Youth Leadership Forum
Preparing you to become one of Ohio’s future leaders!
LEARN disability and advocacy skills to become a leader in the community.
CONNECT with a supportive network of students, professionals, and mentors who can share their experiences.
DEVELOP plans to reach employment and independent living goals for the future.
Are You a High School Student with a Disability Interested in Self-Advocacy & Leadership Development?
Ohio Regional Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a week-long career leadership training program, held during the summer, for high school students with disabilities. There are 6 in-person forums throughout the state.
Participation in YLF can prepare you to become one of Ohio’s future leaders by improving your leadership, citizenship, and social skills.
At YLF you will:
•Learn about choosing a career
•Learn about available resources and assistive technology
•Identify existing barriers to personal and professional success and develop plans to overcome those barriers
•Interact with professionals with disabilities who serve as mentors and role models
•Develop a personal leadership plan, which includes specificaction steps to follow when you return to your community
•Gain the power to reach your goals in education, employment, and community leadership
•Develop a social network with your peers
Applications are available by contacting the site location.
Ohio Regional Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) Locations
Columbus
The Center for Disability Empowerment
Site Coordinator: Sue Hetrick
Email: shetrick@disabilityempowerment.net
OOD Liaison: Kathy Gillespie
June 17th-21st
Westerville Community Center
Dayton
The Access Center
Site Coordinator: Tonya Banther
Email: Tonya.banther@acils.com
OOD Liaison: Sonya Hill
July 22nd-26th
The Access Center for Independent Living
Lancaster
Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living
Site Coordinator: Scott Campbell
Email: scottcsocil@gmail.com
OOD Liaison: Josh Hilliard
June 10th-June 14th
Ohio University- Lancaster
Canton
Tri-County Independent Living Center
Site Coordinator: John Ballard
Email: jballard@ohio.net
OOD Liaison: Cynthia Dyer
August 5th-8th
Stark State College Applied Technology Center
Cleveland
Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential
Site Coordinator: Cheryl Gorham
Email: cgorham@leapinfo.org
OOD Liaison: Natalie Salay
June 25th-28th
Tentative – Cleveland State University
Lorain – Cancelled
Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential
Site Coordinator: Cheryl Gorham
Email: cgorham@leapinfo.org
OOD Liaison: Sha-Niqua Matthews
July 9th-12th
Lorain County Community College
For more information
Contact Christina Carpenter at ccarpenter@ohiosilc.org or at 614-321-5981.