Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers play a crucial role in delivering needed services to persons who are blind or visually impaired. Volunteers are needed for: outdoor recreation activities, leisure time weekend and evening activities, grounds and maintenance work on our campus, teaching assistant, and clerical and computer tasks with Carroll Center staff. Volunteers must agree to a CORI check before participating and participate in an orientation session.

Other specific volunteer interests can be explored on an individual basis.

To participate fill out our Volunteer Application Online.

Volunteering for Weekend or Evening Leisure Time Activities

Clients in residence often need to travel to nearby stores, malls, theater, church and other community interests and need transportation and accompanyment. Volunteers can play a vital role in helping one or more clients with this need. Training is provided.

Teaching Assistant

Volunteers who have a specific skill/experience in computer technology, or other skills are invited to share their expertuse as a teacher’s aide for adults in rehabilitation training or children in summer programs. Skill level required would be assessed at the time of inquiry.

Grounds or Maintenence Work

Groups of college students and civic organizations have often volunteered for a day or more to improve the 5 acre campus grounds or work in painting or repair of one of our buildings on campus.

Volunteering with Clerical and Computer Tasks

The Carroll Center is always in need of people who are able to donate their time to help with office tasks. Current needs include: help with mailing, filing, data entry, and many other projects that keep the Carroll Center running.

Volunteering for Outdoor Recreation Activities

The Carroll Center operates an outdoor recreation program, Outdoor Enrichment, which provides seasonal outdoor recreation activities—like tandem bicycling, sailing, canoeing/kayaking, hiking and skiing—to persons who are blind or visually impaired. Volunteers in the Outdoor Enrichment Program act as sighted guides to visually impaired participants, helping them to take part in recreational opportunities that are otherwise often inaccessible.

Volunteers don’t have to be experts, but do need to have adequate skill level to participate safely as a guide in the select activity under the existing conditions. A one-hour orientation to safe guiding methods is provided by the Carroll Center, and is required prior to volunteering.

SHARE YOUR LOVE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WITH A BLIND PERSON.

For more information please contact:

Peg Hawkins

Carroll Center for the Blind
770 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458
617-969-6200 or 1-800-852-3131
Email: peg.hawkins@carroll.org