Mentorship Program

What is the Learning Disabilities Program?
What is the Mentorship Program?
From what companies have mentors come?
What benefits do mentors enjoy?
What do mentors do?
Application to become a mentor
Application for students

What is the Learning Disabilities Program?

an innovative Program founded in 1985 by the Counselling and Development Centre of York University
involves over 550 students currently enrolled in university Programs with over 400 graduates to date
supports students with identified learning disabilities to facilitate their academic, social, and career development
provides assistance for students by providing a range of services such as: academic accommodations, adaptive technology training, career counselling, tutorial services, personal and life skills counselling
facilitates workplace success through employer involvement

What Is the Mentorship Program?

The Mentorship Program is a career development option offered by the Learning Disabilities Program at York University. It is an opportunity for students and employers to work together to develop the career goals of university students with learning disabilities.

The Program is designed to enable students to select an employer to act as a mentor. As mentors, employers can help inform students about career directions by sharing their work, knowledge, contacts, and experience. In turn, the student offers the mentor a chance to learn first hand about persons with learning disabilities. Together they can work towards understanding employment equity issues.

Students meet with their mentors six times during an academic year, usually at the employer site. Mentors and students are also expected to attend two or three group meetings at York University. The Mentorship Program allows the mentor and student to develop an informal relationship that will meet both of their needs. At the first meeting, both parties complete a contract that outlines explicitly the goals and expectations. The contract helps to guide the relationship.

Employer Surveys Show That Students in the LDP at York University Have Demonstrated:

excellent job performance
enthusiasm
perseverance
initiative
positive attitudes
resourcefulness

What contributes to participant's success?

Persons with learning disabilities develop unique ways of learning effectively. They adapt to their work by minimizing their disabilities and maximizing their strengths. Hard work and creativity contribute to positive outcomes.

People with disabilities offer employers:

potential that comes with a university education
perseverance required to overcome challenges
dedication to success
loyalty and reliability

Mentors Have Come From the Following Organizations:

Benefits of Program for Mentors:

gives mentors a chance to shape career futures of talented students
allows employers to ask questions that they feel awkward about asking
gives mentors a chance to build new supervisory skills and diversity awareness
offers an opportunity for openness between employers and students and a chance for both of them to RISK
gives the employers a chance to provide information on their company and work experience
increases company awareness of employment equity issues
offers an opportunity to improve the self-esteem of persons who may have had a long history of negative feedback
enhances the company's image as a concerned employment equity employer

How Will You Benefit?

educate your human resource professionals, managers, and supervisors about learning disabilities
explore how our students can positively impact your business
source quality employment candidates in minimal time with maximum benefits.
become a mentor to one of our students and gain insight while helping develop their career potential
hire our students and provide valuable opportunities for them to work and gain experience within their chosen profession while gaining a valuable new employee

Examples of What Mentors Can Do:

help students to be positive and have hope despite current labour market conditions
discuss ways for students to establish, maintain, and improve self-confidence
alert students to their organization's value and goals
share personal or unique experiences and career paths with students
offer a human face to an organization
provide constructive feedback to students
offer an opportunity for information exchange from an industry contact
introduce students to other employment contacts
discuss ways to obtain career information
give pamphlets and other company literature to students
set up work shadowing opportunities for students
give students feedback on their interviewing skills
help students network more effectively

Mentor Application

NOTE: If you find that the Mentor Application does not redirect you to the thank-you page after you submit your form, please print the PDF version and submit it via mail or fax. Attention: Jayne Greene Black,
Room N110, Bennett Centre for Student Services, York University
4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3.
Fax: 416-736-5633

Those interested in becoming Mentors are directed to the online Mentorship Application Form

If you prefer, you may download a copy of the Mentor Application in PDF Format or for printing at your location.

Student Mentorship Application

Students interested in working with a mentor should complete and submit the Student Mentoring Application.

Alternatively, you may download the Student Mentorship Application in PDF format.

Please note: there is a $45 administration fee to assist in covering some of the costs associated with this program. Cheque payable to York University is due September 30. If this fee presents a financial barrier to your attendance, please contact Jayne Greene-Black. We do not want this fee to prevent your participation.

Counselling and Development Centre (CDC)
Tel: 416-736-5297
Location: N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services