Exceptional Needs. Exceptional Volunteers.

1. Woods Services Volunteer Orientation Exceptional Needs. Exceptional Volunteers.

2. Background Information • Founded in 1913 by Mollie Woods • Private, nonprofit organization • Currently serves over 1,000 clients • Serves children, adolescents and adults • Licensed by the State of Pennsylvania • Provide a wide array of services that include residential, educational, therapies, life skills and vocational training, job placement, senior activities and health services

3. Mission Woods provides a broad range of human services to people with special needs and challenges. The primary goal is to maximize each individual’s potential through the delivery of high-quality services in a safe, caring and healthy environment. Woods strives to help individuals lead full and rewarding lives through the acquisition, development and retention of skills, as well as exposure to a variety of life experiences.

4. Residential Program Overview

5. Mollie Woods • Woodlands • Crestwood • Beechwood

6. Client Nature • Expect to be asked a lot of questions • Clients may test you and ask for things they cannot have • Be aware that clients have diet and behavior plans • Clients respond well to consistency • Clients do not necessarily have a social filter • Many physically disabled clients

7. Day Program Overview

8. Holland Day Program • The Yellow Daffodil • The Woods Enterprises • The Stabler Center • The BeechTree • Educational Programs: • Mollie Woods Education • Woodlands Education • Crestwood Education

9. Mollie Woods Demographics • There are 170 students in the Gardner Education Center (GEC) from the Mollie Woods and Woodlands programs • Age range is 7-21 y/o • Male to female ratio overall at Woods= 69% to 31% • GEC serves students from 5 different states: PA, NJ, DE, NY and OH • Students in GEC have multiple disabilities ranging from ID, OHI, PI, PDD, Autism, etc.

10. What does the classroom Look Like? • Client to staff ratio= 2.5 to 4 students per 1 staff • Classes are self-contained • They have “special” such as art, music, adapted physical education, health, library, cooking… • What is a Sensory Room? • What is a Token Economy? • Point Store • Clubs

11. What are the greatest needs of the Mollie Woods Clients? • Language stimulation • Support to remain focused and on task • Actively engaged staff, interns, volunteers • Lead by example… • Appropriate assistance on classroom assignments • Complete Social Inclusion

12. Purpose of the Volunteer Program To provide a mutually beneficial experience for both you, the volunteer, and our clients.

13. Volunteer Policy • Conduct/Dress • Identification • Confidentiality • Highlight Client’s Rights • Drug, tobacco, alcohol and smoke free campus • Cell Phones, Pictures and Social Media

14. Client Rights & Abuse It is the policy of Woods Services to respect and safeguard all rights to which clients are entitled.

15. Survey

16. The Power of Silence… • http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=245034&title=SPECIAL_NEEDS • Discuss the meaning of the video…

17. Communicating With Clients • Patience is essential • Nonverbal communication • Facial expressions • Body language • Electronic communication devices • Keep your speech simple • Do not interrupt clients • Do not make promises to clients • Assume clients can understand everything you say

18. Lessons learned: • Do not make assumptions about anyone. • A person’s disability may be obvious. What a person can understand, can learn, can do and what their potential is, is not obvious. • Use people-first language • Get to know the clients you spend time with and look beyond the disabilities in order to discover the positive attributes they possess.

19. Questions