39yrs

male

Speaks English

Volunteering throughout the community with a variety of special needs groups over the years has inspired me to take a more active role. I began my work in High School by joining a regular social club at The Joshua House once a month. During these visits, we would start by initiating group activities with the children, followed by a recreational period where we would break off into smaller groups for more direct/personal interaction. Visiting the Joshua House was a regular occurrence until my graduation in 2003, when I then began attending Florida State University to further my studies in Humanities and Religion. I graduated from the university 3 years ago with a corresponding degree, and have since relocated back to the Tampa area where I have continued to gain experience with special needs individuals in several facets. Up until just recently, I was employed full-time at MOSI (The Museum of Science & Industry) where in addition to my responsibilities as a membership associate, I closely aided a colleague with crippling multiple sclerosis. This involvement included, but was not limited to, assisting with basic motor skills, communicating with others, and occasional bathroom assistance when necessary. Within this last year I have left the museum, and have been filling my time volunteering with special needs programs throughout the Bay area to gain a varied spectrum of experience in the field. I am currently assisting regularly with the E. S. E. students at my alma mater, Gaither High School; an exceptional group of students whose abilities vary greatly. Our interaction consists of one-on-one assistance in both the classroom, as well as in professional settings, where we take the children into the community to aid in their grasping of every day life. In addition to the work I'm currently involved with at the high school level, I also began coaching Buddy Baseball, a little league for special needs children of all backgrounds between the ages of 8-12. Buddy Baseball meets once a week on Saturdays for a couple of hours, and involves pairing coaches and volunteers with the children for a simplified game of softball. Though my previous experiences with special needs organizations has yet to involve prolonged aid with a specific individual or disability, it is the most rewarding work I have ever taken part in, and would greatly enjoy the opportunity to continue in such endeavors.