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Mentoring Encourages Young Adults
By Deborah Leuchovius
Last October, 16-year-old Scott Bloom climbed aboard the unmistakable green Wellstone bus to watch a U.S. Senate campaign in progress. On that 2002 National Disability Mentoring Day, Scott, who has osteogenesis imperfecta or "brittle bone disease," was not just a teenager with a disability. He was a future member of the work force, a potential professional, and a "someday" public official.
When Sen. Paul Wellstone died shortly thereafter, Scott grieved with an understanding of the impact on the campaign staff he met, said his mother.
Other Minnesota young adults with disabilities had meaningful workplace experiences on the 2002 Mentoring Day. They participated in mentoring events with companies such as Best Buy and Northwest Airlines in the Twin Cities, IBM in Rochester, and small businesses and nonprofits across the state.
Mentoring Day brings students with disabilities into the workplace where they can learn about employment opportunities--not just entry-level jobs, but careers. This year's event is Oct. 15.
Begun in 1999, Mentoring Day coincides with National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Planned activities across the nation highlight the importance of encouraging young people with disabilities to develop the skills and obtain the experiences necessary to compete in today's economy. Ideally, participation translates into ongoing relationships, internships, and even job offers.
Research and practice show that job-shadowing (exposing students to actual work settings), volunteer and paid work, formal and informal internships, apprenticeships, and other learning opportunities based in places of employment provide the springboard to successful adult employment. Mentoring Day is one approach.
In 2003, young people in all 50 states and other nations will participate in Mentoring Day. It is a community-based program, so events and activities vary. Typical activities promote career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through one-on-one job shadowing, group visits to public and private employers, and hands-on career exploration.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) co-sponsors National Disability Mentoring Day and works with other national organizations to promote career exploration for students and job seekers with disabilities.
Families and businesses wishing to plan future Mentoring Day events should visit the AAPD Web site.
Adapted from an article appearing in the Fall 2003 PACESETTER, Vol. 26, Issue 3.
Online Resources on Mentoring
Career-focused Mentoring for Youth: The What, Why, and How (2007)
Cultivating Leadership: Mentoring Youth with Disabilities (2005)
"Creating Mentoring Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities: Issues and Suggested Strategies," a National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) Issue Brief (2002)
"Youth Mentoring," a NCSET Web site exploring how mentoring can help youth and adults with professional development, growth, and support, and benefit the overall community. Includes an introduction, frequently asked questions, related research, emerging practices, Web sites, and additional resources.
National Mentoring Partnership Research Corner, a web site providing an overview of current research on mentoring theory, practice, and programs; reviews and fact sheets; question and answer section and online resources on mentoring research and evaluation.
PACER's site offers many PDF files for download, which require 
