Athlete with Disabilities Network Northeast

The objective of the peer visits is to provide support and resources to individuals and their families, and assist in easing the transition that has been caused by a traumatic life changing event.  Too often there is a disconnect between adaptive organizations, healthcare providers, families and disabled community members who are unaware of what programs are available to them.  Our mentors provide them with materials and resources regarding available opportunities. Building relationships with our outreach enhances what healthcare providers are able to achieve with continuation of care by providing the patient with ADN’s Northeast information and requesting that their patient be contacted.  This is the first step after the patient is discharged from the hospital or cleared from physical therapy. Now instead of the patient returning back to a sedentary lifestyle because there were no opportunities to continue activities, they have the ability to continue towards physical and mental wellness by participating in the area programs that are offered. 

This process would start with the request from the provider, patient or their family member for a peer visit.  The Mentoring and Outreach program provides a critical need to the physically disabled and others affected by mental health barriers to healing such as PTSD. The onset of disabling illness, physical or sensory impairment is often accompanied by a grief processes, including depression and PTSD.

People who experience a traumatic disability or disabling disease may lose physical comfort, mobility, the ability to engage in certain activities, aspects of their previous lifestyles, privacy, a sense of dignity, control, efficacy/agency, a degree of independence, actual or perceived life roles, friends and other social supports, the ability to work, financial stability, their previous sense of identity and purpose, the ability to pursue previously established dreams, their previous body image, and, their previous sense of self.

 Our mentors add a continuity of care for healthcare providers; give support and resources to individuals and families that assist with physical and emotional wellbeing. The mentor aids in coping with the many mental barriers like depression, PTSD, anger, anxiety, which may inhibit physical rehabilitation and transitioning through the traumatic life-changing event.

• Meet a peer visitor of similar disability level
  
• Provide information to mentee on area support groups.
  
• Give the mentee referrals and printed material when needed to programs, like behavioral health, substance abuse, or vocational rehabilitation programs.
  
• Refer to programs that can assist the mentee and  family members of the person affected.
  
• Meet with hospital department staff and other health care providers with with outreach program information to provide an alternative resource to assist their patients.
  
• Provides specific grant information which can assist veterans with life expense for, training and other types of assistance.
  

Mentoring and Outreach

Purpose of a peer Mentor Visit

Request a Peer Visit