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A Narrative Inquiry of Volunteer Experiences at a Midwestern Equestrian Facility For Individuals With Disabilities

Salay, Joanne K., MS
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1259024444

Abstract Details

2009, MA, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration.
“Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization,” remarked the director of Helping Hooves(HH). This Non Profit Organization, like others, realizes the impact that volunteers make on the services they are able to provide for their clients. The purpose of this study was to explore participants’ perceptions of benefits derived from volunteering, personal characteristics, motivations for volunteering, pathways to volunteering, and impact and interactions within the client/volunteer/staff community. A qualitative narrative inquiry approach was used at a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) that provides equine-assisted therapy for its clients. The 22 participants in this study ranged from 14 to 82 years of age and had volunteered at the NPO from 9 months to 15 years. Five of the volunteers were individuals with disabilities. Data collection consisted of observations and impressions made by the researcher as a participant, and field note observations and reflections. Field notes were analyzed and participant interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed to reveal themes. The findings of this research addressed the volunteers’ pathways to arrival at HH, their self-identified qualities and characteristics, their perceptions of benefits received, their relationships within HH, their sense of community, and their reasons for continued volunteering at Helping Hooves. This thesis has implications for those NPO’s who provide services similar to Helping Hooves and others who wish to increase and maintain their volunteer base.
Tricia Niesz, PhD (Committee Chair)
Andrea Adolph, PhD (Committee Member)
Rafa Kasim, PhD (Committee Member)
77 p.
Behaviorial Sciences; Personal Relationships; Social Research
volunteer; volunteerism; disability; equestrian; youth; NPO; Narrative Inquiry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Salay, MS, J. K. (2009). A Narrative Inquiry of Volunteer Experiences at a Midwestern Equestrian Facility For Individuals With Disabilities [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1259024444

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Salay, MS, Joanne. A Narrative Inquiry of Volunteer Experiences at a Midwestern Equestrian Facility For Individuals With Disabilities. 2009. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1259024444.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Salay, MS, Joanne. "A Narrative Inquiry of Volunteer Experiences at a Midwestern Equestrian Facility For Individuals With Disabilities." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1259024444

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1259024444
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.