Accessible Educator Advisor (Volunteer)

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework.

About the role

This is a volunteer position on the Disability Justice Team. The Accessible Educator Advisor will familiarize themselves with the ADA, Section 504, the Fair Housing Act, IEPs, school accommodations, and overall disability rights. They will advise academic institutions that Mentor A Promise liaises with, ensuring our educational resources are as accessible as possible and upholding universal design principles. The role involves collaborating with team leads to create accessible materials, assist in implementing IEPs and accommodations, and advise members and schools on inclusive strategies.

Responsibilities

• Advise academic institutions and Mentor A Promise’s educational resources on how to alter programming to maximize accessibility
• Assist with the implementation of IEPs and accommodations
• Advise Mentor A Promise members and classrooms on inclusive strategies
• Create, find, and disseminate tools for children and educators to enhance accessibility
• Apply Universal Design principles across all materials and programs
• Liaise with the Disability Justice Team lead, providing updates and progress reports
• Work with the IEP and Accommodation Consultant to integrate common accommodations into MAP programs
• Identify and document accessibility improvements needed across departments
• Participate in weekly check-ins with the Disability Justice Team

Qualifications

• Strong commitment to accessibility and disability justice
• Previous work with children and/or academic institutions
• Reliability, creativity, and comfort working in a collaborative nonprofit environment
• Alignment with MAP’s mission and commitment to dignity-centered work

Preferred Skills

• Experience advocating for disabled individuals or lived experience as a disabled person
• Familiarity with ADA, Section 504, IEPs, and accommodations
• Familiarity with Universal Design
• Previous work in a school setting
• Experience liaising with families
• Awareness of accessibility tools for classrooms
• Trauma-informed care skills
• Experience working with diverse teams (e.g., legal, writing, training)

Commitment

• Volunteer role, approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Weekly meetings with the Disability Justice and Accessibility Team
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Fully remote with optional NYC-based collaboration

Benefits

• A meaningful role in disability justice with real-world social impact
• Opportunities to see programming become more accessible
• Collaboration with advocates in disability justice
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The chance to help children feel seen, safe, and comfortable through accommodations

Volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements.