Mentor Leadership Training Course

Role Play

bullet  What To Do

Now you will have the chance to try some more role plays to practice your communication skills as a mentor.

Remember to use LAF don't CRY.

When you are ready to do the role play:

  • Please read the description of your partner.
  • Then read the message from your partner.
  • Pretend that you are the mentor.
  • Respond to the message as you would if you were the mentor.
  • Remember to use positive communication skills. LAF, don’t CRY.


bullet  Role Play #1

Your partner, Ken, is attending high school. He loves college basketball. He has cerebral palsy. He uses a wheelchair and an AAC system. He writes this message to you:

protege "Hope you’re having a good weekend. I’ve been watching the college basketball tournament all weekend. Awesome! I was hanging around all day talking to friends about it. My favorite team won!"

Pretend you are Ken's mentor. What would you write back to Ken?


  1. Please enter your "message" in the box below.


    2. Message:

  2. Re-read your message and make changes (as necessary).

  3. Check to see if you remembered to use the LAF (don't CRY) strategy.
  • Did you listen and show Ken that you were interested in his message? Find the sentences in your answer. For example, did you say something like "Ken, glad you had such a great weekend." or "That's great that you had such a good time with your friends. I love basketball too."
  • Did you ask questions to find out more? Find the sentences in your answer. For example, did you say something like "Who's your favorite team?" or "Who do you think will win?"
  • Did you focus on Ken and his message?

continue  If you used the LAF (don't CRY) strategy in your answer, then you are ready to try another role play. Click here to try another role play.

review If you had difficulty using the LAF (don't CRY) strategy, review the lesson again before you do the next role play. Click here to go back and review the lesson again.

Designed and maintained by:

The AAC Mentor Project Team
Penn State University
Last updated October, 2002.
mailComments on the Site

Helping adolescents and young adults who use AAC overcome challenges and meet their goals at home, at school, at work, and in the community!

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research 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.