Text Box: Fall   2007

Text Box: Educating, Assisting, Supporting, and Informing through this newsletter... A newsletter for and by parents with sons & daughters with disabilities and education advocates.

Families Together, Inc. LogoText Box: Wichita Administrative Center 3033 W. 2nd  Suite 106 Wichita, KS  67203  (316) 945-7747 or 888-815-6364

Text Box: www.familiestogetherinc.org

Text Box: (All toll free numbers for Kansas parents & education advocates) 

Families Together, Inc. Text Box: Twenty-four Youth Leaders Learn One Community Can Make a Difference Submitted by Carrie Greenwood, Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy   “One voice can be heard. One group can make an impact. One community can change the world!”   This theme rang out at the 2007 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum (KSYLF) and Kansas definitely heard the voices of 24 up and coming youth leaders. The seventh annual KSYLF was held on June 12 – 16, 2007 at Washburn University in Topeka. Twenty-four motivated, energetic young leaders with disabilities attended the forum, with a female to male ratio of 14:10. The delegates came from a variety of cities throughout the state, including Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas City, Salina, Wichita, Emporia, Great Bend, and many surrounding cities. The young leaders bonded right away as a group, but also showed their individual personalities and abilities. The participants had a variety of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autism, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Learning Disability, Developmental Disability, Mental Health Disability, and more. There were 28 volunteers and staff members present throughout the week, including seven YLF alumni who returned to serve as peer mentors and share their experiences.    

Text Box: Kansas City Center 1-877-499-5369 Garden City Center 1-888-820-6364  Topeka Center 1-800-264-6343  Statewide Spanish parent line  1-800-499-9443  

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Man reading news graphic.YLF students having fun.Text Box: The KSYLF week was as empowering, intense, and emotional as ever. The delegates unified as a group right away and demonstrated that each of them had individual leadership qualities. They experienced many fun activities throughout the week and heard from important community leaders on a variety of topics.