Students with Disabilities Invited to Leadership Forum on UMC Campus; Apply Now!

Jefferson City - Students with disabilities need to apply now for the exciting, four-day Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF) July 23-26, 2006 on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus.  Co-sponsors are the Office of Administration’s Governor’s Council on Disability, in conjunction with the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities and the Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. (ILRC).

The four-day forum will teach student delegates about leadership principles, disability experience and resource sharing, assistive technology, development and achievement of career goals, independent living, and developing advocacy skills.  The event is provided at no cost to the student delegates.

“This is the only youth leadership forum in the state of Missouri for students with disabilities. We are excited to co-host this event,” Governor’s Council Executive Director Rob Honan said. “MYLF is a unique career leadership-training program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. By serving as delegates from their communities, young people with disabilities cultivate leadership, citizenship, and social skills.”

The key success to the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is leadership by example. As part of the program, students meet successful adults with disabilities who share similar challenges. This framework provides an atmosphere of encouragement, helping youth realize their ability and pursue meaningful employment to become contributing members of society.

Youths are selected through a statewide competition seeking students with disabilities who are high school juniors and seniors this school year, ages 16-18, and show leadership potential. Applicants submit a standard form, essay and three names for references. Student delegates represent a cross section of Missouri in terms of geography, gender, economic status, ethnicity, and different type of disabilities.

“Being a person with disabilities, the unknown can be intimidating and sometimes overwhelming. The MYLF experience is open, friendly, fun, interesting and lasts a long time,” said Spencer Hunley, MYLF 2004 youth delegate alumni. 

“MYLF is a great opportunity to meet other youth with disabilities and the adults with disabilities especially listening to their stories.  Attending the forum motivated me to take a leadership role in school and home.  I encourage youth with disabilities to attend the MYLF 2006 to meet other youth with disabilities and not feel you are the only one with a disability. In particular, it gives the youth a chance to speak for what they believe in and what should be changed for them.”  Rachel Baskerville, MYLF 2005 youth delegate alumni.

The Governor’s Council on Disability is currently accepting applications for this event. Applications and a slide show are online at www.gcd.oa.mo.gov. If you have any questions, please contact the Council at 1-800-877-8249.  Deadline for the application is May 5, 2006.

To nominate a student from your local community, call 314-821-7151, 1-800-877-8249, or e-mail linda.baker@oa.mo.gov.

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