YLF News
Seventh Annual Youth Leadership Forum Empowers Students with Disabilities
July 20-23, 2006
The Able Trust hosted the seventh annual Florida Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) in Tallahassee from July 20-23. Sixty high school students with disabilities from across Florida attended the event, along with 25 YLF alumni who returned as volunteers. The YLF is an educational and motivational program designed to give student delegates the opportunity to learn about disability history, community and academic resources, career options and personal leadership.
The YLF participants were involved in many activities throughout their four day trip to Tallahassee. A disability sensitivity training gave the student delegates a better understanding of different disabilities’ challenges in day-to-day activities. They also had the opportunity to visit the historic Old State Capitol steps where they were greeted by Lt. Governor Toni Jennings and Agricultural Commissioner Charles Bronson who stopped by to speak to the delegates.
A new interactive component was added to the YLF this year while visiting Florida State University’s campus. The first annual YLF Career Fair showcased over 15 career fields with adult mentor representatives, many with disabilities, sharing their professional and personal experiences with the delegates. The Mentors Luncheon followed the Career Fair where the students were able to continue their conversations with the career mentors into lunch.
Jeannie Amendola, president of Walt Disney World’s CastABLE program and recently appointed board member for The Able Trust, was the keynote speaker for the luncheon. She fascinated the delegates, mentors and luncheon guests with inspirational stories about her journey as a person with a disability. She encouraged the delegates to continue striving for their goals because nothing is impossible, even for people with disabilities.
This year, the delegates also participated in a meaningful community service project called “Creative Healing.” The mission of this year’s project was to send comfort and hope to hospital patients through painting art on ceiling tiles later placed at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center’s physical therapy room.
The rest of the week at the YLF included informative presentations on disability resources, motivating speakers with disabilities and networking opportunities with their peers with disabilities. The delegates also enjoyed the YLF Fiesta where they danced the night away. Some delegates and volunteers also shared their talents with the entire group during the YLF Talent Show. The audience saw a wide variety of talent, from singers to dancers, creating a full evening of entertainment.
A huge thanks goes out to all the YLF staff and volunteers that generously give their time to participate in the YLF year after year. The Able Trust would also like to thank and recognize the major sponsors that fund every aspect of the event: the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida Department of Education, Wachovia Foundation, Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Program, Peoples First Community Bank and Embarq.
The support of the contributing sponsors is also much appreciated: Big Bend Transit, Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged, the Governor’s ADA Working Group, Option Care and the Rotary Club of Tallahassee.
Applications for the 2007 YLF will be available on the website at the end of September, as well as pictures from this year’s forum. For more information about the Florida YLF, visit www.floridaylf.org.
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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