Karate Class Assistant

Volunteer LA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to empowering individuals with sight loss through engaging classes and activities. As a volunteer, you will play a crucial role in assisting students in Karate, sewing, art, and technology support, helping them develop skills and confidence. This is a rewarding opportunity to create a positive impact in the community while working alongside passionate instructors and fellow volunteers. Whether you're guiding students through exercises or preparing classrooms, your contribution will help foster a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. If you're energetic and eager to make a difference, this role is perfect for you!

Qualifications

• Ideal candidates should be energetic and create a supportive environment.
• Basic computer skills and communication are essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist students in various classes and activities at Braille Institute.
• Create a safe and welcoming environment for all participants.

Skills

Energetic

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Sensitivity to Individual Needs

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Education

Experience with Blind and Low-Vision Community

Basic Computer Skills

Tools

Microsoft 365

Library Database

Job description

Braille Institute of America, Inc. (Los Angeles Center)

Braille Institute is committed to eliminating blindness and severe sight loss as barriers to a fulfilling life.

Karate Class Assistant

Help a student embrace the challenge of sight loss and live well in Karate classes, designed to help blind and visually impaired students develop agility, strength, and speed, improving muscle tone and endurance.

What to Expect:

• Assist students in executing exercises performed by instructor
• Communicate issues or concerns with instructor as needed
• Set up mats for class
• Clean and store mats
• Assist instructor as needed

What’s Required:

• No Karate experience needed
• Ideal candidate will be energetic
• Create a safe and supportive learning environment for students
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs
• Availability on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• *Volunteers can work one or both shifts

Beginning Sewing Instructor (Assistant)

Passionate and experienced sewing instructor for Winter 2025 term at Braille Institute. Instructor to deliver engaging and informative sewing classes to sewists of all levels.

What to Expect:

• Deliver engaging and informative sewing classes to sewists of all levels
• Teach range of sewing techniques
• Guide students through lessons

What’s Required:

• Ideal candidate will be energetic, excited about teaching sewing and have passion for sharing with others
• Interest in working with/learning about the vision loss community
• Comfortable working with students of different ages and skill levels
• Strong soft skills including friendly communication
• Create a safe and supportive learning environment for students
• Excellent attendance and ability to be on time

Access Technology Support/Greeter

Braille Institute’s needs volunteers to help create a welcoming experience for blind and visually impaired students seeking assistive technology.

What to Expect:

• Prepare classroom for students
• Upkeep equipment (e.g. clean, store, and assure proper functioning of devices)
• Greet and assist students as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned. Duties or tasks may change

What’s Required:

• Availability for 2-3 hours per week (or more) any day(s) during Monday through Friday (Wednesdays preferred) between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Experience with problem-solving in how technology can support individual’s needs
• Ability to demonstrate Assistive Technology tools (e.g. screen readers, optical character recognition, and magnifiers)
• Experience in an in-person, virtual, and offsite teaching environment
• Familiarity with Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android platforms

Volunteer as a Student Concierge

Support students at Braille Institute’s Connection Pointe in Los Angeles.

What to Expect:

• Contact individuals to set up appointments for tech support using booking software (training provided)
• Conduct surveys to assess student need
• Build and maintain relationships with students
• Set up assistive-technology support for students
• Provide administrative assistance within department as needed

What’s Required:

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Professional phone etiquette
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft 365
• Familiarity with Mac OS X, iOS, and Android platforms helpful but not required
• Available at least 1 day (M-Fri): M: 8:30am-12:30pm or 12-2pm; T: 8:30am-12:30pm or 1:30pm-4pm; W & Th: 8:30am-12:30pm or 12:30pm-4:30pm; F: 9am-12pm
• Experience with the blind and low-vision community helpful but not required

Art Classroom Assistant

Assist blind and visually impaired students create projects in one of our popular art classes: Basketry, Ceramics, Mosaic, Print Making, or Paper Mache. Classes meet once a week for two hours. No experience working with visually impaired is necessary. Training will be provided.

What to Expect:

• Assist students in art methodology and projects performed by instructor
• Communicate issues or concerns with instructor as needed
• Maintain a safe and professional environment, assessing classroom and student surroundings for possible safety concerns
• Training will be provided

What’s Required:

• Availability weekdays 10:00AM – 12:00PM OR Wednesdays 1:00-3:00PM
• Ability to follow instructor’s directions
• Sensitivity to students’ individual variables
• Must preserve students’ right to privacy and personal space by requesting students’ permission to assist in executing specific movements and tasks
• Mastering technical skills is not required
• Bilingual, Spanish/English (desired but not required)

Exercise/Sensory Awareness Classroom Assistant

Help a student embrace the challenge of sight loss and live well in Sensory Awareness and Exercise classes, designed to help blind and visually impaired students fine tune their remaining senses through a series of lessons and exercises.

What to Expect:

• Assist students in executing exercises performed by instructor
• Communicate issues or concerns with instructor as needed
• Promptly communicate students’ individual performance results to instructor for the purpose of retraining or reinforcement applications
• Maintain a safe and professional environment, assessing classroom and student surroundings for possible safety concerns
• Training will be provided

What’s Required:

• Availability Mondays 10:00AM – 12:00PM OR Wednesdays 1:00-2:00PM
• Must follow instructor’s directions
• Sensitivity to students’ individual variables
• Must preserve students’ right to privacy and personal space by requesting students’ permission to assist in executing specific movements and tasks
• Mastering technical skills is not required
• Bilingual, Spanish/English (desired but not required)

Library Outreach Assistant

Volunteer in Braille Institute’s unique library sorting the book collection, shelving, and preparing audio book cartridges to be mailed to blind and visually impaired library patrons.

What To Expect:

• Greet and assist students/library patrons as needed
• Assist with various clerical duties (e.g., contact patrons via telephone, basic check-ins, which may include checking on lapsed or inactive library user accounts for deletion)
• Participate in outreach email campaigns, assisting with drafting emails, letters, and marketing teases aimed at various constituents, organizations, and stakeholders (depending on experience)
• Perform other duties as assigned. Duties or tasks may change
• Assist Library Outreach Manager as needed

What’s Required:

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, internet searching, and willingness to learn library database
• Bilingual, Spanish/English a plus

Volunteer Greeters at Braille Institute welcome and assist visitors in a friendly and professional manner.

What to Expect:

• Assist visitors as needed
• Answer general questions about programs and services
• Assist visitors with verbal directions and/or escort clients when needed
• Assist with simple tasks in the cafeteria in the mornings and at lunch
• Identify safety issues for staff to address
• Assist departments with light clerical duties as needed
• Training and orientation provided

What’s Required:

• No experience with the blind and vision community is necessary
• Ability to communicate professionally
• Available at least 2-3 hours per week, more hours available (per week)

Braille Challenge is a national braille reading and writing competition for students in first through twelfth grades in the United States and Canada. The program encourages and rewards braille literacy, and a large number of volunteers are required. While digital tools are helpful, braille is the gold standard and critically important for academic achievement in language, math and science. Braille literacy is the equivalent to print literacy in the barriers it breaks and the Braille Challenge competition motivates and encourages students to practice these skills. To learn more about volunteering for the annual Braille Challenge events, contact us.

• One-time, Occasional
• 55+, Adults
• Individuals, Groups (2-10), Groups (10+), Corporate Teams

We’re changing lives through the advocacy of braille literacy for students in grades 1-12, and you, your team or company can make an important contribution! It’s fun, engaging and life changing. Find out how you can get involved in the annual Braille Challenge event.