Students with disabilities sought for leadership forum - Feb. 20, 2007

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Media contact: Bill Tarrow, 360-902-9376

Audio: http://fortress.wa.gov/esd/portal/info/newsroom/audiofiles/audio/

OLYMPIA – Applications are being sought from high school juniors and seniors with disabilities to participate in a six-day youth leadership forum this summer in Olympia. 

The event will be held Aug. 12 through 17 at The Evergreen State College. All expenses will be paid for the students who are selected to attend. 

The annual forum, presented by the Governor’s Committee on Disability and Employment, brings together students with various disabilities to explore skills and concepts that can help them successfully advance in life after high school. 

“The forum is about opening the eyes of students with disabilities to the possibilities of what their lives could be,” said Toby Olson, director of the committee, which is housed within the Employment Security Department.  

He said that students will learn the art of leadership, explore career options, and meet and learn from successful adults who also have disabilities.

Forum workshop topics include leadership skills, disability rights, self-advocacy, assistive technologies, career planning, and personal and social skills.  Each student will go home with a personal leadership and employment plan, with identified goals to work on.

Other activities include rock wall climbing, a magic show and a dance. 

“It’s not just classroom activities,” added Olson.  “It’s about developing friendships and celebrating accomplishments.” 

As many as 45 students will be selected to participate.  The deadline to apply is May 1.  All applicants must be a junior or senior in high school as of July 1 and have a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For more information, contact Jan Peters at 360-438-3258 or 360-438-3167 TTY or by e-mail at jpeters@esd.wa.gov.  The application is available in alternate formats. 

The Youth Leadership Forum is a cooperative project of the Employment Security Department, the Developmental Disabilities Council, Bates Technical College, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (both within the Department of Social & Health Services).