Volunteer

The Volunteer Program provides students with structured, accessible opportunities to engage in neurodiversity-affirming advocacy, education, and community building. The program is designed to support neurodivergent and disabled UW-Madison students while also welcoming questioning and allied UW-Madison students who share NeuroPride’s mission and values. Through weekly engagement, collaboration, and projects, volunteers gain hands-on experience in disability justice, advocacy, and community education while building connections with others.

Join the Volunteer Program!

Applications for participation open each semester. This program operates during both the fall and spring seasons, so be sure to check back for updates on how to apply. W

Our goal is to provide an avenue for students to take their interest or personal connection to neurodivergence and channel that into a student-led collaborative project that not only fosters community among volunteers but enables to students to improve their problem solving skills, gain leadership skills, and make a notable impact on campus and/or the greater Madison area.

What to Expect:

Weekly Organized Interactions: Students will be required to commit at least 1-2 hour(s) a week to work on tasks related to the semester long project
Leadership Opportunities: Not only will the hands-on, student led nature of these projects be a means to improve leadership skills but each cohort will have an elected team leader who will be tasked with coordinating schedules between team members, delegating tasks, and representing the team
Student-Led Projects: Students will choose their advocacy project at the beginning of the semester and use skills learned from NeuroPride hosted trainings to create a plan to enact change. While NeuroPride staff will provide students will guidance and resources, all projects will be led by team leaders.
Final Presentation: Each cohort will create and deliver a presentation at the end of the semester noting the impact of their project, special findings, and potential improvements for the future

Training Logistics

Volunteers will complete a training workshop where they will learn basic teamwork, advertising, & advocacy skills as well as recieve a detailed explanation of the program requirements. Students will also be highly encouraged to attend NeuroPride's bi-annual Organizing for Power workshop teach them how to do structure based organizing. Other resources for workshops on campus to assist with project development will also be provided.

Who is this program for?

This program is for any neurodivergent, questioning, or allied student who deeply cares about having an accessible campus that celebrates all identities and wants an avenue to fight and reach that goal.

What you will get out of this program:

Structured connection with peers that boosts student well being
Gain hands on experience in developing advocacy, community education, and other projects
Log volunteer hours, participate in civic action, grow community involvement, and experience community-based learning