GEMS
Georgians Empowered through Mentoring
Success
The aim of the Georgians Empowered through Mentoring Success
(GEMS) program is to link blind and low vision young adults throughout
Through the mentoring relationship blind and low vision adults will offer their expertise, experience and ideas to young adults. We understand you may work full time, have a family at home and worry about the time commitments involved. We completely understand. However, we also hope that you will consider helping a young adult develop a positive view of blindness. When young adults learn good skills of blindness, and the importance of proper training, you, as a mentor, will receive great satisfaction. It is a gift worth giving and a gift worth receiving. You will be able to meet other blind and low vision adults and create a larger network support for yourself as well as others. In order to be considered as a potential mentor, you must complete a mentor application. Please note that in order to ensure the safety of the young participants in this mentoring program, all prospective mentors will undergo a thorough, confidential background check and screening process.
Sign up to be a mentor on-line
By participating in the mentoring program, you as a mentee will have the opportunity to build a personal relationship with a positive blind role model; learn firsthand how other blind people lead successful lives and achieve their goals; develop friendships with other blind and low vision young adults; and, have fun with activities you never expected you would do! There are separate applications for mentees under 18 years of age, and those 18 and older.
Sign up as a mentee under 18 on-line
Sign
up as a mentee 18 and over
Mentors and mentees will be paired using various tools and techniques including an interest survey. Our State Coordinator will provide support and assistance to mentors, and coordinate a variety of mentoring activities. The mentoring relationship will develop over time and increase a young adult's understanding of possibilities, promote positive self-awareness, and an optimistic outlook on life.
The GEMS program is a program of the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia operated in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Labor Rehabilitation Services, administered through the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. The NCME was established through a five-year research and development grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration. The goal of the NCME is to develop and facilitate model mentoring programs, based on established best practices for mentoring that can be replicated throughout the country.
For more information about the GEMS program contact:
Georgians Empowered through Mentoring Success(GEMS)
program of the
National Federation of the Blind of
(404 371-1000 (Voice)
(866) 316-3242 (Toll Free)
(404) 371-1002 (Fax)
mailto:mentor@nfbga.org?subject=Mentoring%20Inquiry
Last Updated:
September 3, 2007