Young Leaders Rising

PYD’s Young Leaders Rising (YLR) program is an 8-week youth-led leadership program for high school students with any type of disability (ages 14-22) that leverages both live virtual workshops and an online learning community to develop leadership, career readiness, and self advocacy skills. YLR participants build leadership skills and leave better prepared for future employment, higher education, and independent living.

YLR is centered around the following four major themes:

• Disability rights, advocacy, & legislation
• Let’s get ready to work
• Reaching your education goals
• Independent living

Participants will have a choice to join all four series or a selection of themes mentioned above. Each themed week will include live workshops, online coursework, and interactive projects/hands-on activities to apply knowledge.

Activities & discussions will be co-led by fellows (young adults with disabilities who mentor participants). All participants will have numerous social and recreational opportunities, allowing them to build relationships with peers along with mentors, collaborators, and disability advocates.

These themed series will run bi-weekly and will include workshops on job searching, networking, interview skills, setting career goals, and accessing available resources.

These activities and workshops are opportunities for youth to acquire, expand, and practice their job readiness skills, vocational knowledge, and ability to access resources related to employment.

While participants can apply for any number of the series based on their interest and availability, we will also offer open networking events that participants are encouraged to join regardless of which series they select including a career mentor luncheon & resource fair.

These events foster the opportunity to build confidence and practice the skills they are developing in all of the sessions.