YLF News
YLF 2000 Highlights
Students with Disabilities Participate in Youth Leadership Forum.
YLF Delegates and Volunteers gather at the Capitol to meet the Lieutenant Governor and other state dignitaries.
James Smith, Secretary of The Able Trust, presents a token of appreciation to Sandy Sroka of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. FDDC is a major sponsor for the YLF.
Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan poses with delegates Meneisha Taylor of Rockledge and Joe Alvord of Merritt Island during Capitol Day at YLF.
Keith Jordan of Bunnell and Doug Blevins, Miami Dolphins Kicking Coach, spend time together at the YLF Mentors Luncheon.
YLF delegates Jaimee Straachan, Virgininia Taylor, Meneisha Taylor and Ashley Allen enjoy an afternoon at Wakulla Springs.
Twenty-seven students with disabilities from throughout Florida joined state and community leaders in Tallahassee from July 20 - 23, 2000 to participate in Florida's first-ever Youth Leadership Forum (YLF). These students, who represented the state in terms of geography, gender and types of disabilities, were selected to participate in this unique statewide leadership-training event sponsored by The Able Trust, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The Florida YLF is part of a national initiative of twenty-five states bringing high school juniors and seniors with disabilities together to develop their leadership skills for the future.
"It is our responsibility as leaders and role models to encourage these people to realize their full potential," said Lt. Governor Frank Brogan, who took part in the Capitol Day activities of the forum. "Florida needs to harness the capabilities of all its citizens, especially our youth. They will lead our communities, drive our economy and chart our destiny."
The four-day forum took place at Southgate Campus Centre, a private dormitory located on Florida State University's campus in Tallahassee. During the event students attended workshops on self-advocacy, career options, community resources and leadership. Students had the opportunity to meet disability leaders, legislators and other professionals, including Paul Edwards, President of the American Council of the Blind, Comptroller Robert Milligan and Jim Kutsch of Convergys Corporation.
Students also attended a Mentors Luncheon where they networked with business professionals with disabilities, representing careers in the industries of journalism, education, sports, entertainment and social services. Doug Blevins, Miami Dolphins kicking coach, also delivered an inspirational speech.
Other forum activities included a disability sensitivity training and assistive technology demo hosted by Independence for the Blind and FAAST, along with a self-expression performance sponsored by VSA Arts of Florida. The students also enjoyed an outing to Wakulla Springs, in which they were able to test out an aquatic chair provided by the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association. A farewell dance gave the delegates a final opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments with new friends.
Additional sponsors for the YLF included the Washington Mutual Bank, Tallahassee Rotary Club, SunTrust Bank, Florida Council of the Blind and Florida Council for Citizens with Low Vision. Members of the Business Leadership Network, along with local restaurants such as Pepsi, Fazolis, TCBY and Papa John's Pizza, also donated goodie bag items and food and drinks for the event. Patients First Medical Center of Tallahassee also donated all nursing staff and first-aid supplies.
Sponsors
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Sponsored by United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. |
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