About
"Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other."
- John F. Kennedy
Sponsors of the MD-YLF
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of these groups whose contributions made the Maryland Youth Leadership Forum possible:
Principal Sponsor (over $20,000)
- Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services [1]
- Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services
Platinum Sponsors ($10,000 and over)
- Maryland Department of Disabilities
- Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council
Gold Sponsors (over $5,000)
- Maryland Department of Transportation - Maryland Mass Transit Administration
- Independence Now
Silver Sponsors ($1,000 - $3,000)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region [2]
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- Developmental Disabilities Administration - Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
- Resource Connections of Prince George’s County
Bronze Sponsors ($200 - $500)
- API – Advertising, Premiums and Incentive
Family Sponsors
- Matthew and Kelly Hahr (Jason Hahr MD-YLF 2003)
- Karl and Anne Shipps (Ruth Shipps MD-YLF 2002)
- Rolf and Gayle Dietrich (Erica Dietrich MD-YLF 2000)
- Robert Myers (Corrie Myers MD-YLF 2006)
- The Vakalopoulos Family (Alexander Vakalopoulos MD-YLF 2002)
- Roberta and Bruce Roffe (Ruth Roffe MD-YLF 2005)
- Cynthia Gipson (Christopher Gipson MD-YLF 2006)
- Karen and Patrick Kiernan (Erin Kiernan MD-YLF 2006)
- Anonymous (2)
[1] This program is funded by the Maryland State Department of Education through Grant #301265 from Assistance to States for Education of Students with Disabilities, IDEA, Part B-State grant 84-207.
[2] This training is funded in part by the ADA Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region, one of 10 regional centers funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research(NIDZRR), US Department of Education, Grant #H133D60006
Facts About the MD-YLF
Background
The Youth Leadership Forum was initiated in 1992 by the California Governor's Committee on the Employment of Disabled Persons. This popular program spread across the country and is now conducted annually in more than 30 states. Maryland conducted it's first Youth Leadership Forum (MD-YLF) in August 2000.
Who attends the MD-YLF?
The Forum is for students entering their final two years of high school. Selection to the attend the Forum is based on the following criteria:
- applicant accomplishments and leadership potential
- academic achievement
- community service
- participation in school and community activities
- disability diversity
- ethnic and racial diversity
- geographic representation
What are the Purposes of the MD-YLF?
- provide an opportunity, unlike any currently existing in Maryland, for young people with disabilities to attend an intensive forum emphasizing leadership, independence & personal and career goal setting.
- encourage youth to pursue their academic and career goals by exposing them to successful role models, i.e., adults with disabilities who have a variety of achievements.
- give youth the knowledge of resources that can help enable them to develop and achieve their goals.
- teach youth with disabilities about the cultural history of their predecessors with disabilities, including the long struggle for Civil Rights, which resulted in legislation such as The Americans with Disabilities Act.
Have more questions? Check out the YLF FAQ, or feel free to contact us.
