Where can my child volunteer with kids with disabilities?

In the younger grades, a good solution is for you and your child to volunteer together. More opportunities will open up if your child is accompanied by an adult. For example, you two might help at Special Olympics by providing transportation, assisting food service workers or serving as greeters, escorts or cheerleaders for kids with special needs.

Your child also can start out by doing more behind-the-scenes work, where age isn't a limiting factor. For example, your child might establish an e-mail correspondence with a peer with intellectual disabilities through an online program called E-buddies, help produce talking books for the blind or send a card to a child who is seriously ill (Make a Child Smile or hugsandhope.org).

Finally, you and your child can organize your own volunteer opportunity. Call a local camp, school or institution for the disabled and ask if your child and friends (accompanied by adults, of course) can throw a party for the residents, have a game night or just come to visit. The staff may have other suggestions for how you might help out.

• Still looking for ideas? Have your kid make hats for chemotherapy patients.

• Do you or your partner volunteer regularly in your community? Take the poll!

• Check out our ages and stages guide to volunteering opportunities.