LAUSR

ABSTRACT Although there are many benefits associated with volunteering, little is known about the volunteer experiences among youths with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits and challenges in volunteer work among youths with disabilities (physical and developmental) compared to youths without disabilities. We conducted 24 interviews including 12 youths with disabilities and 12 without, aged 17-24 (mean age 21.5 years). The concept of occupational potential, which refers to human capacity to engage in a meaningful occupation, informed the study. We found several similarities and some differences between youths with and without a disability regarding their occupational capacity, constraints and potential. Participants reported several individual and social influences affecting their occupational capacity to engage in volunteering. Individual motivations for volunteering included helping others, preventing boredom, gaining skills, and developing social networks. Both groups of youths encountered some challenges with engaging in volunteering including difficulty finding positions, balancing volunteer work with other responsibilities, transportation and commuting, and negative attitudes from others. Our results showed how participants’ volunteer experiences allowed them to explore career interests and abilities, and refine or align their career pathway. Exposure to new fields along with developing essential employment-related skills helped them to develop their occupational potential. Our findings show that although youths with and without disabilities volunteer for different reasons, they experience similar benefits and challenges; however, this often manifests in different ways. Volunteering can have important benefits for youths with disabilities.