DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/36983000

Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0006-0124-9336

Date of Award

5-10-2024

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Dr. Carolyn Podolski

Abstract

The IDEAL program at Georgia State University is an inclusive postsecondary education program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The purpose of this capstone project is to create a peer mentor training guide to ensure consistent training and competence of peer mentors in providing social, academic, and employment support. The goal is to provide comprehensive peer mentor training reflecting best practice standards, so students receive high-quality support in the inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program. An informal needs assessment was conducted with the program manager, followed by a literature review. Sample peer mentor training manuals were reviewed, and a new guide was created and approved. Edits were made based on feedback and the program manager approved the final training guide. The output of this project was a comprehensive, evidence-based peer mentor training guide. The short-term impact is that the peer mentor training guide met the site’s immediate needs of providing comprehensive training for peer mentors to provide academic, social, and employment support. The long-term impact is that the services IDEAL peer mentors will provide to mentees are enhanced, and students with IDD may have better outcomes during and after completing their IPSE programs. This capstone project involves creating a new peer mentor training guide to meet an immediate need of Georgia State University’s IDEAL program. The guide will facilitate and promote improved training and preparation of peer mentors who support students with IDD in pursuing academic and career advancement. While this capstone project endeavored to create an evidence-based peer mentor training manual, further research is necessary to delineate best practice guidelines for peer mentor training.

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