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The DS/USA Youth Sports Mentoring Program is a nationwide initiative conducted in partnership with its chapters to increase youth sports involvement and to foster social interaction between people of all abilities through mentoring.
Mentoring through sports & physical activity not only promotes the development of athletic skills and encourages healthy active lifestyles, but it also supports the development of independent living and social skills among youth with disabilities. Match interaction within this program occurs face-to-face within a sports or recreation venue, and also via phone and email contact.
Through sports, mentors and mentees can work together to identify and accomplish measurable goals such as the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (www.presidentschallenge.org). Success in sports builds self-confidence and greater motivation to succeed... as the DS/USA motto goes:
“If I Can Do This, I Can Do Anything!”
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
THE DS/USA YOUTH SPORTS MENTORING PROGRAM BROCHURE!
Disabled Sports USA offers its chapters a variety of flexible mentoring models to help them implement youth mentoring within their sport and recreation programming. If you are interested in starting a mentoring program within your DS/USA chapter, please contact Disabled Sports USA for more information:
Pat Addabbo
DS/USA Youth Sports Mentoring Program Manager
(240) 268-0237
paddabbo@dsusa.org
DS/USA is also looking to link potential high-profile mentors with its chapters. Currently, we are targeting members of the following groups to train as mentors to get them involved with their local chapters:
- Wounded Warriors
- Paralympic Athletes
- Other Elite Athletes
MISSION:
To provide opportunities for youth with disabilities to develop greater self-confidence, independence and a healthier, more physically active lifestyle by developing effective mentoring relationships using sports and recreation activities as the basis. |
“Being a mentor was a great experience…everyone should do it! [Mentors] give youth someone to look up to and guide them in the right way. Being matched with Josh was a great experience for me. Josh was born with his disability, I wasn’t. I learned how he coped with life, school, sports. It was a totally positive relationship! Adults are the path, but the kids pave it with gold…they’re our future.”
“The relationships the DS/USA Mentoring program will create are going
to last and make a positive difference for everyone!”
“The two words THANK YOU do not seem to be enough…
You have given us a chance to make a new friend for life.”
“You have made a difference in the lives of all of us, not just our kids.”
“(My Mentor) is a great person and I don’t want to forget him! Having a mentor at
Ski Spectacular was a great experience for me, and I would recommend it for
any disabled racer. It helped me become a greater racer. “
“Sports have been very important to me since my injury. I really enjoy seeing little kids
accelerate though sport. I have had the opportunity to work with DSUSA in their
mentoring program which has given me nothing but joy. “
“As a representative, as a mentor…what life I have to give [will work towards that] no one will be forgotten, no one will be left behind. As I led others into battle, I will lead [these young athletes] to victory. Even if it is only one step forward, it will never be a step backwards.”
“Thank you for the experience… I enjoyed it very much! My mentor was a very
nice person to be around. He was really interesting… he was definitely the
best part of my trip… made it a positive and inspirational experience.”
“Being paired with Ariel (mentee) was an incredible experience because we did share
everything together from walking out hand-in-hand at Opening Ceremonies, to warm-up
practice on the track, to lunch, to pep talks about "Girl Power" and especially her event
victories. I wanted to reach out and provide Ariel with motivation and strength and
at the same time, Ariel touched me with her determination and courage.”
“This mentoring program was long overdue!”
“This is a good program. When I first attended Ski Spectacular, as a young racer,
I got the opportunity to ski with some members of the national ski team. It was a
great week…. having someone to ski with and learn from is very valuable.”
DS/USA Youth Sports Mentoring Program Sponsors:
U.S. Department of Education
Daniels Fund
Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
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