Students with Disabilities

There are many benefits to a mentor-mentee relationship. Developing and maintaining an informal relationship with a working professional can help you to:

• Learn from someone who has experienced disability-related frustrations similar to yours and experienced success.
• Obtain firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field, industry or position.
• Clarify your initial goals and develop a plan towards achieving them.
• Improve your communication skills by talking informally with an interested and supportive professional.
• Start building your professional network.

Cal Transitions is preparing to launch a Mentor Program designed specifically for participants of the program. Already in progress is the development of an online database with professionals who are interested in being a resource for you. This will include:

• Cal alumni and professionals with disabilities
• Cal alumni and other professionals without disabilities working in a variety of career fields
• Employers with an ongoing relationship to the Career Center who are interested in referring their employees to be mentors

Contact Cal Transitions to express your interest and to learn about the policies and procedures required to get a Cal Transitions mentor.

There are many opportunities to find a mentor now. Take advantage of the following programs to identify and make contact with professionals who can be good sources of advice and support, both as role models with disabilities and as career professionals in your field of interest.

• Cal Alumni Association's Student Alumni Mentoring Program connects UC Berkeley students and alumni in one-on-one mentoring relationships.
  
• Partners for Youth with Disabilities' Mentor Match Program arranges one-to-one relationships between young people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities and adults who have similar disabilities.
• Computer Technology Program's Mentorship Project for Youth with Disabilities matches students with professionals with disabilities working in the information technology field.