Watch the Video:
Student Perspective on Providing Respite Care through the Campus to Community Program

“This experience has solidified that I want to be a Speech-Language Pathologist working with children.”
— Student
“This has been an incredibly valuable experience. I think it could be interesting to give students the option to take this course for an entire year (Fall and Spring semesters), and allow the students to continue with the same families. The only thing that was difficult about this experience was how short it was. I would enjoy visiting the family for a longer period of time, as I believe it would allow for stronger relationship building.”
— Student

Students earn two credits for this service-learning course.

One Credit - Weekly Trainings and Discussions

  • Students participate in weekly training and discussions with peers and an instructor.

  • Students complete CPR and First Aid Training and the ARCH National Respite Care Training prior to field experience.

One Credit - Field Experience

  • Students complete three hours of field experience per week (e.g., after school, evenings, weekends), in line with UMass guidelines for internship credit hours.

  • Students begin home visits the third week of the semester.

  • Students are placed in pairs, as needed, for both student comfort and management of multiple children in the home.

Interested? Complete the Student Profile.

Skills Learned:

  • Appreciation for the family context

  • Cultural humility

  • Trauma informed practice

  • Engaging siblings

  • Practice with alternative or augmentative communication (AAC) devices

  • Exposure to assistive technology and medical supports

  • Planning enriching social and recreational activities

Students share one word to describe their experience:

NOTE: This course is a designated “Service-Learning” course and endorsed by the office of Civic Engagement and Service-Learning at UMass, therefore it provides opportunities for students to engage in service outside the classroom that is guided by appropriate input from a community partner and contributes to the public good. This course also fulfills one S-L requirement for the UMass interdisciplinary Certificate in Civic Engagement & Public Service (CEPS). Please contact CEPS advisor Candice Travis if you are interested in applying to earn the Certificate.

For Students with:

  • An interest in learning more about people with disabilities

  • An interest in working in home care settings

  • A range of academic majors and career aspirations

  • A range of experience working with people with disabilities