Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteer with Empower Spinal Cord Injury Throughout the Year or During Our Summer Programs!
Summer Volunteer Positions
Applications open January 1 for Adult West Program
Applications open February 1 for Adult Northeast and Teen/Young Adult Programs
Adult West Program (Missoula, Montana)
June 7-15, 2025
Adult Northeast Program (East Greenwich, RI)
July 20-27, 2025
Teen and Young Adult Program (East Greenwich, RI)
August 9-16, 2025
"Understanding that people can live normal lives outside of their disability. It is different when you just go through a textbook and read things, but it’s different to see how these injuries work, and how it can inhibit someone’s lifestyle."
— Cherelle, Residential Aid Volunteer
Clinical Specialist
Through knowledge based on their specialty area, the Clinical Specialist will work directly with participants to expose them to new skills, tools, and education that will enable them to lead happier, more meaningful and more independent lives.
Clinical Specialists include: Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Recreational Therapists, Rehabilitation Counselors and Athletic Trainers, Medical Students, Doctors
Clinical Specialist Position Description
*Physical Therapy Positions Filled for ALL 2025 Programs
Junior Clinical Specialist
Are you an occupational or physical therapist with less than two years of experience in spinal cord injury (SCI)? Are you a recent graduate eager to deepen your expertise in SCI care? The Junior Clinical Specialist role is designed to train clinicians with limited SCI experience, equipping them to apply specialized knowledge from their field to clinical practice.
In this role, you'll work closely with a mentor to develop advanced skills, tools, and treatment strategies, enabling you to work directly with participants and grow into a future Clinical Specialist. This role requires a two-year commitment. If you have less than two years of experience in SCI as a clinician and are unable to fulfill a two-year commitment, please apply to be a Residential Aide to volunteer.
Junior Clinical Specialist Position Description
*Junior Clinical Specialist Positions Filled for ALL 2025 Programs
Peer Mentor
Through one-on-one or group sessions, a peer mentor provides participants with a role model of an individual living with spinal cord injury that leads a successful, meaningful and happy life. He or she shares knowledge of tools and methods that promote independent living.
Residential Aide
A Residential Aide’s purpose is to assist with all mobility and daily self care needs that any participant is not able to perform independently throughout the day.
Surf Volunteer
One of our favorite days of the program are our Surf Day, which takes a huge group of volunteers to pull off. We need over a hundred volunteers to make both days possible for our participants- will you be a part of the team to help people achieve the seemingly unattainable?
Surf Day Volunteer: Applications set to open May 1, 2025!