The Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) proudly helped local youth to acquire and refine leadership skills by hosting the 2024 Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) of Southwest Ohio July 22nd – July 26th.
“Sometimes you don’t know you are a leader until you notice people following you.” This is just one piece of wisdom that the Mayor of Dayton, Jeffrey Mims Jr., gave about being a leader when he spoke at the 2024 YLF of Southwest Ohio.
Six students: five delegates, and one returning student mentor, who participated in YLF of Southwest Ohio this year, considered meeting the mayor to be a highlight of the forum.
“It was an honor to meet the mayor. He taught me that even if someone has a different view than me that is okay and I should still respect them,” said YLF Delegate Raj Chauhan.
ACIL’s YLF Site Coordinator, Tonya Banther shared insight into what it takes to be a leader by speaking to delegates about principles of leadership.
Delegates were able to hear wisdom from someone closer to their age when Former YLF Delegate Dillon Rosenlieb came to speak about college life with a disability. Dillon, who is in a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy, detailed some of the struggles and triumphs he experienced as a college freshman.
“I enjoyed hearing Dillon’s story. It helped me think about how to prepare for going to Wright State University in the Fall,” said YLF Delegate, Abigail Barber.
Delegates gained further insight into how they should prepare for the future when Sara Treece, who works as the manager of PNC Bank in Springboro, spoke to them about the importance of budgeting.
While budgeting was not a very fun topic to learn at the end of day, multiple delegates expressed that they understood the importance of it.
Delegates got the chance to learn about themselves and one another by creating and presenting vision boards about themselves and/or how they view leadership. An ice breaker about stress management allowed delegates to learn even more about each other. While delegates learned a lot about each other through the stress management related ice breaker, the ice breaker that they found most eye-opening was the one asking what three items they would bring with them while stranded on an island.
“Those who said they would bring materials to build a city or luxury condos are top tier thinkers,” said Abigail.
Fromer Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023, Allison Boot followed the discussion of stress management by sharing her personal story of self-acceptance and advising the delegates that redefining independence is good way to handle disability-related stress.
“Hearing Allison’s story helped me see that it is important to love yourself and others,” said YLF Delegate, Matthew Carlisle.
Another topic that the delegates did not particularly enjoy but learned a lot from was covered when Kathy Seecamp, a Program Administrator with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities discussed Social Security work incentives, including everything from impairment-related work expenses to Stable Accounts.
Angie Masten, who works in the Office of Disability Services at Wright State University, came to YLF of Southwest Ohio for the fourth year in a row to discuss adaptive technology and its uses.
“Angie’s presentation was very cool. She talked about things that I didn’t know existed like all terrain wheelchairs,” said YLF Delegate, James Watkins.
Delegates were walked through the creation of personal leadership and advocacy plans, which helped them to think through and identify the steps they needed to take to accomplish a future goal as well as obstacles they may face along the way.
A discussion of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) served as an introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
A celebration of the 34th anniversary of former President George H.W. Bush signing the ADA into law marked the end of the 2024 YLF of Southwest Ohio.
The ADA celebration, hosted virtually via Zoom, consisted of both videos and discussion about the fight for the ADA and disability rights. At the end of the celebration, Dayton City commissioner, Darryl Fairchild, who is a wheelchair user, read a proclamation, from the office of Mayor Mims, declaring July 26th, 2024. “ADA Celebration Day” in Dayton and affirming the commitment of the mayor to fight for the rights of those with disabilities until equality is realized.
“The Fact that they don’t talk about the ADA more in schools upsets me. I am glad I got to learn about it at YLF,” said Abigail.
Delegates seem pleased overall with their experience at the 2024 YLF of Southwest Ohio.
“I enjoyed this program and learned about leadership. I hope I can come back next year,” said Matthew.
To learn more about the youth leadership forums being offered around Ohio this Summer, visit http://www.ohiosilc.org/youth-leadership-forum/
