How much training are volunteers given? Do they know anything about working with children who have special needs?
Students who volunteer for Connections generally have some experience with special needs children, either through previous work or volunteer experience or through their personal lives. Connections volunteers must complete two orientation sessions during the interview and matching period. These sessions focus on general concerns that parents may have when raising a child with special needs, such as the worry that the child does not have enough friends, may have to deal with a lot of therapies and/or treatments, and may not always have the chance to try new things. The SNSC coordinator and the Tucker Foundation coordinators stay in touch with the volunteers during the term to provide support to the mentoring process. Students are given a manual when they are matched that offers not only information about things to do with their little Sib but also on how to find information to better understand their little Sibs and make the experience of visiting together enjoyable. It is recommended th
