WDA Ambassador Program
Connect. Share. Support.
Sometimes the best support comes from someone who truly understands.
The WDA Ambassador Program connects individuals and families affected by Wilson disease with trained volunteer mentors who have firsthand experience with the Wilson disease journey. Whether you are newly diagnosed, have been living with Wilson disease for years, or are caring for someone with Wilson disease, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Through one-on-one peer support, the program provides a welcoming space to connect with someone who understands, share experiences, ask questions, and learn about trusted WDA
What the Program Offers
Peer-to-Peer Connection
Connect with a trained mentor who understands the Wilson disease experience and can offer encouragement and support based on lived experience.
Thoughtful Matching
When possible, mentors and mentees are matched based on shared experiences, backgrounds, or perspectives to help create a meaningful connection.
Trusted Information and Resources
Mentors can help connect you with WDA programs, events, patient assistance resources, Centers of Excellence, support services, research updates, clinical trial information, and other reliable resources.
A Welcoming and Supportive Space
Talk with someone who understands. Mentors are there to listen, share their own experiences, offer encouragement, and help you feel more connected to the Wilson disease community.
How It Works
- Complete an inquiry form to become a mentor or be connected with a mentor as a mentee.
- The inquiry form helps us learn more about you and your experience so we can work toward making a meaningful match.
- When a suitable match is available, the WDA will introduce the mentor and mentee by email or Zoom, depending on their preferences.
- From there, mentors and mentees can communicate in the way that works best for them, including by phone, text, email, or Zoom.
- Mentors focus on listening, sharing their experiences, providing encouragement, and helping connect mentees with trusted WDA resources.
Launching and Growing Our Ambassador Community
The WDA Ambassador Program will officially launch at the 2026 WDA Annual Conference on September 25–26, 2026, and we are excited to begin building this new network of peer support.
We are currently welcoming both mentors and mentees to join the program. Because the program is new and we want each connection to be thoughtful and meaningful, a mentor match may not always be available right away. After you submit an inquiry form, the WDA team will review the information and work to identify a mentor who may be a good fit based on shared experiences and perspectives.
If a suitable mentor is not immediately available, we’ll stay in touch as our mentor community continues to grow.
Our goal is to build a strong network of patients and caregivers who can learn from, encourage, and support one another throughout their Wilson disease journey.
Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
We are currently welcoming individuals living with Wilson disease and caregivers who would like to support others in the community.
You don’t need to have all the answers. Being a mentor means listening, sharing your experiences, offering encouragement, and being there for someone navigating a similar journey.
All mentors will receive guidance and training before participating in the program, as well as a Mentor Handbook with helpful information, program expectations, and WDA resources.
If you would like to share your experience and help someone else feel less alone in their Wilson disease journey, we would love to hear from you.
Looking to Connect With a Mentor?
Whether you are newly diagnosed, have been living with Wilson disease for many years, or are a caregiver supporting someone you love, connecting with someone who has been through a similar experience can make a meaningful difference.
Complete the Mentee Inquiry Form to tell us a little about yourself and what you are looking for in a mentor. We will use this information to help identify a mentor who may be a good fit as our mentor community grows.
A Note About Peer Support
WDA mentors are volunteers who provide peer support based on their own lived experiences. Mentors are not acting as medical professionals through the Ambassador Program and do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
Information shared through the program is intended for general education and peer support purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider with questions related to your medical care or treatment.
