Independence Empowerment Center

The 2008 Virginia Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) will be held July 14-18, 2008 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News.  The leadership training is specifically designed for high school students with disabilities, addressing career options, higher education, assistive technology, self-advocacy, and teamwork.

Twenty-five students, statewide, will be selected through a competitive process to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia as Delegates.  To be eligible to apply students must:

• Be in 10th or 11th grade as of December 15, 2007, or if students are in non-graded programs they must be returning to high school for at least 1 year after the 2008 school year
• Have a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Have demonstrated leadership potential in their school and community
• Reside in Virginia

For more information, applications and application materials visit the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) website at www.vaboard.org or the application and instructions can be requested from IEC, 9001 Digges Road, Suite 103, Manassas, VA 20110, 703-257-5400 (Voice/TTY), or email info@ieccil.org.  If you wish to be considered, the completed application and required information must be received on or before 5:00pm, March 31, 2008.

This is a great opportunity and we urge all eligible students to apply.  One of our representatives won the Alumni Award for YLF’s 2006 class, Emelia Prokop.  She is now demonstrating her leadership by serving on IEC’s Development Committee.  She is helping to reach our fundraising goal of $10,000 for our fiscal year which ends June 30, 2008.

Fall 2007 Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 4