About Youth LEAD NC
Youth LEAD NC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, equips individuals with disabilities, ages 30 and younger, with peer support and essential skills to cultivate the next generation of disability rights leaders and to foster their development as independent, productive members of society by preparing them for the transition to post-secondary education and/or the workforce.
​Youth LEAD NC envisions a society in which young individuals with disabilities are empowered to take on leadership roles within their communities and successfully achieve their desired post-secondary outcomes in education, employment, and independent living.
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Programs
Making A Difference
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Growing Youth Into Leaders
The NCYLF is an annual multi-day program that fosters emerging youth and young adult leaders by teaching them how to advocate in their communities and for themselves. Delegates come from all across North Carolina to learn about the Disability Rights Movement and how certain civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, came to fruition. The NCYLF builds young leaders by teaching them about their rights and responsibilities, exploring postsecondary and employment options, and building key skills such as communication and planning, while enabling them to experience independence and find their voice as advocates.
Supporting Youth
At Youth LEAD NC, we are dedicated to providing ongoing support to youth with disabilities to help them continue to grow as leaders and self-advocates. Since 2019, though NCYLF and our monthly LEADing On Series, we regularly provide resources and activities to help these youth understand and advocate for their rights and responsibilities to housing, education, equal employment, and more. These resources and activities also provide valuable opportunities for youth to develop skills in communication, planning, goal-setting, and more to support their success as adults, whether they pursue post-secondary education or join the workforce.
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Creating Empowered Youth
Here at Youth LEAD NC, we’re committed to investing our expertise and resources in order to further achieve our cause. Monthly Zoom video calls provide a sense of community as well as building on the concepts taught at Youth Leadership Forum such as postsecondary options, accommodations, transition skills, goal setting, and self discovery. We are always striving to make a difference, and invite you to learn more and lend your support. Just imagine what we can achieve together!
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If you want to participate in the fun of our monthly LEADing On Series, please email our Program Coordinator, meredith@youthleadnc.org, to join the LEADing On Series.
"We Stand for Disability Rights"
Accessibility, safety, community acceptance, independent living, quality of life, full and activity participation in society, and equal access to education and employment