Special Needs Committee

PURPOSE:

THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE IS TO HELP MAKE A.A. ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE WHO DESIRES IT; TO HELP ALCOHOLICS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS EITHER GET TO MEETINGS OR HAVE MEETINGS BROUGHT TO THEM. ONE OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF MANY OF THESE COMMITTEES IS THAT THERE ARE NO SPECIAL A.A. MEMBERS…ONLY MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO WISH TO HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH REGARD TO TWELVE STEP WORK, SPONSORSHIP, AND SPEAKING AT A.A. AND NON-A.A. MEETINGS AS OTHER A.A.’S HAVE.

WHILE THERE ARE NO SPECIAL A.A. MEMBERS, MANY MEMBERS HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THOSE GUIDELINES, WE DEFINE A.A.’S WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AS PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED; DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING; CHRONICALLY ILL OR HOMEBOUND, AND THOSE WHO ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.

THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE EXPLORE, DEVELOP AND OFFER RESOURCES TO MAKE THE A.A. MESSAGE AND PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO REACHES OUT FOR IT.

HOW WE SERVE: To meet the Special Needs of the disabled fellowship of A.A.

MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE:

• Committee members from each group.
• District-committee chairperson.
• Area Committee chairperson.

HANDLING OF A SPECIAL NEED:

When a need arises that an individual member can’t handle: Individual A.A. member contacts Central Services or a committee member.

For example, to provide an interpreter for a meeting or workshop or to provide tapes or other special resources or assistance to a member

District or Area committee members contact and assist the disabled member or newcomer.

WHO DO WE SERVE:

• PHYSICALLY DISABLED.
• DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED.
• BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED.
• LEARNING OR READING IMPAIRED.
• SENIORS AND HOMEBOUND.
• LANGUAGE BARRIER.
• SINGLE PARENTS REQUIRING CHILDCARE.

HOW DO WE SERVE:

• Provide interpreters for meetings and events.
• Provide Braille A.A. literature and programs for special needs.
• Assist the physically disabled at events; provide rides in special cases.
• Encourage wheel-chair accessible meetings and events.
• Encourage Big Book tape study meetings in each district.
• Encourage groups to provide childcare.
• Update special-needs information in meeting directories.
• Bring meetings into the home, hospital or long-term care facilities.
• Encourage districts and groups to support regular meetings in special needs facilities.
• Provide literature and hold workshops on special needs.
• Explore other special needs; work with GSO and other districts and areas.