2003 Youth Summit Report

The fifth annual Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit: "My Dream, My Voice" was held July 14^th through the 16^th, 2003 in Springfield, Illinois. Illinois Department of Human Services’ Office of Rehabilitation Services’ Associate Director Robert Kilbury introduced Secretary Carol Adams who gave encouraging words to the fifty youth participants and mentors as she welcomed them to the capitol city.

Head Speakers Table, 3 men, one woman.

Keynote Speaker John Foppe, DHS Secretary Carol Adams,
SILC Executive Director John Eckert, and DHS-DRS Director
Robert Kilbury at the opening luncheon.

Following the opening luncheon, keynote speaker John Foppe addressed the audience. Born without arms, John Foppe’s story touched many hearts. Born in 1970 with seven birth defects, and not expected to live, Foppe not only beat the odds but has gone on to lead a remarkable life, one that involves using his feet for everything from shaving to eating to driving a car.

Keynote speaker, John Foppe, addressed the
audience, delivering a high-impact presentation
on overcoming adversity and fostering
personal growth.

Foppe has spent the past fifteen years as a professional speaker. Known for delivering high-impact presentations on overcoming adversity and fostering personal growth. John doesn’t allow his disability to hold him back. His willingness to share his own struggles hit home for many in the audience. "I acknowledge life is tough, and I still struggle. The tips I offer are grounded in my lived experiences of wrestling with my own problems." When people feel John’s sincerity they instinctively realize that if John can do so much without arms, then I can do more with what I have.

Next on Monday’s agenda came Jan Goodwin and her buddy Spencer. Jan uses ventriloquism to spread her message that people with disabilities can lead full, productive lives when barriers to participation are removed. Her character Spencer is funny, precocious, and inquisitive. He is also in a wheelchair.

After the youth participants and mentors recovered from Jan and Spencer’s fun filled disability awareness presentation they were given a detailed session on the disability rights movement. The History of the Disability Rights Movement is one of the core workshops that is presented each year at the Summit.

Finally youth moved on to developing their resource guide, the first step in writing a personal advocacy plan. Youth participants along with assistance from their mentors discussed what resources are available to them so that goals can be developed for their personal advocacy plan which will be written during part two of this empowering exercise taking place on Tuesday.

Monday evening came to a conclusion following dinner with the first ever Youth Summit Talent Show. Youth had all day to sign up to compete for the $50 People’s Choice Award. With twenty talent show participants braving the stage with their skills in song, dance and poetry. Not to mention comedy and acting. The judges had quite a job to do selecting 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners but the audience seemed to have little trouble presenting Walter Ford from Chicago with the $50 grand prize for his dance moves. Everyone has to admit it was quite a show and surely will be part of the Summit for years to come.

A young woman signing while one looks on.

Youth participants, Sandra Contreras
& Elizabeth Vazquez, recite a poem
using sign language.

Five participants mugging for the camera.

Group of girls acting crazy at Tuesday night's dance.

Tuesday morning began with a big breakfast as youth participants and mentors had a busy day ahead. Participants were given different workshop topics to choose from all day Tuesday. Youth could choose to attend "Creating a Network for Social Interactions" or "Hiring and Managing a Personal Assistant".

At 11:30 a.m. everyone gathered outside to march to the Old State Capitol Plaza for the ADA Celebration. The celebration is an annual event hosted by several Springfield disability organizations in recognition of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Lunch as well as ice cream and cake were available on the plaza. Speeches were made, awards were given and everyone listen to music provided by a local band whose keyboardist is a person with blindness.

Youth participants gather for the ADA march.	Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin prepares to march with Summit Participants to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Summit Participants march down the street in celebration of the ADA.

Returning to the hotel after the celebration youth could choose to attend workshops such as "Internet Resources and Assistive Technology" or "What Makes a Good Leaders". Next came part two of "Developing a Personal Advocacy Plan". Participants shared their plans with the entire group at the conclusion of the workshop. Tuesday’s workshops came to a close with "College Life" and "The World of Work". Youth again were given a choice of the two workshops.


A youth panel discusses how they wrote and follow-up on their personal advocacy plan.

The DJ began spinning the hits following dinner on Tuesday evening. The dance floors was crowded as the youth began to relax from their hard day of attending workshops and writing goals for their advocacy plans.

What is a dance without the "YMCA".

Everyone made friends at the 5th Annual
Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit.

With a curfew of 10:30 p.m. and mentors exhausted from the busy two days everyone set off to their respected rooms to get a good night sleep before the conclusion of the three day Summit on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning came quickly for youth participants who seems both happy to have come this far and disappointed to see the Summit end. Workshops entitled "Disability Law and Order" and "Advocacy and the Legislative Process" began after breakfast with tours of the Illinois State Capitol and the Old State Capitol beginning at 11:00 a.m.. Participants signed up for which tour they wished to attend and groups set off to view the sites. When everyone returned from the tours lunch was served. Following lunch John Eckert of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois gave praise to the young leaders as well as the mentors on their hard work during the past two and a half days. John encouraged everyone to continue their Personal Advocacy Plans and to return to their communities with a sense of pride for the hard work they put into writing their goals and to follow through with the issues that are important to them.

At this time, one by one, each participant was called to the front of the room to be presented with a certificate for having been selected and attending the Leadership Summit. Awards were also presented to each youth for special qualities their mentors recognized in them, such as the "Kool Karaoke Award" for singing your heart out and the "Fish in Water Award" for swimming the night away. It was a fun way to recognize everyone and everybody loved it.

Planners and mentors were proud to have been part of this wonderful, empowering experience for youth with disabilities in Illinois. The Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois is looking forward to the ongoing support provided by the sponsors, as they begin working on the 6^th Annual Leadership Summit. The next Illinois Youth with Disabilities Leadership Summit is scheduled for July 26 - 28, 2004.

Statewide Independent Living
Council of Illinois