Volunteer Opportunities
Below, you will find a list of businesses and organizations in the community that historically have allowed CSUF NSSLHA members to volunteer on a long-term basis. If you are interested in securing a long-term position as a volunteer, it is your responsibility to call the organization and follow any interview, application, or training processes they may require. Not all organizations may be currently accepting volunteers and may have a waiting list. We appreciate any updates or additional opportunities you may have for us that will help us keep this information current and up to date.
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Escorting patients to and from their appointments, preparing forms and charts, etc.
Contact:Debbie Tomlinson (Director, Volunteer Services)
E-mail: DTomlinson@dhs.lacounty.org
Phone: (562) 385-7651
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers on as needed basis - best to contact during last week of month to see if they have openings.
United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County
The mission of UCP-OC is to help children with disabilities reach their full potential and improve the quality of life for them and their family members. Volunteers are able to volunteer at special events such as the annual Autumn Gold Classic Tournament in the Fall, or the Life Without Limits event in the Spring, as well as join in on recreation classes, in therapy sessions, and also help out with administrative work. Volunteers generally provide peer support and gain experience working with children with special needs in a casual and play-based environment.
Contact: Alicia Sterns
E-mail: astearns@ucpoc.org
Phone: (949)333-6430
Website: https://www.ucpoc.org/
Location:980 Roosevelt, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92620
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers year round. Peak times tend to be beginning and end of the semester when students know their schedules, try to apply ahead of time.
Los Angeles Speech & Language Therapy Center, Inc.
Four great opportunities available to volunteer with speech and language delayed children which may fit students' needs and time schedules:
Early Intervention Preschool Program for children 18 to 36 months of age with speech and language delays resulting from autism, Down Syndrome, Prenatal Drug Exposure, etc.
A-Team Social Skills Program - a pragmatic social language program for children 4 to 14 years. This program is for children with autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD and speech delays. We have four separate groups which are language based and led by our own Mastered Licensed speech pathologists. Dr. Pamela Wiley, the Owner and Director of the center has just completed a workbook
Reading With Friends - a literacy program to facilitate reading skills for children with speech and language delays.
The Say N' Play Summer Speech Camp - A summer speech camp for children 3 to 15 years of age with speech and language delays. There are approximately 4 classes which are taught by our mastered licensed speech pathologists. Our staff develop thematically based weekly lesson plans focusing on speech and language, cognition, visual and auditory processing skills, pragmatic social language skills, gross and fine motor skills. Each week culminates in a field trip consistent with the weekly theme.
Contact: Faye Favors
Phone: (310) 649-6199
E-mail: info@speakla.com
Contact: Accepts new volunteers every couple months - contact for more information.
Children’s Speech Care Center
Assist in small group therapy with toddlers, children with pragmatic/social issues, or help make therapy materials, answer the phones when needed, and do data entry related to patients.
Location: 3521 Lomita Blvd., Suite 201 Torrance, CA 90505
Contact: Erin Inouye, M.S. CCC-SLP
E-mail: eryn@childspeech.net
Phone: (310) 856-8528 x160
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers mainly during September-May.
Requires a 6 month commitment with at least 2 hours per week.
St. Jude Medical Center
OUTPATIENT OPPORTUNITIES:
NOTE: All of these options are at the Centers for Rehabilitation and Wellness unless otherwise specified. (aka CRW)
Location: 2767 E Imperial Hwy.
Brea, CA 92821
1) Communication Recovery Group meets on Monday mornings, and is run by two of the SJMC Speech Language Pathologists, Jennifer Even and Denise Schwartz.
Contact: Terry Vickers (Lead volunteer for CRG)
E-mail: commrecaphasiagroups@gmail.com
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers before September 23 or March 23.
2) Community Cognitive Recovery Group: This group is for adults with cognitive deficits following a brain injury and meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30-12:30 in the Cognitive Recovery Center portion of CRW. This group is run by one Speech Language Pathologist, Debbie Burger, and one Occupational Therapist, Jason Tse. Volunteers will work with participants in structured cognitive activities either one-on-one or in small groups under the instruction of the primary therapist. There is also set up and clean up each day and some assistance with photo copying. Located at the First Presbyterian Church on Euclid in Fullerton.
3) Friendship Club and Friendship Group: These groups provide opportunities to work with children who have autism. They meet Mondays and Wednesdays with volunteers needed from 3:00 – 5:00 and are led by Maureen Hall-Katz and Vicki Napiwocki. This includes set-up and clean-up for the groups, patient interaction, and assistance with daily clerical support tasks for the SLP’s.
