As a small non-profit, we rely on the dedication of talented volunteers near and far to support autism families everywhere.
We offer a diverse range of service opportunities for volunteers of all ages and abilities. Contribute to our advocacy, education, or fundraising efforts. Engage with your local community or connect with the autism community online. Learn about the different ways you can get involved below!
Hire Autism, OAR’s employment program is looking for volunteers to support autistic adults with refining their resumes and/or cover letters and preparing for job interviews. The Navigator role is envisioned as a remote, technology-based, volunteer opportunity with face-to-face interactions conducted via web-based platforms. The ideal volunteer will have a record of success in his or her own professional career, excellent verbal and written communication skills, a commitment to Hire Autism’s mission, and the desire to serve as a positive role model.
Volunteers, also known as Navigators, will help to review and provide direct feedback on job seekers’ resumes/cover letters to ensure that they are polished and ready to send to employers. The expected volunteer commitment is 1-2 hours per week for 3 months.
Hire Autism is looking for persons with business leadership and development experience to help pilot our newest initiative, the Hire Autism Regional Ambassador program.
Virtual training is provided and consists of a blended 3-hour curriculum delivered live and on-demand that will be completed over a 2-week period. Training topics include information about Hire Autism, the business case for hiring autistic employees, and tracking contacts/outreach attempts using HubSpot.
Ambassadors will also be given the opportunity to enroll in our Autism Employer Training, an optional 3-hour virtual training program that contains information on inclusive job descriptions, interviewing autistic candidates, and best practices for managing, training, and onboarding.
Regional Ambassadors work to help Hire Autism to expand its network of employer partners and increase the number of employment opportunities available to autistic job seekers. The expected volunteer commitment is 1-2 hours per week for 6-12 months with the goal of onboarding at least 2-3 new companies each month.
Do you want to increase autism awareness, understanding, and acceptance in your community? This is the project for you! OAR seeks volunteers who are willing to go out in their community and distribute informational materials and resources about autism. Share them with neighbors, parent groups, first responders, schools, clinicians, and more.
Choose the OAR autism resources you wish to share with your community (examples include: A Guide to Safety, Curriculum in a Box, Kit for Kids, and Siblings guidebooks). These materials will be shipped to your home where they will be stored and maintained until distribution. Distribute resources to a variety of sites such as schools, youth programs, resource centers, autism parent support groups, police and fire departments, etc. Volunteers must communicate with OAR staff and submit distribution reports in a timely manner.
Ideal candidates are outgoing and comfortable working with people of diverse backgrounds.
This is a flexible position that requires minimal travel. Must be 18 years or older.
OAR’s blog features stories, dialogue, resources, and advice that provide an added source of support for autistic people, families, educators, and other professionals.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences with autism with others, apply now! We are always on the lookout for new guest writers to contribute a post or series of posts to the OAR blog. Autistic people, siblings, parents, caregivers, educators, and autism professionals are welcome to apply.
Write 500-750 word blog entries for OAR’s blog. Entries on the blog may be on any topic related to your personal or professional experience with autism, including parenting, education, transition, sibling perspectives, self-advocacy, self-discovery/self-acceptance, the military, and much more. All topic proposals are subject to OAR approval. Contributors are also required to submit a short author bio and accompanying photo. Contributors may request anonymity via a pseudonym if desired.
OAR estimates that blog contributions, including edits, may take anywhere from 2-6 hours per entry. Blog contributors may contribute on a one-time basis or propose a blog series. Blog series typically contain 4-7 entries. This is a flexible position that requires no travel.
Youth Education Leaders play an important role in raising awareness and building acceptance among students in K-8 about autism. OAR seeks volunteers of all ages who demonstrate the leadership skills, communication skills, and initiative to teach the Kit for Kids program in the school setting. OAR staff is willing to work closely with high school students, parents, educators, and others interested in implementing the program school or district-wide.
This is a flexible position that requires little to no travel. Volunteers who are under 18 years old must identify a supervisor. Youth Education Leaders must obtain approval from the organization where the lesson(s) will take place.
RUN FOR AUTISM
, OAR’s signature fundraising activity, is looking for volunteers to support our endurance teams at our featured events. OAR is seeking friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic volunteers for support at the RUN FOR AUTISM during all race weekend activities.
Volunteers will assist the OAR staff in greeting RUN FOR AUTISM team members who are participating in the race, distributing materials and information about OAR and the RUN program, recruiting new runners for future RUN events, and maintaining EXPO space/Charity Village Tent.
Date of events are typically on weekends and the location varies depending on the event.
