(Whole) Community Service: 13 Tips for Creating Inclusive Service Contexts for People with

Disabilities

Kevin KoziolIndependent Living CoordinatordisAbility Resource Center

of the Rappahannock, Inc.

2014 Virginia Volunteerism & Service ConferenceSeptember 12, 2014

A little about the dRC and me

Inclusive service contexts look like?

Starting September 15, you can?

Being inclusive means?

It’s important because?

A disclaimer...…no legal advice here

InclusiveServiceContext

It starts with

attitude.

Inclusive service contexts = added value

Community

Service organization

Person

Working-age Virginians with disabilities employed

Source: 2012 Virginia Disability Status Report, Employment and Disability Institute, Cornell University

Inclusive service is linked to employment.

36%

Creating inclusive service contexts

Reach

RetainRecruit

13 tips

Example

Key idea

+

Spend time preparing to be inclusive.

Target outreach and recruiting.

Be explicit at events and in materials.

Analyze service positions.

Ask the right questions.

Consider “virtual volunteering.”

Avoid accommodation assumptions.

Know basic etiquette.

But don’t rely on basic etiquette.

Effective communication is more than interpreters and alternative formats.

Evaluate the built environment seriously.

Think beyond the built environment, seriously.

Build relationships and seek assistance.

Lead on!- Justin Dart

Kevin KozioldisAbility Resource Center409 Progress StreetFredericksburg, VA 22401540-373-2559kkoziol@cildrc.org @cildrc /disAbilityResourceCenterFredericksburgVA