Fall 2005

Celebrating the close of a highly productive and fulfilling year for the National Youth Leadership Network, several governing board members took a few moments to reflect on the role NYLN has played in their lives this year and what might lie ahead for the future.

“NYLN has given me so much this year... all the contacts I have met in the disability community have somehow been related to the Network. For example, I met a fellow conference participant who was involved with our Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC). Through him, I was also appointed to serve on SILC. Now my council is starting a separate council, which will be organized by youth and similar to NYLN. We also hope to create a Youth Leadership Forum in the next year or two. I have also learned to be proud of my disability heritage and culture. This is a priceless gift. Because of this, I have found my passion – law and politics. I want to be an attorney and specialize in disability, civil, and human rights law.”

“The best highlight for me this year was when we received applications for 16 new NYLN committee members. That is the most important and great success that I think I could ever want to receive. The more people that are involved the stronger we become as an organization and a group. I would hope that my contribution to the group has been to help empower others to become involved and stay involved, and realize the power of their own voice in the directing of their lives.”

“This past year in NYLN has definitely been a worthwhile experience. It has been great getting to know such a diverse a talented group of individuals with such admirable passion in disability advocacy. The NYLN Institute has definitely been my fondest memory of NYLN this past year as a lot of key decisions were made there and I got to know other NYLN members a little bit better. I look forward to what the next year has in store with open arms and great expectations.”

“This past year, being my first full year on the Governing Board, was fantastic. I have absolutely loved working with the Governing Board members and other NYLN members. Probably my favorite memory so far has been planning last year's conference and actually seeing it materialize into a wonderful event. The same is also true for tasks such as the research project, which is a lot of work but it is great to see it come together. Team work is truly an amazing thing and when you have a team as great as the NYLN there is no limit to what can be done.”

"In this season of giving and thankfulness, I am thankful for the opportunity that NYLN has given me to serve on the Governing Board. I look forward to the next years of giving back to an organization that has given me and so many other youth great gifts of empowerment."

Although he has muscular dystrophy, Rory O'Shay refuses to surrender to the desperation in his life. Instead, he embraces it. When he moves into the Carrigmore Home for the Disabled and befriends the deeply bored Michael, who has cerebral palsy, Rory infuses his pal's life with renewed hope. Rory convinces Michael they should move into their own apartment and trouble ensues in this comedic yet heartfelt independent film.

Rachael Simon's sister is a spirited woman who lives intensely, often joyfully, and who happens to have a developmental disability. Beth invites Rachel to spend a year riding busses with her and Rachel says ‘yes.' Ridin g The Bus With My Sister weaves together three strands: the chronicle of this remarkable bus odyssey, life lessons Beth and Rachel learned from the characters they met on their travels, and memories of their riveting family story, unusual by any standard. Throughout the book, Rachel Simon brings to light the world of adults with developmental disabilities, finds unlikely heroes in everyday life, and discovers unrealized strength in herself — and her indomitable, unforgettable sister. This page-turning journey is impossible to read without laughing, and unimaginable to read without crying. It will make you prouder of your distinct individuality, while also making you proud to be part of the whole human family.

Website Highlights

Their mission is to promote understanding about the historical experience of people with disabilities by recovering, chronicling, and interpreting their stories and cultural artifacts.

“We sometimes feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

Opportunities for Input

Hi, my name is Alexandria Powell. I'm currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where I will graduate in Spring of 2006 with a degree in Public Policy and Administration and minor in Special Education. My focus is on education policy and issues relating to people with disabilities.

In my community, I serve as a student mentor where I help younger college students with their problems. I share strategies on how to talk to a professor, and how to sign up for classes that meet individual needs. I also encourage other students to get involved in the community.

I'm involved in the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum, serving as a counselor and as a mentor.

On campus, I'm a member of an organization called Students For An Accessible Society. We plan community and campus outreach programs on how to respect differences. We also plan the annual Chancellor Award Banquet, which honors professors that have done outstanding work in help students with and without disabilities. I'm also a youth represent for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater Chancellor Advisory Committee. This board considers issues and concerns that affect people with disabilities on campus.

By Krystle Allen

Delegate, 2005 US/Japan Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Disability and Volunteerism Exchange Program through Mobility International USA (MIUSA).

