Mentor Match (MM)

Program Contact: Jeff Lafata • 617-556-4075 x18
Ages Served: 6-24 • Program Founded: 1985

A leader in its field, the Mentor Match program's goal is to help young people with disabilities meet their full potential for personal development and independence in adulthood by creating one-to-one mentoring matches with a caring adult. Matches are expected to commit to one year, have weekly contact (email, phone, or in person), and meet in person for a minimum of 4-6 hours a month over the course of one or more meetings.

Becoming a mentee is a simple process; PYD staff meets with all interested youth to better understand their interests and needs. A short application and necessary paperwork are also completed at this time.

For the past several years, the program’s service area has consisted of communities extending as far as the MA 495-Beltway. This area has yielded a large amount of mentee referrals throughout the region. However, mentor recruitment between the 128 and 495 beltways has proven difficult. Our available mentors tend to overwhelmingly reside within the MA128 Loop. For this reason, effective July 1, 2010, Mentor Match’s service area will consist exclusively of communities within the MA 128 Loop. Youth with all disabilities, ages six to 24, and residing within the noted region are eligible to become a mentee.
View Service Area

Becoming a mentor involves an interview with PYD staff, one-time group training and criminal background and reference checks. Adults with and without disabilities, ages 18 and up, are eligible for the program. Prior experience working with youth with disabilities is not required; curiosity, empathy and humility are.

Participants are matched according to a variety of factors, including similar disability, common interests, career aspirations, personality, hobbies and geographical proximity. Generally, participants can expect a match to begin within three to six months of their start in the program. In some cases, matches can take significantly longer to occur. In these instances, staff will keep participants updated and provide expectations concerning the process.

The Mentor Match program supports its matches and wait-listed participants through quarterly events, monthly newsletters and frequent contact.

What our mentors are saying:

Mary Steuart:
"I really love being a mentor, and I am so happy that I am now a part of my mentee's life. She is just great. Thank you for all of the hard work that you do. You do your job so well and truly care about all the mentors and mentees."

Larry Warnock: "My mentee provided me with a new meaning for my life, an opportunity to tell my stories, to share my ups and downs, to talk about my own disabilities and how they helped and hindered my development. Being honored as Mentor of The Year was, by far, the best award I have ever received."

Interested in participating in Mentor Match? Once you have filled out the appropriate (mentor or mentee) form, you can submit it in one of the following ways:

• email: jlafata@pyd.org
• mail:
  Jeff Lafata
  95 Berkeley Street, Suite 109
  Boston, MA 02116
• fax: 617-556-4074