What is the Junior Youth Ambassador Program?
Inspired by our Youth Ambassador Program, the Junior Youth Ambassador Program trains children with Tourette Syndrome or other Tic Disorders how to advocate for themselves in a world where TS is still highly misunderstood. The Jr. Youth Ambassador Program brings together and supports children and their parents as they learn about Tourette Syndrome, address specific topics such as self-advocacy, community service, and bullying. The Jr Youth Ambassador program provides input into the development of age-appropriate tools to help participants advocate for and talk about Tourette and Tic Disorders. The Jr. YA Program is designed to support children between the ages of 7-11 and give them the tools they need to begin to understand their symptoms and learn to self-advocate.
Trained Jr. YA’s, with the support of their parents/guardians and other adults in their lives, including their teachers and school personnel, will identify and capitalize on opportunities to build awareness about Tourette Syndrome. Jr. YA’s will work with their parent/adult guardian to complete age-appropriate online modules and required milestones. This will prepare Jr. YA’s to successfully transition to become future Youth Ambassadors. Children with TS need support and tools during this period in their lives.
The goals of the program are to teach children the main components of TS within themselves. They will also be able to begin to develop and practice self-advocacy skills. Jr. YAs will also be trained to give developmentally appropriate community presentations to their class if they choose to do so.
Children ages 7–11 can train to be Jr. Youth Ambassadors. They need to have a diagnosis of TS or another Tic Disorder or there is consideration for siblings of someone that has TS. Children need to be mostly accepting of their diagnosis and have the desire to become a Jr. Youth Ambassador.
Children with TS will benefit from participating in a Jr Youth Ambassador Training Program modeled to meet their developmental needs. Jr. YAs will also have the chance to connect with others with TS during training. We ensure that the environment in which Jr. YAs will train is safe and accepting. Self-advocacy skills that are gained can be used in school, with peers, in the community, and with family members. They will train in a community presentation that they can use in school and in the community. An adult team member also trains and schedules these presentations and either co-presents or is there to support. Jr. YAs also attend Advocacy Day and, as part of their training, learn to tell their TS or Tic Disorder story when they meet with their local representatives. The meetings take place with their adult team members. Self-advocacy skills are further developed through three modules that are completed outside of training. Lastly, Jr. YAs will be prepared to become TAA Youth Ambassadors.
