Intellectual, Developmental, and Physical Disabilities

Find Local Community Partners interested in Intellectual, Developmental, and Physical Disabilities below.

Tammy Stalzer ~ (402) 592-2374 ~ tammy@alsintheheartland.org

1320 S. 119th St, Omaha, NE 68144 ~ www.alsintheheartland.org

ALS in the Heartland is based in Omaha & provides services to patients, caregivers & family members throughout Nebraska & western Iowa who are affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Services provided are in-home consultation, community support gatherings, equipment loan pool, telehealth, & the Respite Care Voucher Program.
Volunteers are needed to visit patient families and deliver equipment, help with awareness efforts and events, and office tasks. We are able to accept an individual volunteer or a group of up to twenty volunteers depending on the project. We accept both one-time volunteers as well as more long- term volunteers

Melanie Roberts, Administrative Assistant  ~ mmroberts@alz.org ~ 402(502)-4300

11711 Arbor St., Ste. 110 Omaha, NE 68144 ~ https://www.alz.org/nebraska/

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit www.alz.org or call 800.272.3900. Volunteers assist with all elements of our mission, including advocacy, community education, and special event support. Start your Volunteer Profile on our website linked above!

Thomas Lynch, Director of Community Programs  ~ thomas.lynch@boystown.org ~ 402-498-1186

14057 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town, NE 68010 ~ www.boystown.org

Boys Town invites you to play a special role in the lives of our special needs children through mentoring and volunteer group projects. Mentors help our students improve their reading and math skills. Group volunteer projects include assisting with harvesting vegetables from the Boys Town gardens; preparing our chapels for services; and various projects at the annual Boys Town gardens; preparing our chapels for services; and various projects at the annual Boys Town Posadas Christmas celebration.

Special Requirements: Police background check, Drug test

Katie Weber, Program Coordinator ~ katie@golearnall.org ~ 402-502-0698

8610 W Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68114  ~ www.golearnall.org

Our mission is to provide adult education (Literacy, GED, English as a Second Language, classroom and one-on-one tutoring). Classes are offered from 9:30am-7:30pm and volunteers are welcome at any time.

Summer opportunities:

Summer session starts June 7th and finishes July 29th. All classes will be remote and hosted on our online curriculum, Burlington English. We are capping class size at 10 students to give students the opportunity to participate fully in class.

At this moment, we anticipate needing 2 Advanced ESL class teachers and 1 Intermediate ESL class teacher. These classes are all on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5:30-7:00 PM. Anyone interested in teaching would do a volunteer orientation with Katie and additional training on using the Burlington English curriculum with an employee at Burlington. Anyone who might be interested can call or email Katie.

Jessica Westerlin, Public Relations Specialist ~ jessica.westerlin@mosaicinfo.org ~ (402) 690-1167

4642 S 132nd st Omaha, NE 68137 ~ https://www.mosaicinfo.org/locations/nebraska/omaha

Mosaic is a faith-based organization serving people with intellectual disabilities in the Omaha area.  Volunteer opportunities range from one time opportunities to ongoing opportunities.  Activities could include (but are not limited to) working directly with people served, assisting with activities, teaching classes, accompanying people in service on outings, starting an advocate program for those in service, manual labor, etc.  We match the skills and desires of volunteers with the opportunities at Mosaic.

This service opportunity is excellent for anyone interested in a career in health care (nursing, PT, OT, pre-med, etc.) 

Types of Service: Assistance with daily activities, listening to stories/ministry of presence, music or art activities.

Sophia Daley ~ sdaley@mhacb.org ~ (712) 322-1491 ext. 107

505 S.6th Street Council Bluffs, IA 51501

The Municipal Housing Agency houses elderly, disabled and low-income individuals. Some of the elderly and disabled residents could use assistance with cleaning their units. Such cleaning ranges from light housekeeping (vacuuming, dusting) to deep cleaning services such as cleaning a refrigerator, oven, bathtubs, or mopping floors. Our residents benefit from the light housekeeping, especially the elderly and disabled residents whom have disclosed cleaning is physically difficult for them.

We have a local food pantry and could use volunteers to distribute the food. Volunteers are also welcome to spend time with residents who don’t have other social supports as a friend or companion. Finally, if you love decorating, come help make the home of a resident more festive by decorating for the holidays!

We would greatly except any volunteers, whether it be one-time or continuous. The MHA units are either efficiency size or one bedroom units, so I would suggest groups of about 2 or 3 would be efficient considering the space.

Carly DeBruin, MPA, CTRS ~ (402) 559-3018 ~ carly.debruin@unmc.edu

444 S. 44th St, Omaha, NE 68131 ~ www.unmc.edu/mmi

If you are a Nursing, Social Work, PT/OT, Special Ed., Psychology, Speech Path, or Geriatrics student we have a fun and interesting service opportunity. The UNMC/MMI Recreation Therapy department is seeking students to assist our participants who have developmental disabilities with activities such as art, swimming, cooking, sports, and games at the Nebraska Medical Center. Our programs offer hands on experience assisting children and adults of all ages who have various developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. Programs run during the fall and spring semesters Monday – Thursday, 3:00 – 5:30 pm, Thursday evenings, 6:30 – 9:00 pm and Saturday mornings, 9:30am – noon.

