Organizations, companies, teams, and other groups that work with individuals with special needs often need outside help to achieve their goals. With that in mind, there is no shortage of places to volunteer for special needs. We’ll start this blog by identifying specific organizations and businesses where to volunteer for special needs in Dallas, but then we’ll show you how you can find places to volunteer out of the DFW area as well as other ways you can make a difference in the lives of those with special needs.
Where to Volunteer for Special Needs in Dallas
Not local to Dallas? Don’t worry — scroll down to the second half of this blog to see other ways you can make a difference for those with special needs in your own community. We link to websites that help you find organizations to volunteer with, tell you how to get certified to work with special needs, tell you how to franchise with Special Strong, and how to sign up for session with Special Strong.
Achievement Center of Texas
Achievement Center of Texas (ACT) is a day habilitation center and daycare facilities for adults and children with special needs. They have different classes that match students with others who are about as independent as they are, to make sure they’re being challenged and stimulated. When you volunteer with ACT, you can help students:
- Do art projects
- Learn life skills
- Attend field trips
- Do their homework
- And more!
You can also volunteer in the office or with fundraising events. Here’s the link to the online application.
My Possibilities
My Possibilities is a nonprofit organization that offers continuing education for adults with special needs. The creators of My Possibilities specifically designed to get these students jobs. When you volunteer with My Possibilities, you’ll have the opportunity to help with:
- Community education
- Weekend socials
- Classroom activities
- Fundraising events
- Community Ball
- HIPster Golf Classic
- North Texas Giving Day
- Santa Run Texas
If you’re interested in volunteering with My Possibilities, you can fill out the volunteer packet and email it to [email protected].
Hugs Cafe
Hugs Cafe is a sandwich shop in downtown McKinney that exclusively hires adults with special needs. Something that truly makes Hugs Cafe a unique nonprofit organization is that the job training is customized to each individual’s specific needs. When you volunteer with Hugs Cafe, you’ll help with this training process and become a Hugs Cafe ambassador, spreading the word about the organization and encouraging people to donate to it.
Go here if you’re interested in volunteering. Download the application, fill it out, and send it to [email protected].
NonPareil Institute
NonPareil Institute is a North-Texas based nonprofit (expanding quickly!) that offers computer training for individuals on the autism spectrum. They offer coding classes, Adobe Suite tutorials, app-building classes, and much more. If you want to be part of this amazing organization that celebrates what people with autism can do, then contact a location near you to see if they have any volunteer opportunities.
Rays of Light
Rays of Light is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to offering respite care to parents of special needs children. They offer fun evening activities for youth with special needs so parents can have nights off to practice self care and exercise their individuality. Volunteers are able to provide supervision and entertainment to the children with special needs who attend Night Lights events.
Interested in volunteering? Fill out the volunteer application and complete the background check. Rays of Light will contact you shortly!
Not Local to Dallas? Here’s Where to Volunteer for Special Needs
These are a few online organizations that help you find places near you where you can volunteer for special needs:
Make a Difference in the Special Needs Community
Get Certified to Work With Special Needs
If you’re reading this blog, it’s very likely that you have a passion for working with people with special needs. You may not want to completely change careers, but you could work still get certified to work with individuals with special needs. This could become a side project for you or an opportunity for you to incorporate working with people with special needs into your current career. Our sister company, Strong Education, offers special needs courses that are great for personal trainers, group fitness instructors, parents of people with special needs, and behavioral therapists.
Become a Special Strong Franchisee
If you are a fitness professional and you’re already certified to work with individuals with special needs, consider becoming a Special Strong franchisee. We believe fitness should be accessible to all, and the best way to accomplish this is to have as many Special Strong locations available to those with special needs. Contact us and let us know where you want to open a Special Strong location, and we’ll let you know if that location is available.
Sign Up for a Session With Special Strong
If you’re interested in volunteering at places that work with people with special needs, then it’s likely that you have someone close to you who has special needs. If you have a child with special needs, consider signing them up for a private training session or boot camp class with Special Strong. All of our personal trainers and group fitness instructors are certified to work with people with special needs, and our company works with children as young as 8. If you don’t have a child with special needs but know someone who does, consider referring them to Special Strong to show support to a company who is trying to make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities.