Peer Groups

For Youth with Disabilities:

	CLF is a leadership program for college juniors/seniors and vocational/technical undergraduates with disabilities. The focus is on job search preparation.
	YLF offers a leadership program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. The forum focuses on the transitions from high school to work and/or degree.
	Pathfinders mentoring program matches young adults aged 16 - 26 who are blind or visually impaired with successful and competent mentors who also have vision loss.
	JCP is for youth grades 7-12 with hearing loss or those who desire experience in the deaf and hard of hearing world. JCP sponsors a leadership program and a one-week summer camp.

For Persons with Disabilities, Family Members, and Interested Others:

	Best Buddies Iowa is for youth with intellectual disabilities and provides one-on-one mutually enriching friendships and an e-mail pen pal program.
	The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) is for parents of children who have visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities.
	ID Action encourages Iowans with disabilities, their families and friends, service providers and others to get more involved in civic activities and the political process.
	Hands and Voices is dedicated to supporting all families with children who are deaf/hard of hearing regardless of communication choice. The focus is on access to good information and support.
	Parents as Presenters participants learn to effectively share their story with college students and community professionals. Contact Mary Schertz at 515-281-5433, Deb Samson at 515-242-5292, or Paula Connolly at 515-223-6714 for more information.
	The Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Iowa focuses on the education and general welfare of persons with learning disabilities. LDA-Iowa provides information, support, and referral for persons with learning disabilities, their families, professionals who work with them, and other interested parties.
	People First of Iowa is an organization for all disabilities and for all ages focused on self-advocacy, self-determination, and self-empowerment. Contact Koki Nakagawa at kcokien@yahoo.com for more information.
	A statewide advocacy organization that believes most families are "multi-stressed" rather than "dysfunctional" and that parents know their children best. They assist parents of children with behavioral, emotional, mental and/or social disorders, receiving mental health and/or special education services, at risk services, or in the juvenile system.
	NAMI Iowa (Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Iowa) works to raise awareness of and provide information on mental illness. NAMI Iowa has affiliates throughout the state and offers several peer-to-peer opportunities.
	Iowa Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health is youth with foster care and adoption experience who seek to inspire others to new levels of understanding and compassion.