This unique 16-day exchange program to Tokyo, Japan builds leadership skills in a cross-cultural and cross-disability environment. Each year, twelve young leaders with disabilities take part in disability rights forums, volunteer for a 6-day international workcamp, visit cultural sites, and experience living with a host family. This program is generously sponsored by the New York Community Trust / DeWitt Wallace Youth Travel Enrichment Fund.

During my experience in Japan, I learned so much about how people with disabilities from different cultures navigate through life. On this program we were supported in our independence, and our ability to change our lives while affecting others who are in the same situation.

Participating in this program helped me realize an entirely different world of self-assurance. Normally, I feel insecure when I need to ask for help from others, but in Japan the environment is about togetherness – learning to live with, and not against, one another. I also experienced a sense of freedom walking on the streets of Tokyo. In New Jersey, where I live, it is so difficult for me to walk without my cane, but in Tokyo I learned otherwise. I was able to maneuver at times without my cane because of yellow raised lines and tactile strips on the sidewalks which leads a person who was blind or visually impaired in which ever direction they chose in a store or train station!

Before I left for Japan, my grandmother was a little doubtful about how I would handle being away from home for a few weeks; many of my family members felt that way, too. This program not only helps secure the independence and leadership skills instilled within us, but affects our families at home as they await our return from these spectacular adventures abroad. When we return with a changed feeling of confidence, so do the minds of our loved ones and friends' change. And, what we have learned from our experience we can teach to others who lack that confidence, whether they have a disability or not.

In Japan, I met people with such great appreciation for the little things in life, which in American society we often take for granted. I know there are people in America who appreciate simple things, but in Japan you felt that so frequently. I have never met any group so warm and humble. This trip reminded me of how rich in spirit and mind I need to be. You can have three of everything in the world when you are materialistically rich, but without a foundation of gratitude and humility you are not really that rich after all.

The importance of this trip allowed every one of us who participated to capture that feeling of wanting to do more for our communities, churches, organizations, and others who need that extra push from whatever is holding them back.

Krystle walking down the street

Caption: Krystle Allen (left), who is blind, is a 22-year-old sophomore at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey. She is currently an active member of Newark Do Something, a non-profit organization that organizes activities for inner-city youth.

Young leaders with disabilities between the ages of 18 – 24 and of cultural minority and low-income backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Generous scholarships are available. For more information about the 2006 Summer Program, please contact:

Mobility International USA
PO Box 10767
Eugene, Oregon 97440 USA
Tel/TTY: (541) 343-1284
Fax: (541) 343-6812
E-mail: exchange@miusa.org
Website: www.miusa.org

top

Internships and Practicums:
Overcoming challenges as a student with a disability

As an undergraduate student of University of Hawaii in Manoa, I was required to complete an internship to receive my degree from the School of Social Work. Finding an internship placement and getting experience in the field can be difficult for any student, but additional challenges are often met by students with disabilities.

Throughout the search for a site to serve my practicum hours, I encountered various forms of discrimination. Some agencies were not willing to accommodate me in any way. Others that I anticipated would advocate for me, fell short of my expectations.

During my junior year, I completed my first internship at Waimano Research Center, where my main duty was to shadow a social worker. It took me four hours a day to travel to and from the agency using the only means of transportation I have available. I contacted my advisor on this matter, but didn't receive much of a response. I endured the travel time and passed the course successfully.

My second internship site was the Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled branch in Kauai. I spent the first few weeks revising papers, but I was given the sudden opportunity to start a self-advocacy group among the clients. I had to overcome several challenges ranging from inappropriate behaviors from group members to a lack of appropriate supervision. Still, the numbers in the group I started grew and included several active members.

My next placement was with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in Kauai. This agency supports and finances my school expenses, so I was surprised by their lack of willingness to provide even basic accommodations. They terminated my practicum after only three weeks. My counselor even advised that I drop out of the social work program, but I disagreed.

My final internship placement was through the Easter Seals program. Unfortunately, it turned out to be frustrating as well. While the supervisor seemed eager during phone conversations to find ways to accommodate me, she changed her mind after we met. She stated that her schedule was too busy. I couldn't help wondering whether my level of disability had something to do with her sudden change of mind.

These experiences have not all had happy endings, but I've still gained experience and knowledge I will need to enter the work force. These experiences have taught me one simple thing. It is not enough for any professionals to understand how to work for people with disabilities. The most important thing is that these professionals should also be willing to work with and around people with disabilities.