Some local Massachusetts organizations that promote self-advocacy and leadership:
Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD): We empower youth with disabilities to reach their full potential by providing transformative mentoring programs, youth development opportunities, and inclusion expertise. We offer four direct-service programs for youth with disabilities in the Boston area, provide services to help other organizations become more inclusive, and advocate on behalf of mentoring and inclusion both nationally and internationally.
Easter Seals Youth Services: Easter Seals Massachusetts provides opportunities through their youth leadership network, mentorship, and services such as assessments and skills-based services in the community.
Empowering People for Inclusive Communities (EPIC): equips young people with disabilities to achieve their dreams and lead their local communities. You’re much more likely to meet an EPIC leader volunteering at a local food pantry, working out at the YMCA, or attending Boston’s PRIDE parade than you are to meet them at one of Triangle’s locations. Every day EPIC youth are dedicated to making our schools, companies and communities a better place.
Visions of Community- Youth Forum: attend the Federation for Children with Special Needs annual conference in March and participate in their Youth Forum strands of workshops. Contact us to learn more!!!
Fill out the FCSN Young Adult Advisory Council Application to help give input on the next Visions of Community (VOC) conference. The FCSN Young Adult Advisory Council is a leadership opportunity for young adults with disabilities to design and plan future VOC Conferences for Youth. In 2016 the VOC had their first youth conference called Becoming a Leader Youth Forum. Now the Becoming a Leader/Self Advocacy Forum and College Navigator Forum have become an annual fixture at the VOC.
