Partners for Youth with Disabilities (Cat.'97) was founded in 1984, when programs serving "disadvantaged" youth almost completely ignored youth with disabilities, to empower these children by providing adult mentors (partners) who had succeeded despite their own disabilities. The Program has been honored and emulated nationwide, and now serves all of Massachusetts.

PYD has become a leader in providing mentoring and support through programs such as: Young Entrepreneurs Program (in which the partnering focuses on starting businesses as an excellent and increasing option for people with disabilities); Mentor Match (which links youths and adults who have similar disabilities); Partners Online (one-to-one and group e-mentoring); Making Healthy Connections (a curriculum, developed with the Boston Medical Center, that teaches how to lead an active, healthy lifestyle); Parents Groups (discussion, training and resources for parents); Access to Theatre (where community productions are developed and performed by youth with disabilities); and Peer Leadership Program (which helps participants to develop leadership and job readiness skills). In addition to running all these programs, PYD offers assistance to other organizations that want to replicate the PYD mentoring model.

PYD has twice won an Excellence Award in Children’s Health Care, and has also received the National Organization on Disability Community Service Award for the Mentor Match program. With all this going on, PYD could use your help.