Youth Leadership Forum

Are You a High School Junior or Senior 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 11th and 12th grade high school students with disabilities. There are 6 in-person forums throughout the state, and 1 virtual forum.
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 professionalsuccess and develop plans to overcome those barriers
•Interact with professionals with disabilities who serve asmentors 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
Ohio Regional Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) Locations
Columbus
June 5th-9th
Westerville Community Center
Center for Disability Empowerment
Site Coordinator: Zoe Wenk
zwenk@disabilityempowerment.net
OOD Liaison: Kathy Gillespie
Dayton
June 12th-16th
Miami Valley Housing Opportunity Center
The Access Center Center for Independent Living Options
Site Coordinator: Tonya Banther
tonya.banther@acils.com
OOD Liaison: Sonya Hill
Athens
June 5th-9th
Ohio University
Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living
Site Coordinator: Scott Campbell
Scottcsocil@gmail.com
OOD Liaison: Josh Hilliard
Virtual Statewide
June 19th-23rd
Services for Independent Living
Site Coordinator: Shannon Monyak
smonyak@sil-oh.org
OOD Liaison: Natalie Salay
Canton
June 5th-8th
Stark State College Applied Technology Center
Tri-County Independent Living Center
Site Coordinator: John Ballard
jballard@ohio.net
OOD Liaison: Cynthia Dyer
Cleveland
June 20th-23rd
TBD
Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential
Site Coordinator: Cheryl Gorham
CGorham@leapinfo.org
OOD Liaison: Natalie Salay
Toledo
June 27th-30th
Bowling Green State University
The Ability Center of Greater Toledo
Site Coordinator: Jennie Geiman
jgeiman@abilitycenter.org
OOD Liaison: Rachel Erford
For more information, please download
- The YLF Regional Site Contact List – locations, dates and contacts included
- The YLF Regional Flyer
Or contact Christina Carpenter at ccarpenter@ohiosilc.org or at 614-809-1513.