<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>When you are going through these steps you will have to have good advocate skills throughout. If you don't know what you need or can't communicate the adaptive ways you will do a volunteer job then they're not going to take you seriously or may give you something less than what you are really qualified to do.<br><br>Ericka Short<div>"What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."</div><div><br><div> from my iPhone</div></div></div><div><br>On Apr 6, 2016, at 9:26 PM, Darian Smith via Community-service <<a href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org">community-service@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8">Good point.<div class=""> How do you use advocacy in a situation such as this?<br class=""><div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Apr 6, 2016, at 12:02 PM, Reyazuddin, Yasmin via Community-service <<a href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org" class="">community-service@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Thanks for this wonderful list. Many people also need to have one important skill. It is known as ADVOCACY.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Many organizations and agencies have very good intentions but lack common sense.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">We the blind have to speak for ourselves.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""> </span></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">Yasmin Reyazuddin<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">Aging & Disability Services<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">Montgomery County Government<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">Department of Health & Human Services<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">Rockville MD 20850<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">240-777-0311 (MC311)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">240-777-1556 (personal)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">240-777-1495 (fax)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br class="">Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">This message may contain protected health information or other information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this material.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">Thank you.</span><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""> </span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""> </span></div><div class=""><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Community-service [<a href="mailto:community-service-bounces@nfbnet.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">mailto:community-service-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b class="">On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Darian Smith via Community-service<br class=""><b class="">Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wednesday, April 06, 2016 2:01 PM<br class=""><b class="">To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Community Service Discussion List <<a href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">community-service@nfbnet.org</a>><br class=""><b class="">Cc:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Darian Smith <<a href="mailto:dsmithnfb@gmail.com" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">dsmithnfb@gmail.com</a>><br class=""><b class="">Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [Community-service] Finding Volunteer Positions As an Individual Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired - CareerConnect Blog - American Foundation for the Blind<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div class=""><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div></div><div class=""><blockquote style="color: inherit; padding: inherit; margin: inherit;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.afb.org/blog/careerconnect-blog/finding-volunteer-positions-as-an-individual-who-is-blind-or-visually-impaired/12" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">http://www.afb.org/blog/careerconnect-blog/finding-volunteer-positions-as-an-individual-who-is-blind-or-visually-impaired/12</a><o:p class=""></o:p></p></div><div id="article" class=""><div class=""><h1 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Finding Volunteer Positions As an Individual Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired<o:p class=""></o:p></h1><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><span style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in;" class=""><span id="cid:~WRD000.jpg"><~WRD000.jpg></span></span><o:p class=""></o:p></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Did you read the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.afb.org/blog/careerconnect-blog/8-work-related-benefits-of-volunteering-for-job-seekers-who-are-blind-or-visually-impaired/12" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">8 Work-Related Benefits of Volunteering for Job Seekers Who are Blind or Visually Impaired</a>? Did you find yourself saying, "Shannon" (I'm glad you said Shannon, because we're on a first-name basis), "I like the idea of volunteering, but what kind of volunteer position should I get? How do I get a volunteer position?"<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">I'm glad you asked. This blog post is for you.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Read through these helpful tips on finding a volunteer position; it's à la carte (just like a pick-and-choose hot lunch in middle school, only better), so take the advice you need to hear and leave the rest for others.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><h3 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">When considering a volunteer position that would be a good fit for you...<o:p class=""></o:p></h3><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class=""><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inventory your interests. Write them down and dig deep. When you think you've written all your interests, write more. Self-awareness is a great starting place for finding volunteer or paid work that meshes with you.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inventory your values. Consider all the causes you would want to benefit with your time and talents. Literacy? Children with terminal illness? Youth athletics? Art in schools? Racial equality? Educating the public on blindness and visual impairments? Quality time with foster children? Reading to the elderly? Feeding the hungry? Environmental protection? Animal care? Keep thinking. There are numerous worthy causes.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inventory your skills. What can you contribute to the cause(s) or people? Examples: reading to others, playing with children, walking or feeding animals, preparing or serving food, talking with others, writing, gardening, administrative work, answering telephones, cleaning, presenting, crocheting, repairing malfunctioning technology (for the record, I do not have this skill), medical expertise, legal advice, photography, etc.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are using volunteer work to prepare you for paid work, list the skills you would like to learn and/or practice through volunteering. What types of volunteer activities will best train and equip you for your professional goals?<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Think through your limitations. Maybe it's your restricted availability, inefficient use of assistive technology, or inaccessible public transportation. Problem solve: What volunteer positions can you participate in regardless of your limitations? Is there a position that can help you to improve or provide the motivation to improve a limitation?<o:p class=""></o:p></li></ul><h3 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Now that you know what types of activities would be a good fit, here are volunteer-position-seeking tips...whew, that's a mouthful!<o:p class=""></o:p></h3><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class=""><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Talk with those in your social network. Does your neighbor or church friend work at a location in which you would like to volunteer? Ask about the agency, ask about gaps that need to be filled, and ask who you can contact about filling a gap.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Search the Internet for local volunteer opportunities that match your interests, values, skills, and professional goals. Peruse volunteer-matching websites such as the American Red Cross and volunteer wanted ads.<o:p class=""></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Make cold calls. If you know right where you want to volunteer, call the agency. Let them know how you can be of service. Ask if you can meet up to discuss a volunteer position or ask if you can be e-mailed a volunteer application. Send the completed application back with a cover letter.<o:p class=""></o:p></li></ul><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">You got the "job"? Send a thank-you letter to anyone who helped to connect you with the position.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">If you have tips for finding a volunteer position, leave it in the comments section!<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">If you are a teacher working with students who are blind or visually impaired, utilize the<a href="http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/for-job-seekers/lesson-plans-for-teachers-and-professionals/what-is-work/lesson-4-volunteering/12345" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">Volunteering lesson plan</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to assist your students in finding a volunteer position.<o:p class=""></o:p></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div></div></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important;" class="">_______________________________________________</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: Helvetica; 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