2024 Youth Leadership Forum Comes to Auburn: Disability Doesn’t Define You

The widely-esteemed Alabama Governor’s Youth Leadership Forum arrives at Auburn University

On June 2, 2024, Auburn University was honored to host the Alabama Governor’s Youth Leadership Forum, previously held at Troy University. The forum is a week-long program committed to aiding high school students with a variety of disabilities by honing their leadership skills. Each year, the Youth Leadership Forum welcomes around 30 high school students, referred to as ‘delegates,’ from across Alabama, to participate in this transformative program.

Major Contributors to the Forum

The forum is sponsored by several prominent entities including the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Alabama Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, Auburn University, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, and the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities. Alongside the delegates, the forum also hosts a group of mentors, who are forum alumni from previous years. Furthermore, a team of volunteers composed of Auburn students, who are undergoing their practicum phase, accompany the delegates throughout the week’s proceedings.

The agenda for the Leadership Forum

The forum events range from a self-advocacy panel, lessons on table etiquette, components of living independently, career exploration, to a technology expo. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the delegates also get a chance to tour the Alabama state capital in Montgomery to get a flavor of legislative proceedings.

Special Address by Self-Advocacy Panel Guest Speaker, Greg Thompson

During the self-advocacy panel, Greg Thompson, a consultant for ADRS Vocational Rehabilitation, spoke on various themes concerning living with disabilities. Thompson touched upon his personal experience of living with Morquio syndrome and amplified the key message that it is crucial not to let disabilities define oneself. His speech was instrumental in inspiring the delegates to develop self-advocacy skills.

The significant role forum director Tasha Betts plays

Tasha Betts, who also serves as the ADRS’ Statewide Transition Coordinator, is the director of the forum. She revels in witnessing the progress delegates make during the course of each forum. Her favourite element of the program is the talent show, where delegates display their various abilities, thereby revealing their personality.

Returning Delegate and now Mentor, JeTaelar Samples, shares her thoughts on the Forum

JeTaelar Samples, a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a three-time participant at the forum gave her insights. She returned to the forum, this time as a mentor. “Upon meeting individuals like me, I get to lend them a lot of advice about college life and living independently, basically teach them a lot of things their parents probably can’t,” Samples said.

The Delegates’ Transformation Journey

By the end of the week, delegates become vociferous self-advocates, form new friendships, and embark on their personalized leadership plans. The Alabama Governor’s Youth Leadership Forum presents an exceptional opportunity for high school students living with disabilities to strengthen their leadership skills, build meaningful connections, and gain confidence in themselves. The program has made significant impacts in many students’ lives and will continue to do so in the future.