What is a Peer Mentor?

Many students that attend college or other post-secondary programs have disabilities and special needs. These students may struggle with the social, self-advocacy and independence demands of the college or vocational environment.

WHAT IS OUR MODEL?

We believe that fellow similar-aged students are in the best position to model problem-solving and goal-setting, as well as offer insight into the "hidden curriculum" of college or employment for students with special needs. Therefore, we use "peer mentors" to attend social and vocational events with students, and to help them to create and acheive goals in domains of need.

Peer Mentors serve as guides for students with disabilities, helping them to create and obtain self determined goals in the domains of self-advocacy, independence, academic, organizational and vocational skills.
Peer Mentors may act as coaches, identifying and demonstrating everyday skills useful for transitioning students. They may also help to familiarize students with these skills by allowing them to practice and prepare for important events or opportunities.

Peer Mentors are trained to help students self-assess their needs. They then work with EdMent staff to come up with ways to practice skills to meet those goals.
Peer Mentors will meet at least weekly with the student they mentor. During this time, they will work on goals that have been created by the student in conjunction with the mentor.

Training is provided to all Peer Mentors. Mentors will learn about disability awareness, goal setting, obtaining accommodations, non-verbal communication, conversation, expanding social networks, college coping skills, strengths assessment, and self-advocacy through lecture, discussion, and role-play.

If you are participating through a college, you may have the option to take this program for credit. Please contact your college's program director to find out more.
Peer Mentors who work for EdMent are paid for their hours of direct service.
Previous peer-mentors found the experience to be enjoyable and educational.

Carreer mentors are small business owners or employees who are interested in mentoring a person with a disability to acquire career skills. Career mentors are trained and paid for their time

We believe that the best place to acquire functional job skills is in an employment environment. Many of our clients perform better on meaningful tasks than in an abstract classroom environment. The problem is that it is difficult to get a paying job without significant job experience. Career mentors help young adults to receive that experience, while also offeringthem guidance in work-based social and organizational skills.

A person with a small business in web design may agree to take on a mentee/intern with strong photography and video skills to help create content for web sites. The mentee does not get paid, but does receive individualized instruction from the career mentor on how to prepare materials and plan and complete projects in a realistic business environment. Self-determined goals are created by the mentee to identify projected outcomes from the internship. These goals are tracked by EdMent throughout the internship period. The career mentor receives initial training, observations, and supervision from the staff of EdMent Consulting. The Career Mentor is also paid by EdMent for the hours spent diferectly supervising or instructing the intern in vocational skills

Career Mentors must have specialty skills in a vocational area and access to a viable business. Students are matched to businesses based on the student's interests, experience, aptitudes and vocational goals. The businesses that can be included in this model are infinite: they can range from bookkeeping to cooking, landscape design, graphics, computer programming, pet care, etc.

We are now recuriting peer and employment mentors. Please contact us if you are interested.