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Peer Mentor Training. Patricia Waters, Assistant Director, Rochester Center for Community Leadership Kristen Love, Senior Project Coordinator, Institute for Innovative Transition. Each box represents how you develop as a person. Describe how you grow as a person at UR?. Warm Up.
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Peer Mentor Training Patricia Waters, Assistant Director, Rochester Center for Community Leadership Kristen Love, Senior Project Coordinator, Institute for Innovative Transition
Each box represents how you develop as a person. Describe how you grow as a person at UR?
Warm Up Talk about some of your experiences in college and having a job. How have these experiences prepared you to be independent?
Credo for Support By: Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Klift
Credo for Support Questions • What kinds of things did you notice about this video clip? • Describe your impressions of the people speaking in the video. • What are some main points of the video clip? • How can you support those points as a peer mentor?
Background on College Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities • Over 250 programs in the nation • May receive high school supports (18-21yr olds) • Supported by teacher and aide • Pursue career experiences and campus life • Several programs in Upstate New York • University of Rochester (BOCES 1) • Roberts Wesleyan (BOCES 2) • Keuka College (Penn Yan Central School District) • St. John Fisher (West Irondequoit and Webster)
Student Goals • Taking a class (audit or credit) • Finding a work experience on the campus • Getting involved in a club or group • Going to campus events • Meeting new people
What does postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities look like? • http://www.thinkcollege.net/inclusive-video
Questions for Think College Video • Describe the college program in the video. • What kinds of things were the students doing in the video? • Describe how students were both receiving support, but were independent on the campus. • How could this look on the UR campus?
Always Promoting Self-Advocacy • People with disabilities • Making decisions • “Where would you like to go?” • Speaking for themselves • “Hi, my name is Jack” • Being as independent as possible • “I’ll meet you at the quad in 20 minutes” • Learning about their rights and responsibilities as a citizen and community member • “People are studying here, I need to keep my voice level down.”
Don’t do it for them Don’t do it without them
How can you support self-advocacy? • Point out strategies that help the student learn better • “Sometimes when I don’t want to do something, I break up the task in small chunks and take tiny breaks.” • Ask the student • How can I help you complete your assignment?” • Discuss with the student strategies for communicating with others • “Did you set an alarm?” • Any others?
The Role of a Peer Mentor • Provide support with the least amount of intrusion possible • Introduction on campus with friends • Encourage campus participation and assist the student with making their own connections on campus • What does it look like to go to an event with a student? • Foster independence whenever possible • You and a student are going to Starbucks- • Do you order for them? • Do you carry their food? • Do you always pick where you sit?
Coaches (and mentors) are DETECTIVES & ANTHROPOLOGISTS, identifying a variety of strategies and methods which will allow the person to be a valued and accepted student/worker, with the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM of support provided directly by the coach (or mentor). - Elena Varney
Slides adapted with permission from an educational coaching training presentation provided by Think College located at the Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass, Boston