Chelsea Richardson,  Outreach Coordinator ~ chelsea.richardson@nebraska.gov ~ (402) 378-1771

1540 S 70th Street, Suite 202, Lincoln, NE 68506 ~ Website Link

The Office of Public Guardian is designed to serve as the guardian or conservator for an individual when no other alternative is available. In addition to providing the means of last resort as guardians or conservators for those situations where no family member or suitable individual is available, the Office of Public Guardian provides education, training, and support for volunteer and family guardians and conservators, and recruits individuals to serve as guardians and conservators for Nebraska’s vulnerable individuals.

* volunteer tasks differ based on which program a volunteer is involved in. The following link describes each of our volunteer programs: https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/programs-services/office-public-guardian/opg-internships-externships-and-volunteer-programs

Lisa Dougherty, HR Manager ~ ldougherty@olliewebbinc.org ~ (402) 346-5220

1941 South 42nd St, Suite 122, Omaha, NE  68105 ~ www.olliewebbinc.org

Ollie Webb Center, Inc.’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through support, programs, and advocacy. Volunteer opportunities include: joining our adolescent and/or adult participants at community based locations for socialization and/or educational opportunities, coaching a basketball team, assisting with role-playing during educational classes, etc.

Best Buddies Colleges, a program for college students, pairs adults with intellectual disabilities in one-on-one friendships with college students (aka College Buddies). College Buddies & their Buddies must meet 2 times per month, which includes one individual activity as well as a large group activity. The pair also make weekly telephone or email contact. Contact Ayushi Kaul at ayushikaul@creighton.edu for more information.

Susan Schaaf ~ (402) 451-5234 ~ sschaaf@omahastreetschool.org

3223 No. 45th St, Omaha, NE 68104 ~ www.omahastreetschool.org

The Omaha Street School is a faith-based alternative high school for at-risk teens.  The school focuses on dropout prevention by offering a personalized education, a moral code and tools for self-sufficiency.  SS offers low student-to-teacher ratios and individualized student learning plans.  Classroom volunteers help provide the one-on-one attention many of the students need. This can be done by reading with students after school, assisting with homework, working with high school students on STEM related projects, as well as advising junior and seniors on their college search and transition.

Courtney Spurgeon ~ cspurgeon@oneworldomaha.org ~ (402) 502-8917

4920 S. 30th St, Omaha, NE 68107 ~ https://www.oneworldomaha.org/volunteer/

Put your passion to work at OneWorld! Join people from diverse cultures and make a positive impact in the health and well-being of OneWorld patients.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Working in our Baby Boutique
  • Mexican Consulate Health Window (Spanish required)
  • Gardening and Grounds Keeping
  • Special Projects Support
  • Learning Community Center ESL Class Aide
  • Learning Community Center Child Care Assistant 
  • … and more

Megan Mackie ~ mmackie@outlookne.org ~ 531-365-5328

4125 South 72nd St., Omaha, NE 68127 ~ https://outlookne.org

Supporting people who are living with vision loss and blindness through technology training, recreation and cultural activities, and community education around inclusion of people with blindness. Volunteers can be sighted guides for teens and adults who are blind/low vision during our monthly recreation activities. Service learning class placements also around topics of disability, heath and wellness, non profit administration, advocacy.

 

Bekah Jurde, Assistant Director ~ rjerde@rtbs.org ~ (402) 572-3003

7101 Newport Avenue, Omaha NE 68152 ~ https://rtbs.org/get-involved/volunteer.html

Radio Talking Book Service provides human-voiced information choices to individuals who have disabilities that prevent them from reading.  Our volunteers read 10 regional and national newspapers, weekly grocery and department store ads, and current information from over 70 magazines to provide our listeners with the information necessary to lead a productive, self-directed life and remain engaged in their community.  This vital print information reaches listeners through the internet (website and smart phone applications) and RTBN’s radio receivers, an easy-to-use custom medium for those with disabilities, which is provided at no to cost eligible individuals and care facilities.

Celeste Sully Feuerbach, Volunteer Coordinator ~ (402) 930-4143 ~ csully@vnatoday.org

12565 West Center Road, Omaha, NE 68144 ~ Visit the website

VNA Hospice Volunteers: provide service to terminally ill patients and families. Volunteers go through 16 hours of training and specific responsibilities and hours are dependent upon work assignment.

VNA Patient Advocate/Visitation Volunteers: visit patients in area care facilities and nursing homes – weekly or bi-weekly depending on the volunteer’s schedule – to provide conversation and companionship while advocating for the patient’s health care.

VNA Flu Clinic Volunteers: assist with clerical duties at community Flu clinics in October and November. Volunteers can sign up for one or more 2 – 4 hour clinics and receive a free flu inoculation.

VNA Special Event Volunteers: assist with our special events (Art and Soup; Cooking for the VNA) throughout the year – great for groups who want or need a one time volunteer event. Filling holiday gift bags for hospice patients and collecting small-sized toiletry items and filling gift bags for Home Health Aide patients are great projects for groups in November and early December.

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