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Components of Youth Development Programs
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Additional Components of Youth Leadership Programs |
Additional Components for Disability Focus
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| Organizational Level |
- Clear mission and goals
- Staff are trained, professional, supportive, committed, and youth-friendly
- Safe and structured environment
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- Youth involvement at all levels including administration and the Board of Directors
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- Physically and programmatically accessible
- Staff are aware, willing, prepared, and supported to make accommodations
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- Connections to community and other youth-serving organizations
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- Knowledge of resources (national and community-specific) for youth with disabilities
- Partnerships and collaboration with other agencies serving or assisting youth with disabilities
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| Programmatic Level |
- Focus on each young person’s individual needs, assets, and interests
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- Hands-on experiential and varied activities
- Youth involvement in developing and implementing activities
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- Hands-on involvement at all programmatic levels such as planning, budgeting, implementing, and evaluating programs
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- Opportunities for success
- Opportunities to try new roles
- Youth leadership
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- Multiple opportunities to develop and practice leadership skills
- Varied, progressive leadership roles for youth: small group, large group, event, program
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- Ensure peer and adult role models and mentors include people with disabilities
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- Self-advocacy skills building
- Independent living information and assessment (career, employment, training, education, transportation, recreation, community resources, life skills, financial, benefits planning)
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- Family involvement and support
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- Opportunities for youth to develop self-awareness, identity, and values
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- Education on community & program values and history
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- Disability history, law, culture, policies, and practices
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