Welcome to Peer Power!

This page is currently under construction but we invite you to check back often to learn more about this exciting program to find out how you can become involved. 

In the meantime, here’s some information about Peer Power:

Peer Power is a peer-based program designed to support high school students with disabilities to plan for their lives after high school.  Peer Power enhances the knowledge, skills, and supports of students so that they are better prepared to transition to adult life, post secondary education, and employment.

Peer Power empowers students to transition to life beyond high school through peer support, advocacy training, and person-centered planning.  Peer Power works through peer groups and one to one peer mentoring.  Mentors and peer groups are provided training, support, and guidance from Peer Power site coordinators. 

Today’s youth with disabilities also need the guidance of those who have traveled down a similar road.  Peer Power offers the opportunity to learn from their peers through one to one or group connections.  In Peer Power, students learn the importance of working with a team of people to gain leadership skills while developing their high school transitioning plan otherwise called an Individual Education Plan (IEP).  Relationships are developed that provide students the opportunity to learn from their peers the “how to’s” of successful transition from high school.  Peers work together to face the challenges of high school transition and they support one another in order to strengthen their voices and reach the goals and dreams they have for their future.

Peer Power is all about providing a connection between peers because with peers one develops their power.  Peer Power groups help steer and develop their program based upon where they see gaps and where they find they need more information, understanding and assistance.  Peer Power site coordinators help provide support, information, training, and resources in closing these gaps.  

Peer Power provides great leadership skill building by working together, or one to one, to share and discover an abundance of resources, expanding ones creativity, and sharing ideas and support.  Peer Power provides the power in transition.  It’s fun, it’s educational and best of all, it works.

Thank you for visiting Peer Power.  Peer Power sites are being developed and the formal launch is set for January 2009.  If you have any questions and/or would like to become involved in Peer Power, please contact Cheryl Schiltz, Statewide Peer Power Coordinator with the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin at 608-256-9257.