Mentors in self-advocacy: beacons to employment

Abstract

Over the last several years organizations and agencies, across the country, have begun developing and delivering excellent self-advocacy training programs. Classroom training programs, by themselves are not proving effective as a strategy to assist persons with disabilities to obtain suitable careers. Unemployment among persons with disabilities continues to remain at a high level. An effective self-advocacy mentor program can assist the customer in navigating the vocational delivery system in route to a career. With vocational rehabilitation programs coming under attack for being too expensive and ineffective, it is time to use creative and innovative approaches. Experienced self-advocates. serving as mentors, and working in partnership with vocational counselors is an approach worthy of consideration. This article will describe the development of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center's self advocacy mentoring program.