National Disability Mentoring Council Goals

The purpose of the National Disability Mentoring Council (NDMC) is twofold. First, the council’s primary responsibility is to promote mentoring programs for youth with disabilities across the nation. Secondly, the council serves as the primary advisory committee for the development and implementation of new government initiatives of Partners for Youth with Disabilities, including the Partners Online e-mentoring project funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Making Healthy Connections health promotion group mentoring project funding by the Centers of Disease Control, the CityLab biotechnology mentoring project funded by the National Science Foundation, and the Intermediary Grants for Mentoring Youth with Disabilities project funded by the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.

• Identify funders who are interested in mentoring for youth with disabilities (both in-kind and monetary donations).
• Conduct national public relations activities to promote mentoring throughout the country and foster recruitment success.
• Advise on research and evaluation activities to document the effectiveness of mentoring programs and best practices strategies.
• Advise on program implementation issues by guiding staff and providing resources that will be helpful.
• Review and advise on the replication guide, which will include a section that provides information about serving youth and adults with disabilities for organizations with limited or no experience.
• Develop a collaboration model and identify potential replication sites for mentoring programs throughout the United States.
• Assist in training mentors/mentees as well replication sites who need technical assistance.
• Organize workshops, annual conferences and other events to promote mentoring.
• Act as a clearinghouse for resources and information for replication sites. Create national mentor/mentee referral network.