Special needs Teen group assistant volunteer Saturdays Denton, TX.

The Special Needs Group Assistant Volunteer is for an assistant for our Saturday evening TEEN (6th-12th) programs.

We have 2 programs we run: 4:15-6:15pm is Special Topic and 5:45-8:30pm is Teen Dinner & Chat. You are assigned to one or both depending on number of members coming that day. The enrollments at UTH are set up to end for members on Sunday night for the following weekend. Therefore, by Mondays we know the exact number of assistants we need.

This position will be working directly with our special needs clientele (grades 6th-12th) and are expected to redirect our clientele to keep them engaged & this could require modeling, one on one teaching, hand over hand assistance, etc. Because they are teens you will be doing EXTENSIVE oversight of the conversations they have without being intrusive. You will also have to defuse issues between teens when they are playing games and sports as they have sportsmanship issues.

We prefer to use the same volunteers each week, so a weekly commitment or frequently wanting to volunteer is preferred. The members have mainly been diagnosed with high functioning autism and anxiety, AD/HD, and speech delays. We do NOT coddle at our site and expect them to follow the same expectations as their neurotypical peers so they can increase their involvement in typical children's activities.

The volunteer will need to be willing to read their emails to be prepared for the group lesson each week. Plus be willing to call the lead staff to gain additional information about the members and their role for that week. Volunteers who succeed in this position are reliable, punctual, enjoy children & have an even temperament, and great communication. This position is for those individuals who are good at taking initiative and thinking ahead. We are looking for HIGH ENERGY staff. We are also looking for those that are not easily offended because we have to be direct with our members to address their choices as most of our members do not pick up on the subtle social cues.

Training in disabilities and the program will be provided along the way as it pertains to whom you may be interacting with. Due to the nature of our clientele, a resume and a volunteer form will be required to be completed for this position as well as an observation at our site during the program will be required before a commitment can be made. This position can be a volunteer position or used for class credit, practicum, or internship.