YLF Strives To Keep Disability-Related Issues On The Minds Of Elected Officials
Released: August 19, 2004
Only 30 junior and senior high school students from throughout the state of Wisconsin were selected to attend the fifth annual Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in early August. The delegates were chosen through a highly competitive process by a panel of judges based on their leadership skills and their active involvement in schools and communities. They were selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership, volunteerism, and participation in activities in and out of school, among other traits.
YLF is designed to provide the opportunity for these students to network with other students and successful adults with disabilities who are already recognized leaders in their communities. Participants will be trained in such topics as the disability movement, legislation, career planning, rehabilitation technology and independent living.
During the weeklong forum, delegates traveled to Madison to meet with legislators. Joe Mielczarek, is chair of the YLF sub-committee Mielczarek says the reason for the YLF legislative luncheon is to show young people with disabilities how the system works.
“We give the students the opportunity to talk with them (legislators) about the needs of students with disabilities so that they can go on to school and work and be successful in their lives.”
Steve Kestell represents the 27th Assembly District. The Elkhart Lake Republican talked to a number of YLF delegates during the luncheon at the Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison. He called the event very beneficial for everyone involved.
“No matter where you find yourself in life, there are ways to become active and to take up leadership roles,” Kestell said. “To me it was encouraging to see these young people starting out in life with extra challenges – and to not only overcome - but to strive for leadership roles.”
YLF began in California over a decade ago and the concept quickly expanded nationwide.
“We need people to understand the history of the disability rights movement, system changes and how laws are made,” Mielczarek said. We need people with disabilities to work with other people with disabilities on a person-to- person basis. That is what YLF is all about.”
Mielczarek acknowledges that YLF has come a long way in its ten years of operation.
“Our goal is for YLF to fund itself and be self-sustaining by its own membership,” Mielczarek said. “We ask YLF students to go out and teach others what they learn at our summer camp. The key is for the students to become involved in their communities.”
- Tom Pattison ,pattisot@uww.edu
