Creating Mentorships Between Job Seeking and Employed Adults with IDD
The USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, through a grant funded by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, is launching a new peer mentorship program, called the Peer Empowerment Network, where they train employed adults with IDD to serve as mentors to unemployed adults with IDD. The goal is to share their success stories with them, help answer any questions or concerns they might have about employment, and give them advice through their shared lived experience.
All parts of the program take place over Zoom. And they are looking for more employed adults who would like to be mentors, and unemployed adults who would like to be paired with a mentor. After participants are matched to one another, they meet once per month for 6 months over Zoom. And at the end of the project, each mentor and mentee will receive a $200 Amazon gift card.
Purpose of the Study
To learn if peer mentorship help people with IDD connect to paid employment
Other Program Info
- Program Dates: Mar 2025 – Mar 2026
- Receive up to $200 for participating
- Call, text or e-mail us for more information about how to sign-up!
- Participation is voluntary
To participate as a mentor:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live in the United States
- Have an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD)
- Have a paid job: part-time or full-time
- Mentor training classes over Zoom led by CHLA Research Team:
- Meet with other mentors from across the United States
- Learn the skills you need to be a good mentor
- Connecting with a peer who wants to find a job
- Meet once per month for six months (Zoom or phone call)
- Share your success story
- Talk to them about their job search
To participate as a job seeker (mentee):
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live in the United States
- Have an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD)
- Be currently unemployed
- Job preparation Zoom classes led by CHLA Research Team
- Meet other peers looking for jobs
- Talk about your job interests & skills
- Figure out supports you might need
- Practice what to say to employers
- Mentorship from an employed peer with IDD
- Meet once per month for six months (Zoom or phone call)
- Get advice about how to find a job
- Talk to them about your job search
Interested? Contact: Dr. Ben Schwartzman – USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at CHLA | E-mail: PeerEmpowermentNetwork@gmail.com | Phone: 310.916.9477 | Text: 310.916.9477