All disabled people have the right to participate in cultural life, recreation, and community activities on an equal basis with others, as affirmed by Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This page centers disabled people's expertise and is informed by disabled people's participation in movements and communities globally.
Disabled people and allies support disability justice and rights movements through many forms of volunteering. Every role matters—front-line action, behind-the-scenes logistics, digital support, peer connection, research, and storytelling.
Volunteering takes many forms beyond showing up at events. Consider:
- Peer support: Sharing experience and knowledge with other disabled people
- Meeting and event support: Helping run accessible meetings and events
- Research: Investigating policies, laws, organizations, or issues
- Content creation: Making social media posts, graphics, videos, or written content
- Translation and interpretation: Making materials accessible in other languages
- Access support: Providing ASL interpretation, captioning, or other access services
- Transportation: Offering rides or accompanying people to appointments
- Mutual aid: Delivering food, medications, or supplies
- Administrative support: Data entry, scheduling, communications
- Technical skills: Website maintenance, database management, accessible document creation
- Direct action support: Logistics for protests and campaigns
You don't need to attend protests or meetings to be a vital part of the movement. Many essential roles can be done remotely or on flexible schedules.
- Local Centers for Independent Living: Find yours through ILRU Directory
- ADAPT chapters: National disability rights direct action organization
- Local disability advocacy groups: Often found through state or local disability councils
- Disability-specific organizations: Groups focused on particular disabilities or conditions
- Local mutual aid groups: Often organized through social media or community boards
- Disability-focused mutual aid: Networks specifically serving disabled people
- Crisis response networks: Groups that mobilize during emergencies
- Organizations by and for disabled people of color
- LGBTQ+ disabled people's groups
- Disabled parents' organizations
- Youth and student disability groups
- Faith-based disability communities
- Social media campaigns and movements
- Online disability communities that do advocacy work
- Digital accessibility projects
- Remote positions with disability organizations
Volunteer programs must be accessible for disabled people to participate fully. This responsibility belongs to organizations, but volunteers can advocate for access.
Recruitment and Onboarding
- Make application processes accessible (multiple formats, flexible deadlines)
- Describe access features and how to request accommodations
- Ask about access needs without requiring disclosure of diagnosis
During Volunteering
- Provide remote options for roles that don't require physical presence
- Honor fluctuating energy and health—flexible scheduling without punishment
- Include ASL interpretation, captioning, and plain language
- Make physical spaces accessible
- Offer training and don't assume prior knowledge
Ongoing Support
- Check in about access needs regularly—they may change
- Provide accommodations without extensive justification
- Value disabled volunteers' contributions and expertise
- Pay for skilled labor when possible—don't exploit disabled volunteers
- Set boundaries—overextending hurts you and the movement
- Communicate your needs and capacity honestly
- Ask about accommodations before starting
- Share your skills and interests so organizations can match you well
- Take breaks when you need them without guilt
¶ Volunteering and Benefits
Many disabled people in the U.S. receive benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Volunteering generally doesn't affect these benefits, but there are rules to follow.
- Volunteering a few hours per month typically won't affect benefits
- Activities must be genuinely voluntary—not required or compensated
- Work-like activities might be scrutinized more closely than other volunteering
- Keep records of your volunteer activities
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): If volunteering looks like work you could be paid for, it might raise questions
- Regularity: Very regular, work-like schedules might draw attention
- Reimbursements: Reimbursement for expenses is generally okay, but compensation is not
- Contact your local Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) program
- Consult with a benefits counselor before making significant changes
- The Arc's inclusive volunteering resources address benefits and volunteering
Volunteering provides value beyond the immediate contribution:
- Building skills and experience
- Connecting with community
- Contributing to causes that matter
- Developing relationships and networks
- Finding purpose and meaning
- Benefiting from diverse perspectives and experiences
- Strengthening connections with disability communities
- Building more inclusive organizational culture
- Developing future leaders and staff
- Expanding who can participate in advocacy
- Ensuring disabled voices are centered
- Building sustainable, accessible organizing practices
- Challenging assumptions about who contributes to change
- ILRU CIL Directory: Find Centers for Independent Living in your area
- ADAPT: National disability rights direct action
- VolunteerMatch: General volunteer matching (search for disability-related opportunities)
¶ Benefits and Volunteering
This page centers disabled people's expertise and is informed by disabled-led organizing globally. For questions or to suggest additions, see How to Contribute.