Mentorship

We are currently recruiting!

We are seeking volunteers to join our mentorship program between adults and youth with visual impairment in Tennessee. Applications for mentorship will close on August 31st.

Mentoring from adults with visual impairment can provide a supportive bridge for transition-aged youth with visual impairment, helping them build confidence, skills, and a path toward a successful future. With guidance and support from EMPOWER staff, Mentors with visual impairments can draw upon their lived experiences and expertise to encourage Mentees with visual impairments to successfully navigate their postsecondary goals. Mentees can identify potential college and career pathways and aspirations for adulthood upon learning from the lived experiences of Mentors with similar disabilities.

Benefits from mentoring include shared understanding, role modeling, career guidance, networking, and support in building self-advocacy skills. Through this program, Mentors and Mentees will partner to develop Mentee-driven goals. These can include but are not limited to increasing self-confidence through building self-advocacy skills, exploring college programs, career exploration, preparing to get a job, increasing assistive technology skills, and/or increasing engagement in social group or community activities. With support and guidance from their Mentor, the Mentee will take steps to progress towards reaching their goals.

• Mentees will receive support to progress toward their goals related to adulthood by adults who share similar lived experiences and identities.
• Mentors will have satisfaction in helping a young person mature, progress, and achieve their goals related to adulthood.
• Mentees and Mentors will have the opportunity to practice leadership and communication skills.
• Mentees and Mentors will access EMPOWER VI transition resources and learning activities.
• Mentees and Mentors will receive ongoing support and supervision to help the match succeed.

All Mentoring activities will be 100% virtual, allowing for those from rural and remote communities to participate. EMPOWER VI has also worked to ensure that all internal documents and processes within the Mentoring Program are accessible. All communications will occur within Microsoft Teams. EMPOWER VI staff will add participants to the Teams platform and provide instructions on how to navigate and access resources.

The mentorship program will last one school year (from August 2024- May 2025). During the program, Mentors and Mentees will be expected to meet virtually once monthly.
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To learn more about the Mentor role, including participation requirements, time commitment, and benefits, please review:

To learn more about the Mentee role, including participation requirements, time commitment, and benefits, please review:

To learn more about the Parent/Guardian role, including participation requirements, time commitment, and benefits, please review:

If you know a student who qualifies and would benefit from a Mentor, you can submit a Mentee referral here.

Applications for mentors are closed.
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If you are a student and are interested in gaining a Mentor, you (if over 18) and/or your parent/guardian (if under 18) can submit a Mentee application here.

For more information or questions, contact the EMPOWER VI Mentoring program by emailing katrina.g.dubree@vanderbilt.edu