The topic of sex makes many people uncomfortable and has been treated as being taboo for centuries. Compound that stigma with a disability or illness like spinal cord injury, stroke, limb loss, multiple sclerosis, chronic heart failure, or diabetes, and you many people feel left in the dark.

 

The peerMENTORS program, a subsidiary of National Council on Relationships and Disability (NCORAD), matches mentors and mentees based on commonalities in effort to promote personal growth. By sharing information, awareness, coping strategies, and life experiences, mentors help mentees "identify a new normal."

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Peer mentors are volunteers who have been living with a similar disability for quite some time and are trained to help people with newly acquired disabilities navigate the unfamiliar territory, rediscover their confidence, and provide empowerment through a "been there, done that" friendship and connection.

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Some issues peerMENTORS discuss include but are not limited to: community reintegration, adaptive equipment, advocacy, recreation, dating, communication, relationship roles, parenthood.

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