Next Chapter Book Club Facilitator / Downtown Branch

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The Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) serves adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Participants in the NCBC meet each week to read, learn, and make friends in a relaxed setting. Anyone can participate, whatever their reading or ability level. NCBC members range from those who read well to those who do not read independently.

NCBCs are led by two or more trained volunteer facilitators. These volunteer facilitators need:

• A desire and commitment to work with adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities (previous experience is not necessary, but may be helpful)
• The ability to travel to and promptly attend weekly, one-hour book club meetings
• Enthusiasm, creativity, and good people skills

Facilitator Responsibilities:

• Promptly attend weekly, one-hour book club meetings at designated community location
• Use activities and strategies learned in training to promote literacy learning, social connectedness, and community inclusion during book club
• Perform group management tasks, such as monitoring and encouraging attendance
• Maintain communication with NCBC program coordinator (i.e., respond to e-mails or phone calls)
• Inform co-facilitator and NCBC program coordinator in advance (if possible) of any absence
• Notify group members in case of book club cancellation due to weather, etc.
• Welcome visitors and include them in the activities
• Remain at host site with member waiting for a ride
• Respect the talent, abilities, and privacy of all book club members