Josie Badger facts for kids

Josie Badger is an amazing American advocate who works to make life better for people with disabilities. She helps lead the national RAISE Center and is very active in the disability rights community in Pittsburgh.

Josie Badger's Education Journey

Josie Badger started helping others at a young age. When she was just 12, she helped create a club to train service dogs. These special dogs help people with disabilities in many ways.

Josie went to college to learn more about helping others. She earned a degree in Disability Law and Advocacy from Geneva College in 2007. This degree taught her about laws and rights for people with disabilities. Later, she studied Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Pittsburgh. She then earned her highest degree, a doctorate in Healthcare Ethics, from Duquesne University in 2014.

Josie was born with a very rare form of muscular dystrophy. This is a genetic condition that affects muscles. She is one of only a few people in the world with this specific type.

Josie Badger's Career and Advocacy

Josie Badger has dedicated her career to helping young people with disabilities. She worked on an important project for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This project, called Launching Into Adulthood, helped young people with long-term health conditions and disabilities as they grew up.

She also helped start two important groups: the Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network and the Children's Hospital Advisory Network for Guidance and Empowerment. In these groups, she served as a leader, helping to guide their work. She also held leadership roles in the National Youth Leadership Network. Josie is widely known for her strong voice and efforts to support people with disabilities.

Today, Josie is the Youth Director at The Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center. She also co-directs a national center that helps families and young people. Josie is also the author of a popular talk called "Exceptional by Choice," which she gave at TedxPittsburgh.

Awards and Recognition

Josie Badger has received several awards for her important work:

• Athena Young Professional Award (2015)
• Ms. Wheelchair America (2011)