Youth Participants in AMP
If you are 14-22 years old, autistic, and live in Minnesota, you may be eligible to be a youth participant.
All youth participant applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Autistic (medical diagnosis, educational evaluation, self-diagnosed)
- 14-22 years old
- English language ability (written, spoken, or AAC)*
- Minnesota resident
- Have access to computer/tablet/phone/etc. with reliable internet connection
- Able to commit to meeting with a mentor via Zoom for 1 hour per week during the upcoming school year
- Willing to learn about participating in an affiliated University of Minnesota evaluation study of AMP during the upcoming school year
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@autismmentorshipprogram.org
We are currently taking applications for the Fall 2027 – Spring 2028 program. To be considered for the program, please fill out this application:
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Youth Participant FAQ
How does AMP work?
AMP pairs autistic youth, ages 14 – 22, with autistic adult mentors (age 18+ and at least 3 years older than their youth participant) who meet online once a week from October through April, offering opportunities for participants to build meaningful connections with one another.
Is there a cost to be a youth participant?
No, AMP is free.
What does a virtual mentorship session look like and what happens during the session?
If you are selected to participate, you will be matched with an autistic adult mentor (age 18 or older) and meet with them once a week for an hour over Zoom from October through April. (Exact time and date to be determined, but normally a weekday evening or weekend afternoon.) The meetings are hosted by AMP staff and consist of about ten minutes of group welcome, announcements, and ideas for activities or topics mentors and youth participants may want to engage in. Next, each mentor/youth participant pair goes to an assigned breakout room to talk, play games, and connect for the remainder of the hour. AMP staff check in with each mentor/youth participant pair during their session together to see if anyone needs support. At the end of the session, everyone is alerted that it’s time to head back to the main room to fill out a short exit form so that AMP staff knows how your session went and can follow up on any questions or issues.
Who will I be matched with?
You will be matched with an autistic adult (age 18 or over; at least 3 years older than you) from the Twin Cities 7-county metropolitan area.
Why am I requested to participate in the research study and what will the research involve?
Our research partners from the University of Minnesota are collecting data to gauge the effectiveness of the program. Their findings will help us ensure we are effectively supporting our participants and guide us to future program improvements.
You will be interviewed by research staff and asked to fill out questionnaires about yourself before the program starts and at the end of the program. You will also be asked about your experience in AMP at the end of the program.
Do you require proof of diagnosis?
No, and self-diagnosed autistics are welcome to apply.
Am I eligible to be a youth participant?
You can find the eligibility criteria above.
Are non-speaking youth eligible?
Yes. AMP is excited about AAC users participating. Please reach out to us so we can discuss the most effective way to support your AAC use if you are chosen as a youth participant.
How do I apply?
To apply to be a youth participant, please fill out the application linked above.
How are youth participants selected for the program?
Once you submit your application, our Program Coordinator will determine if you are eligible. If you are, they will contact you for a Zoom or phone interview to get to know you better.
The Program Coordinator also interviews all adults who apply to be mentors. They look for a match for you, based on your personality, interests, and needs. If they find a good match, you get a description of the mentor and are asked if you’d like to participate in the program.
NOTE: Before mentors can be matched with youth participants, they must pass a background check.
What can I do if I’m not selected for this year’s program?
In rare cases, you might not be selected because you are not a good fit for the program. Most of the time the reason you’re not selected is because we don’t have a good match for you. In this case, you will be considered an alternate who may be asked if you’d like to fill a spot if a youth participant needs to leave the program. If you are interested in being a youth participant in a future program year, we can keep your application on file and you can re-apply without having to redo the entire application the following year.
What else do I need to know?
- Youth Participants are required to attend a 2 hour online orientation session that takes place before the program begins.
- Occasionally, guests from the autistic community are invited to join AMP via Zoom to present on different topics and take questions. All AMP participants are invited to attend!