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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders pp 1–6Cite as

Peer Mentors for Students with ASD on College Campuses

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Definition

A peer mentor is an individual with an expected level of experience in a particular area who provides support to a similar-aged individual with less experience in that area (mentee). The critical roles of peer mentors on college and university campuses include support in coursework, degree completion, and navigation of social networks.

In this model, peer mentors typically share common characteristics, attributes, or circumstance with the mentee in such areas as age, ability, interests, or community environment (i.e., school, classes, dormitories, etc.). The desirable traits and skills of peer mentors include patience, flexibility, and effective communication. Peer mentors typically receive training that provides them with skills such as effectively using peer modeling to demonstrate appropriate utilization of targeted skills, facilitating interaction, and providing indirect guidance and positive reinforcement (Battaglia and Radley 2014). The peer mentor/mentee relationship...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Disorders; Center of Excellence on ASD, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Barbara Cook

  2. Department of Communication Disorders, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Deborah Weiss

Authors
  1. Barbara Cook
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  2. Deborah Weiss
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Barbara Cook or Deborah Weiss .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Cook, B., Weiss, D. (2018). Peer Mentors for Students with ASD on College Campuses. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102264-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102264-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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