Introduction

Congratulations! You have done a great job learning the skills required to be an effective mentor. This is the last lesson in the Mentor Leadership Training Program. In this lesson you will have a chance to put together everything that you have learned in lessons 1, 2, and 3.

  LAF

Remember to LAF (don't CRY) every time you talk to your partner:

• Listen to your partner and show that you care
• Ask questions to find out more
• Focus on what your partner wants to talk about

 Click here to review the LAF (don't CRY) strategy.

  DO IT!

If your partner talks about an important problem or goal, remember to ask questions to encourage your partner to use the DO IT! strategy to help your partner solve the problem or develop an effective plan to achieve the goal. Ask questions to encourage your partner to:

• Describe the specific problem or the goal.
• Outline lots of different ways to reach the goal or solve the problem.
• Identify the consequences of each of these options, and choose the best plan.
• Take action and check progress toward the goal.
• ! Celebrate success when the problem is solved or the goal is achieved!

 Click here to review the DO IT! strategy for solving problems and setting goals.

  ASK

Sometimes your partner will need more information before he or she can solve the problem or develop an effective plan to meet the goal. Remember to use the ASK strategy to help your partner find the information he or she needs.

• Answer the question yourself if you are sure that you know the correct answer
• Send your partner to someone else who knows the correct answer
• Know how to use the Internet to help your partner find the correct answer

 Click here to review the ASK strategy for finding information.

You have now completed the Mentor Leadership Training Program! You did a great job learning the skills required to be a good mentor:

• Positive communication skills (the LAF strategy)
• Collaborative problem solving and goal setting skills (the DO IT! strategy)
• Strategies to access disability resources (the ASK strategy).
  

This research is supported by Grant #H133G8004 from The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and no official endorsement should be inferred.