Youth Leadership Forum

Preparing you to become one of Ohio’s future leaders!

LEARN disability and advocacy skills to become a leader in the community.

CONNECT with a supportive network of students, professionals, and mentors who can share their experiences.

DEVELOP plans to reach employment and independent living goals for the future.

YLF Flyer - Preparing you to become one of Ohio’s future leaders! LEARN disability and advocacy skills to become a leader in the community. CONNECT with a supportive network of students, professionals, and mentors who can share their experiences. DEVELOP plans to reach employment and independent living goals for the future.

Are You a High School Student with a Disability Interested in Self-Advocacy & Leadership Development?


Ohio Regional Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a week-long career leadership training program, held during the summer, for high school students with disabilities.  There are 6 in-person forums throughout the state.

Participation in YLF can prepare you to become one of Ohio’s future leaders by improving your leadership, citizenship, and social skills.

At YLF you will:
•Learn about choosing a career
•Learn about available resources and assistive technology
•Identify existing barriers to personal and professional success and develop plans to overcome those barriers
•Interact with professionals with disabilities who serve as mentors and role models
•Develop a personal leadership plan, which includes specificaction steps to follow when you return to your community
•Gain the power to reach your goals in education, employment, and community leadership
•Develop a social network with your peers


Applications are available by contacting the site location.

Ohio Regional Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) Locations

Columbus

The Center for Disability Empowerment

Site Coordinator: Sue Hetrick 

Email: shetrick@disabilityempowerment.net 

OOD Liaison: Kathy Gillespie

June 17th-21st
Westerville Community Center



Dayton

The Access Center 

Site Coordinator: Tonya Banther 

Email: Tonya.banther@acils.com  

OOD Liaison: Sonya Hill

July 22nd-26th
The Access Center for Independent Living



Lancaster

Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living

Site Coordinator: Scott Campbell 

Email: scottcsocil@gmail.com  

OOD Liaison: Josh Hilliard

June 10th-June 14th
Ohio University- Lancaster

Canton

Tri-County Independent Living Center

Site Coordinator: John Ballard

Email: jballard@ohio.net

OOD Liaison: Cynthia Dyer

August 5th-8th
Stark State College Applied Technology Center



Cleveland

Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential

Site Coordinator: Cheryl Gorham

Email: cgorham@leapinfo.org

OOD Liaison: Natalie Salay

June 25th-28th
Tentative –  Cleveland State University




Lorain – Cancelled

Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential

Site Coordinator: Cheryl Gorham

Email: cgorham@leapinfo.org

OOD Liaison: Sha-Niqua Matthews

July 9th-12th
Lorain County Community College

For more information

Contact Christina Carpenter at ccarpenter@ohiosilc.org or at 614-321-5981.