Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Advocate Program

What is the PIC Volunteer Advocate Program?
PIC’s Volunteer Advocates For Special Education is a nationally recognized program that provides specialized training for volunteers to assist parents in obtaining appropriate special educational services for their children.

When is the training held and What topics does the training cover?
This training is held twice each year. During this comprehensive training, volunteers meet once a week for several months and receive approximately fifty hours of instruction in the following topics:

• Understanding disabilities
• Federal & state special education laws & regulations
• The special education process
• Dispute resolution
• Finding and using resources
• Impacting public policy
• Transition planning for children moving from early intervention to school
• Transition planning for life after high school
• Becoming a better communicator
• Building strong parent/school partnerships
• Role playing and case studies

Who is eligible to attend the PIC Volunteer Advocate Training?
The VA program is offered to parents of children with disabilities. There is no charge for the training.
Applicants must be:

• At least 21 years old;
• A resident of New Hampshire;
• Able to commit to fifty hours of training;
• Willing to volunteer their time to help other families for at least two years

Acceptance into the program is based on space available and the satisfactory completion of the application process.

What is expected of me?
Volunteer Advocates will be expected to volunteer their time to provide parents and others with support and information regarding the special education process.

How will I benefit from the program?
Volunteers will gain a better understanding of the special education process and what resources are available to help their child. Upon completion of the program they will continue to receive informational updates, opportunities for additional training and technical support from the PIC staff. PIC Volunteer Advocates have reported that they have a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in their ability to help others.

How do I become a Volunteer Advocate?
If you would like to become a Volunteer Parent Advocate just complete the following application and then hit the Submit Form button at the bottom of the application.

Volunteer Advocate Program Application

Your Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Telephone (Home):
Telephone (Work):
E-Mail Address:
Reason for Applying:
Occupation:
Responsibilities:
Employer's Name:

Please fill in where applicable. (You are not required to provide this information but it would be helpful to us.)

If your child has a disability(ies) please list:
Your child's D.O.B.:
Does anyone else in your family have a disibility?	Yes No

In order to ensure that PIC is reaching underserved populations, it would be helpful if you would indicate your ethnicity.

African American	Asian	Hispanic
Native American	Caucasian	Other

What experience have you had in working with individuals with disabilities?

What skills do you have which may be helpful in your role as a PIC Volunteer Advocate?

If you've conducted a training/workshop, please list the topic(s):

Please list any foreign languages you speak:

Are you fluent in sign language?

Yes No

Please specify if you are a current or past member of an organization serving individuals with disabilities:

Have you used PIC services in the past?	Yes No
Please specify:

I'd be willing to assist families in my (please check all that apply):

town/city	district
geographical region	anywhere in the state

The best time for you to attend this training would be:

Fall	Spring
Day	Evening

Please list three references (other than relatives). Include complete addresses, as your application cannot be processed without them.

First Reference

Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Telephone:
E-Mail Address:

Second Reference

Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Telephone:
E-Mail Address:

Third Reference

Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Telephone:
E-Mail Address:

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