4-24-07

Survey For Youth With Disabilities Available

A group of young disability activists want YOUR feedback! Our very own Zach Coble, YLF Alumni 2002, has joined with other youth advocates around the US to put together a survey directed towards young people with disabilities. They want to know your comments and ideas concerning the disability community and culture. The group will use the survey feedback during their presentation at the NCIL Conference in July. For more information about the survey, view the LETTER FROM YOUNG DISABILITY ACTIVISTS.

Summer Experience for Students With Disabilities Interested in Law School

Calling all undergrad sophomore - junior status students who are interested in going to law school! You are encouraged to apply for the WrightChoice Pre-Professional Law Program. During the summer of 2007, WrightChoice will host a six week program that allows college minority students and students with disabilities who are interested in going to law school to shadow lawyers and/or judges in various practice area and courts. This will allow the students an opportunity to experience the profession and mentors a chance to groom future leaders. The application deadline is April 27. VIEW MORE INFORMATION

KSYLF Selects 35 Outstanding Youth Leaders

YEA received 40 YLF delegate applications this year that met the criteria of participation. These applications were reviewed last week and 35 youth leaders were chosen to participate in the 2007 KSYLF! These chosen delegates were notified of their acceptance this week. Congratulations to all who were selected! We look forward to seeing you in June! For a complete list of selected delegates, see our FULL PRESS RELEASE.

April KYEA E-newsletter Published!

Our April issue of the KYEA E-newsletter has been published! Each issue is full of KYEA updates, as well as local and national news that relates to youth with disabilities. To view our April issue, visit our JUST 4 YOUTH! page.

Survey Drawing Winner Announced

Congratulations to Daniel Jayne for winning a $20 Target Card from KYEA! Daniel and several other KSYLF alumni participated in a Personal Leadership Plan follow up survey in December. By responding to the survey, alumni were automatically entered into a drawing for a prize. The responses we received were very positive. We have youth with disabilities in Kansas living their dreams and moving forward! Thanks to all who participated.

Vote for John!

John Deterding, YLF Alumni 2006, has been writing songs and has even entered some into online contests! Check out some of John's songs on the web. If you like what you hear, cast your vote for your favorite song. Check out JOHN'S SUBMISSION PAGE now!

Transition Resource Fairs Coming Up Around the State

If you are a high school student in Topeka or Lawrence who is looking to find resources in your community, then take the opportunity to attend an upcoming Resource Fair. Transition Councils in both Topeka and Lawrence have set dates for their local resource fairs. Details are below:

3rd Annual Shawnee County Resource Fair
Tuesday, April 10
4:00 – 6:30 pm
Whiting Fieldhouse at Washburn University (Topeka)
Other Details: The Shawnee County Transition Council is hosting this Fair to assist adults or families with children in discovering services and local resources available to them now and in the future. “Breakout” sessions will include a short presentation as well as question and answer time. Session topics will include the topic of Autism, Social Security Benefits, Vocational Rehabilitation, and CDDO’s.

7th Annual Douglas/Jefferson County Community Resource Expo
Wednesday, April 25
4:00 - 6:30 pm
Free State High School (4700 Overland Drive) in Lawrence
Other Details: This is an opportunity for individuals, families, and caregivers to meet with and gain firsthand information from area service providers, organizations, and support groups covering all types of disability related topics. Individuals can explore options and gather information to assist them in accessing services and planning for future needs as well as meet with others sharing similar needs in the Douglas and Jefferson County area. Information on services related to employment, independent living, higher education, financial planning, guardianship, respite care, social activities and many more topics will be available. Participating agencies will represent services available for individuals from birth to adulthood. Admission is free and open to anyone who has questions about disability or transition related services.

National Contest for Young People with Disabilities

VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. are sponsoring an art contest for youth with disabilities between the ages of 16 and 25. If you have a talent and interest in art, we suggest that you check out this contest. The competition, entitled “Driven,” is open to young artists with disabilities, ages 16 -25, living within the United States, who have a physical, cognitive, or mental disability. There is no entry fee. "Driven" challenges artists to pinpoint the motivational force behind their artistic expression and to identify the catalyst that sustains their creative energy. Art must be an original work that has been completed in the last three (3) years. Eligible media includes: paintings, drawings, fine art prints, photography, computer-generated prints, and mixed media; must be presented in two dimensions. Artwork should not exceed 60 inches in either direction. Fifteen (15) finalists will be awarded a total of $60,000 in awards during an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill in September 2007, and artwork will be displayed in a nation-wide touring exhibition that debuts at the Smithsonian.

