Volunteering among youth with disabilities: a population-based study.

Our study found low prevalence of volunteering among youth with disabilities. Since youth with disabilities face unique barriers to social inclusion, it is important to identify and reduce the barriers to participation among this group. Volunteer opportunities in the community should be designed to be both environmentally and programmatically accessible to youth with disabilities. These efforts should include accommodations and other support so that participants can fully experience all of the benefits of volunteering.Implications for rehabilitationOur multiyear nationally representative study found low prevalence of volunteering among youth with disabilities, particularly those with hearing and vision impairments.Since youth with disabilities face unique barriers to social inclusion, it is important to identify and reduce the barriers to participation among this group.Our findings support the need for environmentally and programmatically accessible volunteering opportunities for youth with disabilities.These efforts should include accommodations and other support so that participants can fully experience all of the benefits of volunteering.