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CZEPA - Peer Mentoring

Peer mentoring for wheelchair users after spinal cord injury — personal, practical and psychological support from people with the same experience across the Czech Republic.

Who is it for?

Wheelchair users after spinal cord injury

About the program

Peer mentoring CZEPA is a social service that connects people living with the consequences of a spinal cord injury: experienced wheelchair users as peer mentors provide practical and psychological support to people shortly after injury as well as to those who have been working on reintegration for a longer time.

What the service offers

Activation: help to orient to the new situation and build motivation for everyday life.
Practical training: practicing skills for independent life in a wheelchair and introduction to useful assistive devices.
Personal support: free visits at home or elsewhere as needed, with sufficient time to answer questions.
Psychological support: sharing experiences, listening and support with sensitive topics that may be difficult to discuss with family or professionals.

Who the peer mentors are

Peer mentors are wheelchair users with long-term personal experience after spinal cord injury who have learned to live actively and willingly guide others — they motivate, advise and share practical and emotional insights from their own experience.

Scope and impact

The service operates across the country; the team includes multiple peer mentors providing support in different regions. In 2025 the service provided support to 191 clients. Peer mentoring was implemented as a registered social service and was supported by the European Union / the European Social Fund.

Why use peer mentoring

Support from someone who understands the situation from personal experience;
Practical solutions for independent living and returning to social, work and family roles;
Opportunity to gradually build skills and confidence in a safe environment.

Note for potential mentors: the organization occasionally expands the team of peer mentors and looks for experienced wheelchair users who want to help people after spinal cord injury.