TCDD is seeking four youth ambassadors to help us build awareness and self-advocacy skills for youth with disabilities. Ambassadors will focus on self-advocacy in health care and Medicaid services during the transition into adulthood. The project will begin in September 2024 and continue through March 2025. The deadline to apply is Aug. 28.
Youth ambassadors will talk about health care basics and making choices about things like going to the doctor, understanding medications, and more. Along with giving input on health and Medicaid resources, youth ambassadors will also have the chance to help us train service coordinators and other health care providers on supporting youth with disabilities in making choices about their health care. Youth ambassadors can receive up to $325 for their participation.
To qualify, applicants must:
- live in Texas;
- be 14-26 years old;
- have an intellectual or developmental disability; and
- want to learn about choice-making in health care.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining our team, please apply online. For more information, email Lauren Gerken or call 512-534-7040. We’ve also created a Youth Ambassador flyer (PDF) that you can give to your family, friends, and others in your personal network to help us share this opportunity.
About Our Youth Ambassador Program
In 2023, TCDD partnered with Texas Advocates and the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice to train and mentor youth ambassadors about alternatives to guardianship. Given the success of that partnership and the passion Texas youth have for self-advocacy, we expanded our Youth Ambassador program by partnering with Wellpoint on a new project focused on health care and Medicaid.
