Jordan Schwartz is less than an inch shy of 5 feet tall.

Some may call her petite. She doesn't see it that way.

Family photo (ENLARGE)

Marietta teenager Jordan Schwartz has performed volunteer work since age 9.

MICHELLE FROST / Special (ENLARGE)

In January, Jordan Schwartz (left) and Atlanta Girls' School classmates worked with kids at an inner-city refuge in Quito, Ecuador.

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"They told me I would never grow more than 4 feet 7 inches," she said. "Ha."

The east Cobb teenager will start a 10-month program and paid fellowship Friday as an advocate for the disabled.

The 14-year-old, who has a rare chromosomal disorder that affects females, is the youngest person to serve on the state advisory council.

Valerie Meadows Suber, a spokeswoman for the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, said Jordan was chosen from among 70 candidates for the Organizing Institute, which trains advocates to take their work beyond the disabled community.

That won't be tough for Jordan, who started volunteer work at 9, two years before she was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome. She has won national recognition for starting the Bilingual Children's Theater in Cobb and the "U Grow Girl" Web site that offers support and advice to girls on human growth hormone.

"We certainly see her work beyond the abilities of most 14-year-olds," Suber said. "It is hard to put your head around all that she does."

Suber met her three years ago, when Jordan made an appointment to talk to Pat Nobbie, deputy director of the Governor's Council. Jordan had already canvassed legislators at the state Capitol about changing Georgia's public policy for the disabled.

Jordan said she still works to unlock waiting lists for Katie Beckett, a state medical assistance program for children.

After the program and her family insurance company turned her down for the growth hormone, she received assistance from a major drug company.

The Marietta teen said her health has improved during the 41 months she has taken daily injections of the growth hormone. Her bone health and density are better, but she still deals with a heart condition, a misshapen kidney and hearing loss.

"I have definitely had ups and downs as journeys go," Jordan said. "I know that I am different, but we all are different in some way."

The Atlanta Girls' School freshman started volunteer work five years ago when she raised more than $1,000 in change to buy protective vests for police dogs. At 10, she started the children's theater, which stages shows in English and Spanish.

Since 2003, Jordan has collected more than 35 awards, grants and scholarships and $30,000 for production costs for her theater. A 2007 show, "Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans," was featured on a Wisconsin Public Television series.

Next Step Magazine, a career magazine for high school and college students, included Jordan in the March/April edition as one of 20 outstanding teens in the Southeast.

"It's wonderful to be recognized," Jordan said. "I may be short and have health issues, but I won't let this disability stuff stop me."