Are you a person with a disability who could benefit from help or guidance from someone who has been in your shoes? Do you know a person with a disability who could benefit from such help or guidance? You or the individual you know may make a perfect mentee for the Ohio Mentorship Project.
The Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) is proud to be one of three Centers for Independent Living (CILs) partnering with the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) to launch the Ohio Mentorship Project. The Ohio Mentorship Project was designed to help people with disabilities in Ohio and their families navigate life by getting help from a mentor who has lived through the same or similar circumstances. The project strives to help people create connections through empathy and understanding. Additionally, ACIL and the other organizations involved hope to be able to work together along with mentors to help mentees find needed community resources and connect to other community organizations.
Anyone with a disability age 18 or older can be a mentee. Whether you are a person with an acquired disability looking to become acclimated to your new circumstances or you are a person born with a disability looking to brush up on your self-advocacy skills, a mentor through the Ohio Mentorship Project could benefit you. Even if you are simply looking to increase your level of social interaction, a mentor could benefit you. Anyone looking to learn from and/or connect with someone who has experienced struggles that they may be experiencing themselves are ideal mentees for the Ohio Mentorship Project. A willingness to share with others is a must.
Mentors will help mentees understand their disability, provide support and encouragement, teach self-advocacy skills, connect, and share.
Mentees will have the chance to be matched with a mentor with a similar disability. Meetings with mentors can be done in-person, via Zoom, or over the phone. If you or someone you know could benefit from the support of a peer mentor, apply or share the application link today. https://www.tfaforms.com/5125501.
Applications will be open until December 1st. Please tell anyone you know with a disability who you believe could benefit from the help of a mentor about this project! The Access Center and the other CILs would greatly appreciate it.
Contact Allison Boot, ACIL Independent Specialist at 937-341-5202 Ext 114 or [email protected] or [email protected].
