Wanted!
Young Leaders
for the Virginia Board for People
with Disabilities’
Youth Leadership Forum
The Virginia Board for
People with Disabilities (VBPD) seeks candidates from across Virginia to
serve as delegates to its 2008 Youth Leadership Forum (YLF). The
2008 Forum will be hosted at Christopher Newport University in Newport
News from July 4-18, 2008. Twenty-five Virginia high school
students with disabilities will be selected to receive full scholarships
to participate in this exceptional leadership development program.
Scholarships cover the entire cost for delegates to attend YLF, including
transportation, room & board, instructional materials, activities,
interpreters, personal care assistants, and individual medical care as
required.
Sponsored by VBPD, the
Forum’s goals are to educate students with disabilities about the principles of
leadership, build their self-confidence and advocacy skills, and better prepare
them for future career choices. Rising high school juniors and seniors
who want to become leaders in their schools and communities are strongly
encouraged to apply for the rewarding and privileged honor of serving as a 2008
YLF delegate.
CD-ROMs that include YLF 2008
information, application materials, and a YLF video vignette have been mailed
to school districts and disability-related agencies throughout Virginia. To
be considered, students’ applications must be post marked by no later than
March 31, 2008.
For more information or to
obtain an application, contact Teri
Barker-Morgan or Kara White at 1-800-846-4464 (toll-free, voice/TTY) or
by e-mail at Teri.Barker@vbpd.virginia.gov
or Kara.White@vbpd.virginia.gov.
Applications and additional information, including a poster, flyer, and other
recruitment materials, can also be downloaded from the Virginia Board for
People with Disabilities’ website at www.vaboard.org/ylf.htm.
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Become a Partner in Policymaking.
Apply Now to Join the Class of 2009!
Recruitment of individuals
with developmental disabilities and parents of young children with
developmental disabilities for the 2008-2009 Virginia Board for People
with Disabilities’ (VBPD) Partners in Policymaking (PIP) advocacy training
program is currently underway. Partners graduating with the Class of 2009
will join nearly three hundred current alumni of the Virginia PIP program, and
thousands who have graduated from similar programs across the country, who have
learned how to make a difference every day for themselves, their families, and
their communities.
Individuals participating in
PIP attend advocacy training, resource development, and skill building
workshops led by state and national experts. Topics covered include the
history of the disability movement, self advocacy, independent living,
supported employment, building inclusive communities, natural supports,
legislative advocacy, assistive technology, communication, team building, and
much more! VBPD covers all expenses for participants’ training,
lodging, meals, and travel.
Program participants attend
and actively participate in eight two-day sessions, from Friday afternoon and
to late Saturday afternoon, in Richmond, Virginia. Specific dates for
2008-2009 are still to be confirmed but will include one session per month in
September, October, and November 2008 and January, February, March, April, and
May 2009. Accepted participants must agree to complete all homework,
class assignments, and one major project designed to meet competencies.
To be considered for
participation in PIP, individuals must submit a completed application form and
provide three letters of recommendation. Applications can be downloaded
from VBPD’s website at www.vaboard.org/policymaking.htm.
All application materials must be received at the Virginia Board’s offices
by no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2008.
Additional information and applications may also be obtained by contacting
Erin Hickey at Erin.Hickey@vbpd.virginia.gov
or Teri Barker Morgan at Teri.Barker@vbpd.virginia.gov
or by calling 1-800-846-4464 (toll free, voice & TTY).
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Board for People with
Disabilities Seeks
2008-2009 Disability Policy Fellow
Each year, the Virginia
Board for People with Disabilities offers a unique opportunity for an
outstanding graduate student to make a difference in the lives of people
with disabilities and their families. In addition to earning an annual
stipend of $17,500, the Board’s 2008-2009 Disability Policy Fellow
will gain extensive knowledge of the state’s disability services system and
policy while working closely with other members of the Board’s staff.
A detailed description of
this exceptional professional development and work/study opportunity, as well
as eligibility and application details, may be found on the Board’s website at www.vaboard.org/policyfellowship.htm.
The site also features examples of research projects by previous Policy Fellows
and a downloadable flyer about the Fellowship that can duplicated for direct
distribution or prominently posted where eligible students are most likely to
see it.
The deadline for receipt
of applications is 5:00pm, Friday, March 14, 2008. All eligible graduate students from across the
Commonwealth are encouraged to apply, including multiple applicants from the
same school or program. Following the deadline, a competitive selection
process, involving both review of applications and follow-up interviews, will
select a single applicant to serve as the Board’s 2008-2009 Fellow.
Selection will be made by the end of April 2008.
For additional information, call Linda Redmond at 1-800-846-4464
(toll-free, voice & TTY) or e-mail her at Linda.Redmond@vbpd.virginia.gov.
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For more information on the
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, please visit our website at www.vaboard.org or contact:
Tom Driscoll
Strategic Planning & Marketing Manager
Virginia Board for People with
Disabilities
202 N. 9th Street, 9th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-9380 (voice & TTY)
804-840-6482 (mobile)
800-846-4464 (toll-free, voice & TTY
804-786-1118 (fax)
thomas.driscoll@vbpd.virginia.gov
www.vaboard.org