For disability & special-needs services
Screen the people who show up for everyone.
Volunteers in disability services give hands-on care, coach one-on-one, and step into people’s homes. It’s the most trusted role there is. VolunteerBadge helps you vet every volunteer for $5 — identity-verified and FCRA-compliant — so the people you welcome are worthy of that trust.
A population that deserves our most careful trust
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are among the most at-risk for abuse — and they often receive the most hands-on, personal care. That is exactly why vetting the volunteers who serve them matters.
higher rate of sexual assault against people with intellectual disabilities vs. those without
NPR / U.S. DOJ
nonfatal violent crimes against people with disabilities every year
Bureau of Justice Statistics
the rate at which people with disabilities experience violent victimization
Bureau of Justice Statistics
volunteers power Special Olympics programs around the world
Special Olympics
A background check is one layer of a caring, dignified program — not a guarantee. Sources linked at the bottom of this page.
Why screening matters here more than almost anywhere
Supporting a person with a disability is one of the most intimate, trust-dependent roles a volunteer can hold. The same closeness that makes the work meaningful is what makes careful vetting essential.
Hands-on personal care
Volunteers may help with mobility, meals, hygiene, and daily routines — often one-on-one and unsupervised. That access must be earned.
Elevated risk of abuse
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are victimized at far higher rates, and predators specifically seek out this access. Screening filters for accountable people.
Dignity, not pity
The goal is a safe, respectful program where participants are seen as full people. Consistent, fair vetting of every volunteer protects that dignity.
Built for every kind of disability service
People of all ages rely on these programs — and on the volunteers who make them possible.
Adult day programs
Day-habilitation and enrichment centers where volunteers assist adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Adaptive & Special Olympics sports
Coaches, unified partners, and event helpers working one-on-one with athletes of every ability.
Group homes & residential care
Volunteers who enter the homes where people with disabilities live, often assisting with daily routines.
Respite care
Trusted helpers who step in so family caregivers can rest — hands-on, in-home, and deeply personal.
Disability nonprofits
The Arc-style advocacy groups, sibling programs, mentoring, and community-inclusion volunteers.
Inclusive recreation
Adaptive camps, arts programs, and social clubs built for participants of all ages and abilities.
What the $5 check includes
Everything you need to vet a volunteer, coach, or caregiver — nothing you don’t.
- National criminal search — county, state & federal court records
- Sex-offender registries in all 50 states + the national registry (NSOPW)
- Federal watchlists — OFAC, FBI Most Wanted, exclusion lists
- Free biometric identity verification (government ID + live selfie)
- Free address history on every report
- Human CRA review of every high-confidence record before it reaches you
- Built-in FCRA adverse-action workflow if you ever decline someone
- Reusable badges + automatic quarterly re-screening
Send the application
Email a link or share a QR code on your volunteer or coach sign-up page. They apply from their phone in minutes.
Verify & screen
A government ID + selfie confirm the real person; the $5 national check runs with their consent.
Cleared to serve
A verified badge lands on your roster — with adverse-action handled for you if records appear.
Practical guide
Building an inclusive, safe volunteer program
Safety and dignity are the same project. A few consistent practices protect the people you serve while keeping your program warm, welcoming, and person-first.
Screen every volunteer the same way
Apply one clear screening standard to coaches, aides, respite helpers, and board members alike. Consistency is fair, defensible, and protects you from discrimination claims.
Vet before access, then re-screen
Run the check before a volunteer works one-on-one or enters a home — and re-screen periodically (VolunteerBadge can auto-re-screen quarterly).
Train for boundaries and reporting
Give volunteers short, free training on respectful support, safe boundaries, and mandated reporting so everyone knows how to recognize and report concerns.
Use person-first, respectful language
Center the person, not the disability. Involve participants and families in shaping the program — inclusion is a practice, not a policy.
Keep records for your board and insurer
Document your policy, your checks, and your training. It reassures families, satisfies insurers, and shows your community you take safety seriously.
Free training: VolunteerBadge Academy has free certificate courses your volunteers can take — safe boundaries, mandated reporting, and inclusion — at academy.volunteerbadge.com.
Sources & further reading
- NPR — The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About (people with intellectual disabilities, DOJ data)
- Bureau of Justice Statistics — Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009–2019
- CDC — Disability, Health, and Well-being
- Special Olympics — Frequently Asked Questions (volunteers & athletes)
- National Council on Aging — Get the Facts on Elder Abuse
- ACL / Administration for Community Living — Preventing and Addressing Sexual Assault of People with I/DD
Special-needs volunteer screening questions
Do volunteers who work with people with disabilities really need a background check?
Yes — and it is one of the clearest cases for screening there is. Volunteers in disability services often provide hands-on personal care, work one-on-one, and enter private homes and residential settings. Because people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are among the most at-risk for abuse, a consent-first background check is a reasonable, expected layer of protection for everyone involved.
What does the $5 check cover?
A national criminal search across county, state, and federal court records, sex-offender registries in all 50 states plus the national registry (NSOPW), and federal watchlists — with biometric identity verification and a free address-history check. Every high-confidence record is reviewed by a trained analyst before it reaches you.
Is the platform really free for our organization?
The platform is free for nonprofits — no monthly fees, no contracts, no per-seat charges. You only pay $5 per background check when you actually run one. Credits never expire, and bulk bundles bring the price down further.
How do we screen volunteers and coaches specifically?
Send any volunteer — a Special Olympics coach, respite helper, day-program aide, or board member — a link or QR code. They apply from their phone, verify their identity with a government ID and selfie, and consent to the check. A verified status (or a flagged review) lands on your roster.
Is it FCRA-compliant?
Yes. Every check is consent-first with permissible-purpose handling and a built-in adverse-action workflow (pre-adverse notice, a waiting period, and a final notice) if you ever decline someone based on a record.
Give the people you serve the volunteers they deserve
Vet every volunteer, coach, and caregiver for $5 — free platform, no contracts, FCRA-compliant. Set up in minutes.
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