The deadline for the contest is July 6, 2007 (midnight, MST). For additional information and to download an application, please visit www.vsarts.org.

New KYEA E-newsletter Published

Our February issue of the KYEA E-newsletter has been published! Each issue is full of KYEA updates, as well as local and national news that relates to youth with disabilities. To view our February issue, visit our JUST 4 YOUTH! page.

Good News for the Month!

YLF Alumni 2001, Deric Morrow, has been promoted at his job with ADT Security Service. Deric has been working with this company for over three years and has worked his way up the ladder with multiple positions in the company. He recently was hired for a Customer Relations Representative position in San Francisco, California and will be moving to there in February. A big congrats to Deric on this huge accomplishment! We are very proud of you!

Deric's story has prompted us to start a discussion of disability disclosure in the workplace. VIEW DERIC'S STORY AND DISCUSSION ON DISCLOSURE

YLF Delegate Application Deadline Extended

The deadline for delegate applications to the Youth Leadership Forum has been extended. The new deadline is January 15, 2007. View our UPCOMING YLF page for a printable application.

12-11-06

KYEA Featured in Kansas Connections

Kansas Connections, a publication of KU Medical Center, recently featured an article on the YLF Reunion / Focus Group. VIEW THE ARTICLE

Good News for the Month!

A 2006 YLF Volunteer recently received a large scholarship to Wichita State University. Casey Cantrell was awarded the Gore Scholarship, which is the largest scholarship given out in the state of Kansas. A big congrats to Casey on her accomplishment!

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12-6-06

Youth Leadership Forum Application Deadline Approaching!

The deadline to apply for the 2007 Youth Leadership Forum is quickly approaching. All delegate applications are due by December 15, 2006. It's not too late to fill out an application and send it in. If you are a high school junior or senior who has a disability, then you may be eligible to apply for the YLF!

We are currently searching for commited, enthusiastic volunteers for our 2007 YLF!

Calling all former and potentially new volunteers! YLF is now accepting applications for volunteers for our 2007 Youth Leadership Forum. Do you have the skills and passion to facilitate groups and motivate youth with disabilities? Then consider serving as a volunteer at our upcoming YLF to be held next June.

Delegate and Volunteer applications are now online! Visit our UPCOMING YLF page for further information.

KYEA Website Gets a Makeover

Our website is currently in the process of being reformatted. Our new design is slowly coming together. Please check back often for updates and important news from the KYEA office.

Good News for the Month!

• A local youth recently accomplished a large personal milestone. Heather Grace, of Topeka, recently completed 62.3 miles while handcycling for the Eastern Kansas MS 150 Bike Tour on November 24. Although Heather has quite a bit of experience with handcycling, she says that this was her longest ride yet! VIEW HEATHER AT THE 50-MILE MARK.
  
• One of our very own YLF volunteers is a new daddy! Brian Ramsey, YLF Volunteer 02-04, and his wife, Amanda, are the proud parents of a baby boy. Clayton Alex was born on November 10, weighing 6 lbs 10 oz. Congrats to Brian and Amanda!

Internship Opportunities Available

• The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Foundation is looking for a graduate student, medical student, or experienced undergraduate student to work on a paper related to disabilities research. The internship is from approximately January 2 to February 9 with slight flexibility in start and end dates. Working in conjunction with the AMSA’s staff at the national office in Reston, VA the intern will research disabilities education, especially in the medical field, and will write a professional paper/proposal on the topic.
  
  The qualifications for this position are listed below:
  - Experience in literature review and research
  - Experience and excellent skills in writing
  - Understanding of topic area
  - Understanding of the field of medicine
  - Computer skills
  - Mature, professional
  - Self-starter
  - Must be current and legal resident of the United States
  
  This position is unpaid but free, local housing is provided if needed.
  To apply, please send resume and short writing sample to Shadia Garrison, AMSA Foundation, 1902 Association Drive, Reston VA 20191 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . No faxes please.

• The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is currently offering a number of internships. The application process began on November 1 and will conclude on January 16, 2007. Applicants may apply to a number of different programs. The program descriptions are listed on the website and interested applicants should make their selection based on personal talents, qualifications, and interests. There is even a program specifically geared towards students with disabilities called ACCESS. For more information, contact Laureen Summers at 202-326-6649 or by email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . To apply online, visit http://university.gsfc.nasa.gov/application.

November Issue of the KYEA E-newsletter Published

The November issue of the KYEA E-newsletter has been published! View the e-newsletter on our JUST 4 YOUTH! page.