Through a grant from the Texas Council on Development Disabilities the West Texas region began a new Youth Leadership program on June 1, 2006 to support 60 youth with disabilities per year to experience significant gains in leadership and advocacy skills. Students are recruited from 43 school districts from 13 counties and the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services. Participants receive an intensive six days curriculum with adult mentors providing support and feedback to students during training and to implement an activity. An annual West Texas Summer Institute creates further enthusiasm and continuity. Collaboration with the statewide youth leadership project, local and regional agencies, organizations, businesses and foundations create on-going funding and support of youth leadership activities.

The first year will include activities necessary to create a firm foundation for building the project. Subsequent years two and three will add activities to follow-up with students and mentors to stay involved in activities and share their progress.

Major goals for Year One of the grant award include:

a. 30-days: Formation of a Project Advisory Committee(PAC) that meets at least quarterly.

b. 60-days: Negotiate Memorandum of Understanding with local Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services offices of the Division of Blind Services and the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Identify contact person within school districts targeted in the project.

c. 90-days: Develop a student recruitment process and materials to include outreach to identified school districts, parent and student organizations, advocacy organizations and agencies who serve youth with disabilities. The recruitment process will ensure that individuals identified will understand the goal of the project, assurance of diversity in ethnic, language and disability differences, and identification of the level of support needed to ensure success during the project activities.

d. 90-days: Select and develop the training modules which will include addressing components of the curriculum identified in the RFP within 90-days of grant award. Coordinate with the Statewide Leadership Project and other local projects to share information and strategies.

e. 120-days: Develop a mentor recruitment process and materials to ensure adequate support and attention is provided to the students during the leadership and advocacy development.

f. End of second quarter: Recruit sixty youth, ages 16 to 22, from 43 school districts and DARS offices.

g. End of second quarter: Recruit and meet with project mentors, at least 50% are people with disabilities.

h. By the end of the first project year: Sixty students attend three two-day workshops with each workshop located in a different site in the region. Stipends for transportation, food, attendant support, or other student needs arranged. Interpretation and translation services are obtained. Students complete a personal plan and achieve a leadership and advocacy goal by May 2007.

The series of six one-day workshops will offer students an intensive training opportunity that is supported by their local school district. The time is needed to cover the required topics (listed in RFP), work with students who need additional support and follow-up outcomes. Local schools recommended that offering the workshops on school days would ensure better attendance and school support. Additional supports such as staff time and transportation are easier to arrange on regular school days. As the Project Director works with the individual school district, rules for student participation will be covered and recommendations for the workshop schedule considered.

Imagine staff are knowledgeable in employment, transition for youth to career and adult supports, community living and social security benefits planning. Family to Family and the Statewide Youth Leadership grantee will be tapped as resources for classes covering history, education, communication, leadership and other required topics. Partnerships with local organizations, agency experts and accessing local networks will provide local training on all areas of need. And, using learning techniques for the young, the workshops will be fun.

Part of the process includes the student developing their own person-centered plan and a specific activity implemented before the end of the year. The workshops will provide opportunity for interaction and developing goals that fit within the student’s resources. This activity and support from the staff, mentors and PAC members will be one of the most significant measures of success of the overall project.

An annual West Texas Summer Institute will start in 2007. The Summer Institute will offer students unable to attend the Statewide Conference an affordable experience to bridge the summer. A one-day Institute will be offered in a central location such as the Community College or Community Center. Provided adequate sponsorship is obtained, all of these activities will continue beyond the three-year funding of the project with increasing community support in years four and five.

Activities and workshops will be posted to this website as the program develops.

For more information contact:

Rosemary Burks, Community Work Incentive Coordinator
Imagine Enterprises
1120 Mulberry St.
Abilene, Texas 79601
Toll Free Pager: 888-635-6688
Office: 325-676-8988
Fax: 325-676-2980
Cell: 325-439-1237
rosemabur@aol.com