Disabled Peer Mentorship Program

The Disabled Peer Mentorship Program through the Disability Outreach Center (DOC) provides first year, transfer, and recently self-identified or newly disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, Blind and low vision, d/Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing students with individual mentorship from upper-level peers to increase the retention, academic excellence and inclusive success, and wellbeing of mentees and develop mentors as leaders. Mentors help mentees transition to college life while providing academic, social, and personal connections in a caring and supportive environment. Mentors offer guidance and encouragement and answer questions about WWU student life and resources.  
 
Through the Disabled Peer Mentorship Program, we aim to address retention rate, academic success and graduation rate, and community wellbeing through addressing the identified gaps of peer mentors, friends and community, self-advocacy skills, and connection to services and resources on campus by providing direct peer mentorship, hosting opportunities for making friends and finding community, hosting and facilitating events and activities for students, offering student leadership and professional development opportunities including self-advocacy skills, and connecting students with the Disability Access Center, Disability Outreach Center, and Centers for Student Access, Community, and Intercultural Engagement as well as campus and community partners. 
 
The Disabled Peer Mentorship Program is funded through a WWU's Sustainability, Equity, and Justice Fund (SEJF) grant.