Quick answer
In 2022, Jaleh “Jaye” Saghafi founded a national mentoring group on Zoom for young adults on the spectrum, and she still facilitates it. It began with about 30 participants and has kept a core group of about 15 active members. Participants have reached milestones including college enrollment, employment and meaningful friendships.
Not all of Saghafi’s leadership happens in a hospital. Since 2022 she has run a volunteer mentoring group that meets online and is open to young adults on the autism spectrum across the country. This page explains what the group is, how it has grown and why the format works.
About the group
| Name | Young Adults on the Spectrum Zoom Group |
|---|---|
| Role | Founder and facilitator |
| Started | 2022, ongoing |
| Reach | National, meeting online by Zoom |
| Participation | About 30 people at the start; a core group of about 15 active members today |
| Milestones members have reached | College enrollment, employment and meaningful friendships |
Why an online mentoring group
Moving into adulthood brings new decisions about school, work and relationships. Some young adults on the spectrum find in-person groups hard to reach or tiring to attend. A regular online meeting can lower those barriers. Members join from home, the format is predictable, and the same faces show up week after week. A national group also connects people who may not have many peers going through the same transition close to home.
What a sustained core group shows
Many volunteer groups start strong and fade. This one began with about 30 participants and settled into a steady core of about 15 active members. That suggests the group gives people something they come back for. Members’ milestones, such as starting college, finding a job and building friendships, are the outcomes a mentoring group aims to support.
How it connects to her nursing work
Facilitating the group draws on the same skills Saghafi uses as a nurse and educator: listening carefully, explaining things clearly, and following through over time. Those skills are described on the clinical and patient education page. Her resume lists this group under community leadership, alongside her clinical roles on the experience page.
Please note: This page describes a volunteer peer-mentoring group. It is not a clinical, therapy or diagnostic service. For questions about joining, use the contact page.