and other equine related activities have been used for decades as a tool for improving the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and other special needs. Riding a horse gives a sense of freedom, mobility and accomplishment. There are many volunteer opportunities regardless of your experience or inexperience with horses: fundraising activities, clerical assistance, assist the riding participants by sidewalking, and small and large building and repairing jobs. They will work with you to find the area where you will feel most comfortable and that will be the most rewarding to you.

Project Hired (San Jose)

Help individuals with disabilities to gain and sustain employment. There are many programs to get involved with including (1) Mentor Program: provides practical, hands on job search skills training by establishing and facilitating structured mentoring relationships between job seekers and mentors from local companies. (2) Mock Interview: provide constructive feedback through a mock interview; meet with an applicant to share trends in your industry, provide career and job insights, and professional or personal referrals and contacts. (3) Computer Resource Center: assist job seekerswith resume writing, internet job searches, online skills training, interview preparation and online job applications. (4) Job Club and Seminar Speakers: facilitate seminars and workshop sessions covering job search related topics including resume writing, careers in different industries, interviewing skills and self promotion.

Via Services (Santa Clara)

Via Services works serves children and adults with disabilities in the San Jose area. Volunteer opportunities include working directly with children in their programs to helping with clerical tasks in the offices. Volunteers can also offer their professional services such as fundraising, marketing, accounting and legal expertise.

Vista Center for the Blind Palo Alto (Palo Alto)

Examples of how you can help are providing in home support: with reading mail, paying bills, and running errands, helping clients as needed at the Center, help with Bingo night, driver or guide for group outings, assist with activities like sewing and quilting, ceramics, yoga and gardening as well as adaptive computer programs and low vision equipment. Prior experience working with the blind is not necessary.

Vista Center for the Blind San Jose (San Jose)

Examples of how you can help are providing in home support: with reading mail, paying bills, and running errands, helping clients as needed at the Center, help with Bingo night, driver or guide for group outings, assist with activities like sewing and quilting, ceramics, yoga and gardening as well as adaptive computer programs and low vision equipment. Prior experience working with the blind is not necessary.