State honors GB student
Whiney Harris takes part in Youth Leadership Forum
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Whitney Harris, above, recently took part in the statewide Youth Leadership Forum in Tallahassee.

Seventeen year-old Whitney Harris works at Firehouse Subs, is the section leader for the drum line in the Gulf Breeze High School band, enjoys knitting hats and scarves, and likes to hang out with her friends.

Normal teenager? Pretty much, apart from her exceptional attitude towards life and towards the disability she's had since birth. Whitney was born without her right arm or leg.

How does she feel about her disability? "It's kind of fun having a disability. It's fun to find new ways to do stuff and show everybody that they can do it too because I can," Whitney says.

Whitney received a special opportunity to share her experiences with other youth with disabilities this year. She, along with 53 other students from across the state, was invited to participate in the annual Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) in Tallahassee. The event, which is sponsored by The Able Trust, gives young adults with a wide range of disabilities the chance to network, meet with professional and community leaders, and learn to advocate for themselves and other people with disabilities.

At YLF Whitney learned that, "We have a lot of confidence, I don't think I've ever met so many confident kids. We have a lot more power than we think we do. We shouldn't let our disabilities stop us. I learned a great quote: 'don't cope, conquer'."

Each year, at least 50 students with wide ranging disabilities are selected to participate in YLF for their leadership potential through a competitive application process. The fourday session gives these young adults the chance to network with others, attend workshops designed to educate and empower them to pursue meaningful employment and contribute to society, and break down the barriers to independence for themselves and other people with disabilities.

Whitney encourages other young people with disabilities to consider attending YLF next year. "It's so much fun, you're going to learn so much about how to live with your disability and how to be proud of it and how to rise above it. And you meet tons of new friends," she explained.

In addition to learning from YLF alumni, delegates attend social activities and workshops featuring motivational speakers.

"Attending YLF is a lifechanging event for many of the students," says Kristen Knapp, Vice President of Public Relations for The Able Trust. "Delegates come away with the tools and knowledge to go back into their communities and develop a Personal Leadership Plan where they set viable goals for themselves to realize their potential."

Whitney returned home with a sense of empowerment and excitement for her future, which includes attending St. Petersburg College after high school, where she intends to study prosthetics design. "I didn't realize how united we can be. Also there is so much in my community that I didn't know I could be involved in - like the [Able Trust's] High School High Tech program and AmeriCorps. I didn't realize all that was available to me. Now I'm really excited to go and find it and get involved."

Fifty-four student delegates and 25 junior staff members from around the state attended this year's forum. Since the YLF began eight years ago, more than 400 young people with disabilities from across Florida have attended the Forum and used their experience to pursue college, vocational training and employment. Each year, YLF alumni eagerly return to the program as junior and senior staff members to share their experiences with the new YLF delegates. The YLF is cosponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.

For more information about the Florida Youth Leadership Forum, visit www.floridaylf.org.