What you need to know: Get Involved!

It's YOUR life! Be an active participant! Insist on having opportunities to make decisions on your own behalf, participate in the development of your IEP and define goals YOU want to achieve, explore your interests, strengths, abilities…get out there and volunteer, job shadow, intern, work….learn, socialize, and participate in your community. Every opportunity provides you with more information about yourself, what you like and don't like, a chance to develop social skills, independence skills, self-advocacy skills, employment skills….and to have an impact on the policies and programs that serve you.

Here are some ways for you to JUMP IN!

• Youth Leadership Forum
  http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/ylf.htm
  How to get involved in state leadership training program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities.
  
• National Youth Leadership Network
  http://www.nyln.org
  Information about this national conference for state youth leaders with disabilities.
  
• American Association of People with Disabilities - VOTE!
  http://www.aapd-dc.org/
  Advocacy for political participation from voter accessibility to running for office.
  
• National Council on Independent Living
  http://www.ncil.org/
  Advocacy by and for people with disabilities to eliminate discrimination and create opportunities for community participation.
  
• Corporation for National and Community Service
  http://www.learnandserve.org/
  Describes benefits and opportunities for community service.
  
• Youth Build
  http://www.youthbuild.org/YBMain.html
  Information about Youth Build programs and how to participate.
  
• National Mentoring Partnership
  http://www.mentoring.org/caring_adults/find_a_mentor/
  Information about mentoring: how to find one, become one, and ideas for activities.
  
• Adolescent Health Transition Project: Take responsibility for your own health care.
  http://depts.washington.edu/healthtr/Teens/intro.htm
  Resource for information, materials, and links to others with an interest in health transition issues.

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NCWD/Youth | c/o Institute for Educational Leadership
4455 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 310 | Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: 1-877-871-0744 (Toll Free)
TTY: 877-871-0665 (Toll Free)