Qualifications and Skills:

• Passion for supporting individuals with disabilities and promoting inclusivity.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build meaningful relationships.
• Empathy, compassion, and the ability to listen actively and non-judgmentally.
• Understanding of health and wellness principles.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in diverse settings and with individuals with various abilities.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and respecting personal boundaries.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team, following instructions and guidelines provided.

Time Commitment:

We offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate your availability and to meet the needs of the individuals supported. The expected time commitment is a minimum of 4 hours per month, depending on the chosen volunteer role.

Eligibility:

• All volunteer candidates must have a clear and current Vulnerable Sector Police Check in place prior to being assigned a volunteer role.
• All volunteer candidates must be over the age of 16 and complete a Vulnerable Sector Police Check upon turning 18.
• Those under 18 require parent or guardian consent to volunteer.

Apply Today:

If you are interested in a student placement or volunteer position with PHSS, please contact Jessica Cooper, Community Development and Volunteer Coordinator. Please complete the volunteer application online or download and return the completed form to JessicaC@phsscommunity.com

Student Placements:

A student placement at PHSS offers numerous benefits that can enrich the learning experience and personal growth of students in a variety of areas. Students that work with PHSS make a meaningful impact while acquiring and refining a wide range of skills. We provide training, professional development opportunities, and network building.

For more information, contact Community Development Coordinator, Jessica Cooper, at JessicaC@phsscommunity.com.

Community Education:

PHSS has speakers available to address your organization or group about the services we offer, our opportunities for you to become involved, accessibility and access issues, etc. We also have displays, brochures and literature handouts available.

To book a speaking or display opportunity for your school, place of worship, or community group, please contact Community Development Coordinator, Jessica Cooper, at JessicaC@phsscommunity.com.

Love the World, Experience the World

Imagine being able to discover the world with full inclusivity & accessibility from an iPad or virtual reality equipment at home!

LWEW is a PHSS project that creates individually personalized virtual experiences for people with disabilities to fulfill lifelong dreams that otherwise may not be possible. Each experience includes a curated YouTube playlist and the use of virtual reality technology to fully immerse the participant in their selected experience: skydiving, travelling to Rome, swimming with sharks, and more!

We are looking for volunteers to work one on one with people we support to develop virtual experiences! Do you want to help make dreams come true and have some time to create a virtual experience using your iPad, laptop or computer?

You will get matched up with a participant to learn more about them and the experience they want to have. Then, research and find different videos to curate a custom YouTube playlist so that your partner can fulfill their dream experience!

For more information, contact Community Development Coordinator, Jessica Cooper, at JessicaC@phsscommunity.com.

Western Internet Friends Pen-Pal Program

Targeted to Western University students, Western Internet Friends is a Pen Pal program that matches volunteers with a person supported by PHSS based on common interests, preferred frequency of communication, and preferred form of contact.

Volunteers from Western that participate in this program are required to:

• Be a current student at Western University
• Contact their P.H.S.S. partner on a consistent basis
• Read and apply different techniques to communicate effectively with people who have developmental disabilities.

For more information about the Western Internet Friends Program, check out their website.