Independent Living, London and Area

Independent Living, London and Area is a registered non-profit incorporated under the Independent Living Philosophy. Our organizational mission is to unite persons with disabilities with the resources they need to meet their needs on their own terms. This promotes two critical dimensions of psychological well being, agency and efficacy (or the ability make and carry out plans, and believing yourself to be capable of doing so).

Volunteers are a key part of our Peer Support Program, which works to schedule accessible activities and events across the London Area. We offer a safe, supportive environment that can meet the needs of a broad range of individuals. We are happy to work with experienced volunteers, and we are very happy to train new volunteers. One of the core commitments we can make to you, as a volunteer, is that we will pay close attention to your time with us, from onboarding, to placement, to your eventual exit. We will make every effort to craft your volunteer role to meet your needs as an individual.

Consider a commitment with us if you are:

• Returning to the workforce after an absence
• A student hoping to compliment a class, or meet provincial graduation requirements
• Trying to develop advanced customer service skills focused on event management and activity facilitation
• Searching for a friendly, professional environment to practice your social skills

Volunteers can expect a number of specific benefits from placement with our organization:

Advanced customer service training. Many of our participants have diverse needs surrounding mobility, sensory processing, and communication. We will work with you to help you understand specific tools that will help you to meet such needs in an effective, thoughtful way.

Professional presentation and time management. Our volunteer roles are public facing roles, just as much as they focus on delivering services to our participants. We will help you to understand the best way to showcase your strengths while working with the public as a professional. We will also take time to show you ways to develop your time management skills, including prioritization under pressure and task delegation.

A strong professional reference that speaks to what you have done in specific terms. If you leave the volunteer program in good standing, we want to make sure that you have something concrete to show for it. A written letter of reference from a registered non-profit that has a track record of doing good for the public can be the difference between a job offer, and a job application that was ignored. We care about our volunteers, even after their time with us is complete.