The California Youth Leadership Forum
for Students with Disabilities

YLF logo shows a bird blending with the letters YLF

Photo of YLF students laughing.

We are looking for Future Community Leaders!

An exciting, fun, educational five-day vocational forum
in the State Capital

YLF APPLICATION INFORMATION.

The 2008 Youth Leadership Forum applications are now available online!

Please click here

WHAT KIND OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM?

A photo of someone holding a microphone for a YLF student sitting in a wheelchair.Young People Who Have Disabilities and Who

  • Demonstrate Leadership Potential

  • Demonstrate Academic Success

  • Demonstrate Involvement in Extra-curricular
    Activities (such as Sports, the Arts or Music)

  • Demonstrate Community Involvement

  • Demonstrate the Ability to Interact Effectively
    with Other Students

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE FORUM?

We will...

  • Bring together young people with disabilities who demonstrate potential leadership qualities;

  • Share information with each other. Educational programs will include such topics as: "developing self esteem", "choosing a career", "the history of disability as a culture", and "assistive technology for independence". Presenters who will meet with the students include disability community leaders, legislators, and numerous other professionals;

  • Identify existing barriers to personal and professional success and develop plans to deal with those barriers;

  • Develop public policy recommendations to the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities, which will be formally presented by the Governor's Committee to the Governor of California.

  • Assist each student in developing a "Personal Leadership Plan" which will include specific action plans for the students when they return to their communities.

Nathie Marbury has been mentoring deaf students for over 20 years.Mark Wellman, mountain climber and sport enthusiast, demonstrates the equipment that helped him climb Half Dome in Yosemite.

A photo with the technology component of YLF, giving students a chance to experience adaptive equipment first hand.

The forum includes small group discussions with fellow students, large group presentations by successful community leaders, technology exhibits, a dance, a talent show, a formal luncheon with community leaders, and a meeting in the Governor's Office.

WHY HAVE THIS FORUM?

Young people with disabilities have more opportunities and more challenges than at any other time in our nation's history. With the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they have unprecedented opportunities to fully develop as constructive, contributing members of our society. However, many need encouragement and information about resources to develop as leaders in their communities. Our forum enables them to learn from each other and from successful adults with disabilities who are recognized leaders and role models. Such a forum benefits not only the participants, but all young people with disabilities, our communities in general, and the adults who assist in producing the forum.

Photo on the left are YLF students writing in their handbooks at the table. Photo on the right are YLF students sitting in the audience, laughing.


HOW WILL THE FORUM HAPPEN?

WHO: Approximately 60 high school students will be selected to attend through a competitive process. The event will successfully integrate students who represent the disability and ethnic diversity of our state.

WHEN: July 2008

WHERE: California State University, Sacramento and State Capitol, Sacramento, CA

COST: Students/participants will not be charged to attend this forum.

Photo on the left are students waiting for pictures to be taken on the Capitol steps. The photo on the right is a YLF student, speaking about her experiences to the press.


HOW STUDENT DELEGATES WILL BE SELECTED AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS

1. To be eligible for the Youth Leadership Forum, students must:

(a) Have a disability (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act);

(b) Be in the 11th or 12th grade as of December 31. (Some age/grade exceptions may be made);

(c) Have demonstrated leadership potential in school and the community, and;

(d) Reside in California.

2. Student applicants must mail the completed application packet to the Governor's Committee staff office postmarked no later than MARCH 11, 2008 .

3. Semi-finalists will be selected and contacted by telephone to arrange a personal interview. The interview will be conducted by a panel coordinated by the local Community Mayors' Committee or the Governor's Committee. Interviews will take place in March 2008.

4. All applicants will be notified by letter whether they are selected to attend the forum. (Letters will be mailed by the end of May, 2008) Approximately 60 students will be selected to attend.

5. After being selected, students will be asked to fill out a confirmation form and provide additional information to the Governor's Committee staff office.

6. All appropriate expenses will be paid by the Youth Leadership Forum management, including such expenses as travel, lodging, food, interpreters for deaf students and personal care attendants for physically disabled students.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Rules and Guidelines for Student Delegates of the Youth Leadership Forum

In order to provide a fun, safe learning experience at the leadership forum, all delegates will be expected to follow the rules listed below.

Students are selected to attend this forum because of their leadership skills and potential. Consequently, students are expected to demonstrate their leadership ability and must:

1. Be punctual, beginning with your transportation pick-up point in your community.
(Delegates who miss their scheduled transportation will have to provide their own.)

2. Be at designated places and stay with your assigned group at all times. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.

3. Maintain a respectful attitude toward peers, counselors and conference staff.

4. Respect the facilities (maintaining the condition of dormitory rooms and all other areas). Participants will have to pay for property damage they cause and for lost room keys or towels.

5. When not in assigned groups, males and females are restricted to their own assigned rooms at all times. No co-ed visitation is allowed.

6. Smoking and possession or use of illegal chemicals or alcohol are strictly prohibited. (Prescription or other approved medications require verification and can only be dispensed under supervision by the medical staff.)

7. All other campus residence halls and facilities are off limits. It is recommended that walkmans, radios, and electronic games are not to be brought to the forum.

Any violations of these rules will result in students being sent home immediately at parents'/guardians' expense. Your application to the Youth Leadership Forum indicates your acceptance of these rules and guidelines.

And more importantly, we emphasize that delegates are chosen to attend the forum because of their leadership potential. Remember the responsibility that goes with the honor of being selected...and plan to have a great time!

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact us at

1 (800) 695-0350 or (916) 325-1690 VOICE

(916) 325-1695 (TTY)

 

Friends of Californians With Disabilities, Inc. is a private non-profit 501 c (3) corporation, employer. Tax ID # 68-0239433

Please send comments or questions regarding this site to:ckbaird@surewest.net