Return to work and school: a model mentoring program for youth and young adults with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Study design: This is a prospective study. Objectives: Young individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) need support to actively participate in the community after their injuries. The 'Back on Track' mentoring program was developed to match mentees with SCI with mentors to assist with post-injury adjustment. The objectives of this study were to improve the percentage of youth and young adults with SCI, who access post-secondary education or employment opportunities and to improve quality of life. Setting: This study had a community-based setting. Methods: Each mentee with SCI was matched with a community-based mentor, with or without a disability. The mentoring relationship was planned for 2 years. Participants were evaluated with standardized questionnaires at intake, at the time of post-secondary education or employment entry and 4 months post entry. Results: In total, 39 individuals with SCI, age 16-26 years, were enrolled. Average age of mentees was 19.8 years (s.d. ¼ 3.0). In total, 29 participants were matched with mentors, and 10 participants (34%) completed the program, with seven (24%) returning to school, two (6.9%) returning to work and one individual (3.4%) attending school part time. Conclusion: Although multiple barriers to success occurred, this program demonstrated that it could assist the youth and young adults with SCI to obtain post-secondary education and employment. This type of support system should be encouraged in order to improve the quality and satisfaction of life for young adults with disabilities.

Interventions for improving employment outcomes among individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review

“…Four of the included studies focused on education as an outcome (in addition to employment). 15,17,21,22 Phillips et al 21 used a broader outcome definition called 'productive activities' that included both employment and education, whereas others investigated education on its own. Given that education may be an intermediate step to obtaining employment, it is a justifiable end point of studies investigating employment outcomes and may provide a better overall view of the employment prospects for those with SCI.…”

“…Being in one of the two intervention groups trended toward a longer time until return to productive activities such as school, work or home-making though it was not significant (P ¼ 0.083). Lastly, Shem et al 22 evaluated a peer mentorship intervention and found that among those in the study, 7 (24%) participants returned to school, 2 (6.9%) participants returned to work and 1 (3.4%) participant returned to school part-time.…”

Qualitative evaluation of a Community Peer Support Service for people with spinal cord injury

“…19,20 It appears to take a particular sort of character to offer peer support to people with an SCI. It could probably be best summarised by friendliness, compassion and trust.…”

Improving Transition to Employment for Youth With Physical Disabilities: Protocol for a Peer Electronic Mentoring Intervention

“…Peer mentoring interventions for youth without disabilities have been shown to be safe, feasible, and a cost-effective alternative to traditional vocational services [ 12 - 14 ]. Research on mentoring for youth without disabilities has beneficial impacts on job training, educational attainment, social skills, self-esteem, and work ethic [ 11 , 15 , 16 ]. One main challenge in implementing mentoring programs is finding peer mentors who are able to meet face-to-face.…”