Youth Ambassador

Youth Ambassadors (YAs) are high school or college students who share their voice to improve services for students with disabilities in Pennsylvania. This is a leadership role where you’ll: • Build your skills in self-advocacy, teamwork, and communication • Connect with OVR staff, statewide leadership, schools, and community partners • Help make services better for other students with disabilities • Get involved in real projects while being paid for your time

Education, Experience, & Skills

• Current OVR customers in their final two years of high school or currently enrolled in college
• Strong interest in leadership, advocacy, or helping others
• Willingness to learn new skills and try new activities
• Comfortable working with both youth and adults in meetings and events

Personal Behaviors

• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Communicates respectfully with others
• Reliable and follows through on commitments
• Works well as part of a team
• Open to new experiences and ideas

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Share personal perspectives as a student with a disability, serving as a representative voice for youth with vision loss
• Communicate personal experiences through trainings, webinars, and discussions with VisionCorps Board Members
• Engage with VisionCorps staff and community partners through job shadowing opportunities to build workplace knowledge and foundational job skills
• Participate in youth-focused meetings with local agencies, as well as conferences, workshops, and other professional development events
• Develop and compile youth-friendly resources to support work readiness and leadership skills (e.g., mock interviews, résumé development, LinkedIn networking)
• Serve as a mentor to younger individuals navigating vision loss through the VisionCorps STEP program
• Actively participate in monthly virtual Youth Ambassador Network meetings
• Support awareness and advocacy initiatives by contributing to youth-friendly marketing content (e.g., social media ideas, testimonials)
• Participate in local, state, or federal advocacy efforts related to vision loss and share youth perspectives when appropriate
• Perform other duties as assigned

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit for extended periods (in a vehicle or at a desk)
• Ability to travel independently and safely

Work Environment

• School setting (high school or college)
• Office environment
• Job shadow locations
• Virtual/remote settings

Other Special Working Conditions

• Employees that become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis