Inclusive Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring
Research tells us that there are currently over three million youth in America living with a disability, and that this population accounts for a sizable portion of the young people enrolled in our country’s mentoring programs. It’s critical that programs have the knowledge and resources needed to offer accessible opportunities, services, and support that promote belonging and respect.
The Inclusive Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ was developed by MENTOR and Partners for Youth with Disabilities to ensure that mentoring programs, both those working exclusively with youth with disabilities and those serving all youth, have the tools and resources needed to ensure a positive experience for all youth participants, families, and volunteers. This guide addresses how programs can adequately train mentors/staff members, design and evaluate their services, and assess their policies and procedures to be more inclusive of those with disabilities.
MENTOR and Partners for Youth with Disabilities would like to thank Altria for their generous support of this work and for their commitment to improving the mentoring experiences of youth and volunteers with disabilities.