Mission Statement
Volunteers work at several local agencies providing specialized recreation, rehabilitation and companionship services such as Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy (CART), Therapeutic Adventures, Region Ten's Meadowcreek Center for mental retardation, Virginia Institute of Autism, and ARC of the Piedmont.
Program Sites
Where We're Serving
Arc of the Piedmont
The ARC of the Piedmont is a recreational facility for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, and conveniently located in Charlottesville downtown. Volunteers involve in many different activities with these individuals such as arts and crafts, reading, movies, games, discovery/music class, exercise, and cooking. Flexible schedule is available and no experience of working with individuals of disability is necessary. If you want close patient contact and you are pre-med, this is a great opportunity for you. For more info, visit www.thearcofthepiedmont.org.
Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy
Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy (CART) combines horses and kids in a fun, rewarding experience designed to help children with disabilities improve their physical, mental, and emotional skills. In learning to horse ride, these disadvantaged kids are able to foster a loving relationship with a horse while learning basic physical skills such as balance and coordination. More importantly, the activity facilitates positive development of self-esteem, confidence, and emotional capacity. Volunteers, together with the riding instructor, will participate in riding lessons with the children by side walking or leading a horse and simultaneously interacting with the child to aid his or her learning. Lessons take place some weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Volunteers are only required to attend one lesson per week and carpools can be arranged. Neither prior experience with horses nor with disabled children is required; anyone with an interest is welcome! Sign up online now for this incredibly rewarding experience! If you have any questions, feel free to email aps4y@virginia.edu or ngg8e@virginia.edu.
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center
The purpose of this program is to have volunteers provide extra help and support to those within the in-patient unit of UVa's HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center (located within Fontaine Research Park). Volunteers coordinate group and individual games and activities for the patients outside of their scheduled therapy to aid in the rehabilitation process. No experience with the disabled is necessary, and this program is great for anyone interested in the health or rehabilitation fields. Volunteers meet with the patients in the afternoons and early evenings on Monday-Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Meadowcreek
Meadowcreek is a facility focused on providing daytime activities and social interaction for adults with mental and intellectual disabilities. Part of a larger organization, Region Ten Community Services Board is an agency of local government, providing mental health, mental retardation and substance addiction services where they are needed in the local community. Volunteer shifts are very flexible within the range of Meadowcreek's hours 9 am - 2 pm, M-F. ANYONE with a committed interest who wants to give back to his or her community qualifies to volunteer, no previous experience required. This a great opportunity for all UVA students especially those interested in pursuing a career in the fields of therapy, medicine, psychology, communication and any career involving people skills. You will assist staff with activity time and primarily socialize and have fun with clients. If you have a special skill, such as playing guitar or piano, teaching special arts and crafts, helping out in cooking class or helping with specialized tutoring, the staff would love you to share it!
Signing up for a fun, flexible and rewarding volunteer experience with Meadowcreek is easy! Just ask for a registration form for Recreation Therapy at Madison House, and select the Meadowcreek program. Contact smf2y@virginia.edu for more information.
Special Olympics
This program works with the international Special Olympics organization dedicated to empowering individuals with an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay, or a closely related developmental disability to become physically fit, productive, and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Charlottesville is located in Area 3 of Special Olympics Virginia, which currently offers basketball, swimming, track and field, tennis, golf, volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, bowling, and skiing. No special skills in any one sport needed, just an enthusiastic and positive attitude! Volunteers must be willing to participate in any sport and give 1-2 hours per week in service on Saturdays or Sundays. For more information about Area 3 Special Olympics, visit www.area3specialolympicsva.org.
Therapeutic Adventures
This program is designed to make outdoor sports accessible to the mentally and physically disabled. The bulk of the program is adaptive skiing at Massanutten (Jan-Mar). Throughout the rest of the year, we assist with other adaptive outdoor sports such as kayaking, rock climbing, fly fishing, hiking, and others. If you have an interest in skiing and outdoor activities this program is one that can benefit you as much as our clients. We don't require any skiing experience and we also provide lift tickets, food, and equipment free of charge to all of our volunteers.
For more information about Therapeutic Adventures, visit www.taonline.org.
Virginia Institute of Autism Volunteering
Assist the instructors and interact with students of ages 3-18 with autism during their lunch hours at the Virginia Institute of Autism. You have the opportunity to bond and form wonderful relationships with many of the students at the institute. No prior experience or skills required- just an eagerness to try new things, help out, work together, and have fun! This program is great for people interested in many health related fields. For more info about the Virginia Institute of Autism visit their website www.viaschool.org.
