COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 24

December 5, 2006

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:

Principals

 

FROM:

Linda M. Wallinger

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities

 

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) seeks students from across Virginia to serve as delegates to its 2007 Youth Leadership Forum (YLF).  The 2007 forum will be hosted at Christopher Newport University in Newport News from July 9-13, 2007.  Twenty-five Virginia high school students with disabilities will be selected to receive full scholarships to participate in this leadership development program.

 

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities will be sending application flyers and additional information about the forum directly to Virginias high schools in the near future.  Please be on the lookout for these materials and to take the opportunity to distribute them to faculty and students.  To be considered, students applications must be postmarked by March 23, 2007.

 

The forums goals are to educate students with disabilities about the principles of leadership, to better prepare them for future career choices, and to build their self-confidence, advocacy and public speaking skills.  Rising high school juniors and seniors with a disability who want to become leaders in their schools and communities are strongly encouraged to apply for the honor of serving as a 2007 YLF delegate.  

 

Through a competitive process, 25 students statewide will be selected to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia as Delegates at the Youth Leadership Forum. To be eligible to apply students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be in 10th or 11th grade as of December 15, 2006, or if in a non-graded programs must be returning to high school for at least one year after the 2007 school year
  • Have a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Reside in Virginia
  • Have demonstrated leadership potential in their school and community

 

YLF student delegates must demonstrate:

  • Motivation
  • Acceptance of and interest in diversity
  • An interest in developing their leadership skills and plan for their future
  • A desire to share their thoughts and opinions

 

Completed applications and all required information must be received by close of business on March 23, 2007, at the Boards offices in order to be considered.

 

For more information or to obtain an application, contact Teri Barker-Morgan or Jennifer Peers at 1-800-846-4464 (toll-free, voice/TTY) or by e-mail at teri.barker@vbpd.virginia.gov. Information and applications can also be downloaded from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities website at www.vaboard.org