Volunteering

How to sign up, choose requests, and see a device through to delivery.

Signing up

Click Volunteer and fill in your volunteer profile:

Experience: be honest. New volunteers are very welcome; families just need to know what to expect.
Where you can help: whether you can meet families in person, how far you can travel, and whether you can ship (in your country or internationally).
What you'd like to make: the kinds of devices you're comfortable with. Leave them all unchecked to hear about everything. You can also tick designs you've made before.
How many requests at once: we won't invite you to more than this.

A coordinator reviews new volunteer profiles, usually within a day or two, because many requests involve children. We'll email you when you're approved.

New to e-NABLE? Make a test hand first. The e-NABLE Hub has guides, and the forum is a friendly place for feedback.

Finding requests

Invitations: when a request comes in that fits you, and you're one of the closest volunteers, we email you. Invitations also appear on your dashboard.
Open requests: browse every request you can reach, nearest first. Use the filters to see only requests within your travel distance, or everything.

Deciding whether to take one

Each request shows:

what's needed: age, side, limb description, and the family's goals;
sizing photos;
what you'll do, step by step;
the skills you should be confident in, and the equipment needed;
typical time, and whether in-person fitting is recommended.

Only take it if you're confident you can do it well. If it's not for you, click Not for me. That's always fine, and it lets us ask the next volunteer sooner.

To take a request, tick the two confirmation boxes and click I'll take this request. The first volunteer to do so gets it, and you'll immediately see the family's contact details. It is important that each volunteer not take on any more work than they are confident they will be able to complete in a timely manner.

After you take a request

Introduce yourself within 3 days. The family's contact details are on the request page. You can also message them there.
Post progress updates at each stage: sizing, printing, assembling, fitting. It's one click, and you can add photos. Families love seeing progress.
Mark it delivered when you hand it over or ship it. Add care tips or a tracking number.
The family confirms, or asks for an adjustment if the fit needs work.

If you go quiet for two weeks we'll send a friendly reminder. If you can't continue, use I can't continue with this request; we'll find another volunteer straight away.

Logging requests you're already helping with

Met someone at a chapter event, school, or clinic? Use Log a request you're helping with (on the Open requests page or your dashboard). You'll be the volunteer on it straight away, and it counts toward e-NABLE's impact.

Pausing

Going away or busy? Untick I'm available for new requests in your volunteer profile. Your current requests aren't affected.

Safety

Meet families in public places, or at their home with a parent or guardian present.
Devices are always free. Never ask a family for money.
Keep families' information private.

Documentation for e-NABLE Web Central version 2.3.0.