4) Additional opportunities are available within the outpatient setting assisting the speech pathologists with their daily needs.
INPATIENT OPPORTUNITIES:
Opportunities are also available on the inpatient side of the department in the hospital setting, on our Acute Units, as well as our Rehab Unit. Volunteers assist with clerical support activities, and in return, they provide opportunities to observe speech pathologists work with the inpatients during a variety of speech and swallowing therapy activities.
Contact: Lori Peirson (Manager of Speech Pathology at St. Jude Medical Center)
E-mail: lori.peirson@stjoe.org
Phone: (714) 992-3000 x3733
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers on as needed basis - contact for more information.
Casa Colina
Assist in both patient care and non-patient care depending on the current availability of assignments. Specific Requirements:
Volunteers must make a commitment of 6 months and 100 hours and must work at least one hour a week. Since volunteers may be seen as staff to our patients and visitors, it is helpful to use a uniform to distinguish them from employees. Therefore, volunteers will be asked to purchase a Casa Colina volunteer jacket.
Contact: Human Resources
Phone: (909) 596-7733 x2154
Website: http://www.casacolina.org/Employment-Volunteers/Volunteers.aspx
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers bimonthly or as needed.
Cornerstone Therapies
We accept Speech Volunteers to help out in our Speech department. Specific requirements:
Volunteers need to go through a volunteer interview process with our SP director/supervisor and make a commitment of a minimum of 20 hours—direct observation as well as assistance of SP needs.
Contact: Joyce Kwon
E-mail: info@cornerstonetherapies.net
Phone: (714) 962-6760
Website: http://www.cornerstonetherapies.net
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers on as needed basis - contact for more information.
St. Joseph Hospital of Orange County
St. Joseph Hospital has an award-winning volunteer program consisting of more than 900 volunteers ranging in age from age 14 and in high school to nearly 97 years of age. Volunteers serve in more than 40 areas of the hospital, some directly with patients and some in support areas. Some departments that utilize volunteers include the important Emergency Department Greeter, Nursing Units, Radiology, Surgery Prep and Recovery, and two beautiful Gift Shops. There are also clerical support assignments for our volunteers who would like to help with projects in an office setting.
The minimum volunteer commitment is 100 hours of service; most volunteers sign up for one or more four hour shifts per week, which works out to up to 6 hours/week of their schedule when including the commute to the hospital. Most volunteers sign up for one or more four hour shifts per week, so the minimum commitment will be complete in approximately 6 months. Ongoing volunteers serve upwards of 200 hours/ year in weekly four hour shifts. There is no summer volunteer program. Volunteers can only send in applications from the 1st-7th of each month.
ADULT, COLLEGE, AND VOCATIONAL VOLUNTEER SCREENING PROCESS
1) For an invitation to an orientation, go on-line to our website, www.sjo.org/volunteers, print out the pre-application, complete it & follow the instructions on how to turn it in to the Volunteer Department
2) Those tentatively accepted will be sent a list of orientation dates (orientations are held once per month for 2 hours during an evening, weekday morning, or Saturday morning)
3) Interviews will be scheduled after attending the orientation. (This does not mean you have been accepted into the program.)
4) TB Test - "2 Step" process following the interview which involves two TB tests, given one week apart, and returning for the second test to be read.
5) Seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccinations are available for those who choose not to wear a mask while on duty
5) Volunteer Uniforms are worn for almost every area; purchase from Volunteer Office. Price for volunteer polo is $25.
6) Photo I.D. Badge is obtained from the Security Department.
7) Background Screening is required for all volunteer applicants aged 18 years and older. Social Security numbers are required for the background screening.
8) Initial Training - New volunteers will be paired with experienced volunteer trainers to begin basic training in Messenger Service. If applicable, re-assignment to a different department will follow completion of 8 hours of training.
SPEECH THERAPY:
Assist hospital staff with basic clerical duties (filing, typing/ word processing, mailings, stocking supplies, etc.), assist department staff in patient therapy sessions. The first step in becoming a St. Joseph Hospital volunteer is to attend our required orientation, which is held monthly except for December. Orientations alternate between weekday mornings, weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.
E-mail: volunteer@stjoe.org
Phone: (714) 771-8125
Website: http://www.sjo.org/Ways_to_Give/Volunteer_Services/Volunteer_Opportunities.aspx
Application Deadline: Accepts application between 1st - 7th of every month except December on as needed basis. Submit application as early as possible if there is availability.
