City Description
Located on the Navajo Nation in the northeast corner of Arizona, St. Michaels is a rugged city and one of our more isolated communities. Living on the Navajo reservation will offer you a more rural experience, and provides different opportunities to observe cultural events. A community car is provided, but usage is limited. At an elevation of about 6,800 feet, don’t expect it to be hot all year round. Road conditions can be difficult and weather can be harsh during the winter and spring. However, the beauty of the reservation’s landscape and culture is vast and magnificent. The sky and the stars are definitely something to enjoy. The Navajo Nation is a dry reservation; therefore, alcohol is not permitted.
Housing: trailer
Transportation: van
Number of Volunteers: 3
Service Site Descriptions
St. Michaels Association for Special Education (SMASE)
Mission: To promote and provide a coordinated, accessible system of quality services for Dine (Navajo) children and adults with developmental disabilities.
SMASE serves moderate to severely disabled Navajo children and adults with comprehensive day and residential services. Programs include fully-licensed and certified special education classrooms, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, adaptive ancillary programs, community integration, and service-learning. Volunteers are needed to work as certified special education teachers as part of a comprehensive team that moves every client or student towards meeting their full potential in life. There are also paraprofessional opportunities for volunteers who are not certified, but have significant experience with persons with disabilities.
Site Details
Website: smase.org
Skills: Professional: Certified Special Education; Paraprofessional: Administrative Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Therapy Assistant, Care Giver.
REFLECTIONS FROM VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED IN ST. MICHAELS
From Seed to Colossal Tree: Developing Roots in the Navajo Nation
While I taught at St. Michael Indian School (SMIS), a school serving…
Stepping Into the Unknown: Living, Serving, Thinking, and Collaborating
After departing from my year of service my cup was filled to…
