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Partners For Youth With Disabilities, Inc. http://www.pyd.org
Position: Director of Administration & Finance
Email: ccarpenter@pyd.org
Partners For Youth With Disabilities
Inc.
95 Berkeley street
Suite 109
Boston, MA 02116Map thisMission Statement %newline%Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Inc. (PYD) is committed to empowering young people with disabilities to reach their full potential for personal development. We do this by providing high quality one-to-one and group mentoring programs where caring adults act as positive role...
For more information:
Name: Chris CarpenterPosition: Director of Administration & Finance
Email: ccarpenter@pyd.org
Supported causes
Youth DevelopmentPage tools
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Mentor MatchMentor Match is a program that links youth with disabilities with mentors with similar interests who will be an important friend and resource in the young person's life. Mentor Match is for youth with disabilities aged 6-24. Mentors and mentees agree to a 1 year commitment and see each other once per month, and phone/contact once per week.
Youth who wish to be matched with a mentor are interviewed by a PYD staff person to better understand their interests and needs, in order to find the best match. Adult mentors undergo a thorough screening process that includes an interview, criminal history and reference check. Participants are matched according to a variety of factors, including similar disability, common interests, career aspirations, hobbies and geographical proximity. In addition to one-to-one contact, mentors attend mandatory group training sessions and individuals are also encouraged to participate in fun group outings sponsored by PYD once every three months.
If you'd like to find a mentor, or would like to volunteer as a mentor, please visit our website or contact Alex Freeman.
Supported causes
Youth DevelopmentMaking Healthy ConnectionsMaking Healthy Connections (MHC) is a series of interactive discussions and recreational activities designed to help adolescents and young adults with disabilities and special health needs prepare for adult life. In partnership with Boston Medical Center, MHC is currently focusing its curriculum on some of the Leading Health Indicators established by Healthy People 2010 (www.healthypeople.gov/LHI). All topics within MHC place an emphasis on self-management of health care and transitioning to adult health services. The goals of the program are to enable young people with disabilities and or special health care needs to do the following:
* Gain a greater understanding of their disabilities and/or special health care needs through interaction with other young adults and mentors who have disabilities and/or special health care needs;
* Build positive communication skills that will help them to describe and educate others about their disability, leading them to advocate for themselves at home, in school, in health care settings, and in the community;
* Develop strategies for taking more responsibility for activities of daily living, including managing their health care;
* Learn how to access resources in the community to help them prepare for the transition to adulthood;
* Explore healthy lifestyles and recreation options;
* Increase knowledge about educational, career, and independent living options.
These sessions are held in both Boston and Springfield facilities and are led by mentors with disabilities, with PYD peer leaders acting as role models.
MHC also offers training and support to parents of adolescents in the program. Parent transition planning workshops are held at the Boston and Springfield sites and will be held at the newly developed Lawrence site as well. Topics such as personal care assistance, health transition, preparing for jobs and college, assistive technology, transportation options, and working with the educational system are covered in the Parents Group.
Access to TheaterIn our Access to Theater (ATT) program, youth explore all phases of theater including theater games, acting, directing, improvisation, storytelling, choreography, movement, music, costume, props, set design and more. Youth meet in both large and small groups with the artistic director and with other artists throughout the year. Participants develop everything from original stories, dialogue, and music sound cues to figuring out how to build accessible sets.
ATT meets for four hours every week from the end of January through June. During the summer, ATT conducts a three week long intensive program where participants write, design, and execute their own production, performed at the end of the session.
ATT is a great way for all youth to learn to express themselves and engage with their peers in a positive way. For information on participation, contact Deep Chinappa!
Become a mentor!Thursday, September 03, 2009 - Wednesday, January 01, 2020Interested in becoming a mentor? Want to have a positive impact on a child's life? Volunteer to mentor today!
Adult mentors undergo a thorough screening process that includes an interview, criminal history and reference check. Participants are matched according to a variety of factors, including similar disability, common interests, career aspirations, hobbies and geographical proximity. In addition to one-to-one contact, mentors attend mandatory group training sessions and individuals are also encouraged to participate in fun group outings sponsored by PYD once every three months.
Visit our website or contact Alex Freeman for more information and to apply today!
Supported causes
Youth DevelopmentHost a job-shadow day!Thursday, September 03, 2009 - Wednesday, January 01, 2020In the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) youth learn to plan for their financial future through the motivating lessons of YEP staff, guest speakers and mentors as well as on field trips that are designed to provide real world business experiences. YEP is a comprehensive, hands on, practical program that takes participants through the entire process of starting a small business. Youth also participate in career development and post-secondary education exploration activities such as tours of local colleges, resume writing classes and mock interviewing exercises. Students who are interested in building on the expertise first developed in the classroom are offered the opportunity to be matched with mentors whose business or professional backgrounds correspond to their goals for the future.
If you run or work in a business that would like to host a job shadow day, contact Jenn Ridder. Our youth always love a chance to visit a business and learn about a business's culture and operations. Job shadowing can be an invaluable resource for youth in helping them plan for lifelong success!