Providence Speech & Hearing Center
We have volunteer opportunities available aiding a Speech Language Pathologist or Speech Language Pathology Assistant in our Speech Therapy groups with up to six children ages 18 months-9years old. We offer both English and Spanish classes for our children. An aide’s responsibilities include:
Complete set up of materials/therapy room: Assembling, collecting and providing any art supplies, snacks, test protocols or other requested therapy materials to the designated therapy room.
Gathering of students: Assisting the clinician with gathering and leading the clients appropriately into the treatment room from the waiting area.
Data collection: Spontaneous/imitative utterances, progress on goals, articulation errors or any other information that the clinician requests to be recorded.
Behavior management: Assisting the clinician in providing positive reinforcement for good behavior, facilitating appropriate behaviors from the children during therapy such as remaining seated, following directions, paying attention, etc.
Keeping children clean: Changing diapers, changing dirty clothes, wiping noses and hands.
Complete clean up of therapy room: Returning used materials/toys/food to designated areas, washing dishes, wiping down all chairs and tables with Cavicide and cleaning any other used materials (such as paintbrushes).
Specific Requirements: To get started volunteering with us please contact Lauren Mercado. Once contact has been made, she will send the student a document that will need to be completed prior to placing the students in a classroom. The document is called livescan [fingerprinting] specifically for our center, the student will need to print out the form and take it to any livescan operator [the CSUF police department does this], the total cost for the livescan is between $60-$75.
Contact: Lauren Mercado
Website: www.pshc.org
Phone: (714) 639-4990 x 296
E-mail: lmercado@pshc.org
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers on as needed basis. Semester schedule listed below - normally has openings 1-2 weeks before each semester.
January-May
May-August
August-December
High Hopes Head Injury Program.
You will be helping out with TBI survivors in their classes, general clean up, and some office work from 8 AM-3PM. There is an SLP at this location - check to see at front desk when you arrive if she would be open to volunteers or observations depending on her schedule.
Location: 2953 Edinger Ave, Tustin, California 92780
Phone: (949) 733-0044
Application Deadline: Accepts up to 4 volunteers on a daily basis - first come, first serve.
Brain Rehabilitation And Injury Network (B.R.A.I.N).
Is a non profit organization in Southern California that advocates for and administers help to brain injured individuals and their families. B.R.A.I.N.’s mission is to advance research, recovery and residential care for brain injured adults 18 years and older. They are looking for one on one volunteers for their Brain Cells program. Brain Cells is a partnership/friendship pairing of a volunteer with a brain injury survivor. It is a program that we have started as a result of overwhelming requests from survivors’ families who feel that survivors could fare so much better if there was someone to talk with on a friendship level during the recovery process.
Since survivors are all ages, cover all kinds of interest and activities, the program can make use of volunteers of all varieties. The only qualification is an interest in a friendship with a survivor who wants to move ahead. It is recommended that volunteers contact their survivor at least 2 – 3 times a month either via email, phone or in person.
You may submit an application here: http://www.thebrainsite.org/?page_id=428
Click here for more information about BRAIN: http://www.thebrainsite.org/
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers on as needed basis - contact for more information.
Jump and Schout Therapy
Jump and Schout Therapy is a great place to get volunteer hours, as well as acquire a wide range of experience in the field. Observe all aspects of therapy, including speech, occupational and physical therapy. As a volunteer at Jump and Schout, you will be in charge of assisting SLPs and SLPAs during group therapy, as well as other miscellaneous responsibilities. Jump and Schout Therapy is led by Leann Schouten SLP MA-CCC and is a private clinic in Brea. All interns must be able to commit to their full term to be eligible for the program. Please email Amanda Pohlen at amanda.pohlen@jumpandschouttherapy.com with completed volunteer questionnaire, application and resume. In addition, all candidates will need to provide a letter of recommendation.
Location: 460 W. Lambert Road, Unit K, Brea, CA 92821
Phone: (714) 529-5022
Contact: Amanda.pohlen@jumpandschouttherapy.com
Website: http://www.leannschouten.com/
Application Deadline: Accepts applications at least a month prior to beginning of internship terms - terms listed below.
Summer (June-August)
Fall (September-December)
Spring (January-May)
Creative Behavioral Interventions (CBI)
Become an ABA Therapist or volunteer at CBI. If you’re looking for a part time job, or volunteer hours, CBI is a great place to get experience working with children with various disorders such as autism and Down syndrome. Led by director Dr. Denise Eckman, the experienced and friendly supervisors and therapists of CBI offer many services to children and young adults, along with the idea that all things can become better when you believe.
Location: 3002 Dow Avenue #122, Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: (949) 328-7688
Contact: info@cbibelieves.com
Website: http://www.cbibelieves.com/
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers and ABA therapists on as needed basis - contact for more information.
Normally offers weekend volunteer opportunities throughout the semester.
Speech 4 Kids
Speech 4 Kids provides the highest quality of individualized speech, language and social communication services to children, including diagnostic and therapy services. We are a comprehensive speech and language therapy center and offer a broad spectrum of communication related services to best meet the needs of children and their families. We offer weekday and weekend appointments in our charming, warm and child – friendly facility.
Location: 1932 14th St., Santa Monica, California 90404
Contact: Andree James
Phone: (310) 839-1974
E-mail: andree.james@mac.com
Website: http://speech-4-kids.com/index.php
Application deadline: Accepting volunteer applications until May for Summer Session.
OC Autism Foundation
There are two shifts from Monday through Friday from 8am-12pm and 12pm-5pm. There are two parts in volunteering here:
1. New Hope Therapy Center: Develop creative solutions in approaching a variety of developmental and acquired behaviors, establish rapport with patients by utilizing stimulation techniques, exposing clients to the diverse disorders and disabilities on speech and language functioning.
2. OC Autism Foundation: A non profit organization serving children and adults with disabilities. Increase awareness of social and financial struggles faced by minority families affected by disabilities. For example, free community events, online resources, parent education, etc.
Contact: Dewey
Phone: (714) 203-5213
E-mail: contacts@newhopetherapycenter.com
Website: www.ocautism.com
Application Deadline: Accepts volunteers on as needed basis - contact for more information.
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
DSAOC promotes Down syndrome awareness through community outreach, and to offer programs, services and support that aim to empower individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential. Services include: Book Club for teens/adults, Yoga, Fitness/nutrition, social events, volunteer programs (Tuesdays/Wednesdays), etc.
Contact: (714) 540-5794
Location:151 Kalmus Drive, Suite M-5 Costa Mesa, CA
CSUF Center for Autism (Student Research Opportunity)
Students in our laboratory are involved in every step of the research process. The role of each student is based upon a balance of lab needs, student experience, and student interests. We work with students to create a mutually beneficial experience. Responsibilities may include a combination of: Administrative tasks and data entry, training in observational coding systems focused on family interaction and/or certain aspects of child development, assisting with data collection (including application of observational and/or psychological technology and interaction with children and families, training and experience in administering laboratory tasks and/or clinical assessments (depending upon student experience and interest), assisting with preparation of presentations and publications based upon lab data, engaging in independent research guided by faculty (depending upon student experience, commitment, interest, and ability to work independently). Such projects often result in conference presentations by the students.
The following are required for involvement in the research lab:
A commitment of no fewer than two semesters.
A commitment of at least 5-6 hours per week.
Sufficient availability to schedule the above hours and to offer reasonable availability for the scheduling of a weekly full lab meeting. A relatively consistent schedule throughout the semester.
Contact: Dr. Baker | jbaker@fullerton.edu
Location: CSUF
Website: http://autismcenter.fullerton.edu/AppliedDevelopmentalCore/Student/assistantships.htm
Application deadline: Accepts new assistants every semester. Apply a month or two prior to beginning of semester.
St. Jude Brain Injury Network Intern
The work will include data entry, qualitative/quantitative data coding, data analysis, support to survivors of traumatic brain injury, assistance in program execution, and research-related activities; some work may be completed at home.
Contact: Daniel Ignacio | Daniel.Ignacio2@stjoe.org
Location: 130 W Bastanchury Rd, Fullerton, CA 92835
Application Deadline: Accepts new interns the month prior to the beginning of each semester (end of July for Fall semesters; end of December for Spring semesters). We do not accept interns for summer sessions. This internship is over a semester and will cover approximately 120 hours of work (roughly 4-6 hours per week).
Karate for All
Karate For All is actively seeking new volunteers to contribute to a higher cause so if you are interested in becoming the best version of yourself through serving others I highly encourage you to check out Karate For All. The children at this pediatric therapy medical clinic are diagnosed with neurological and behavioral conditions such as Autism, Down Syndrome and much more. Prior martial experience is welcome but NOT necessary since they do train you personally on everything you need to know. The facility is also home to several licensed occupational and physical therapists, as well as a team of Speech Language Pathologists that you have the option of shadowing and gaining a first-person perspective of the career.
Contact: Anthony (Volunteer Coordinator) | kfavolunteer@gmail.com
Phone: (714) 731-4668 ext. 3
Website: Karateforall.org