The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) program seeks to empower young people with developmental and other disabilities to further develop their leadership skills. Students, serving as Delegates from communities throughout Virginia, participate in a wide range of activities and learning experiences during this summer program set on a university campus. Scroll down and click on any section below to expand more information, links and forms.
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities Training Program Code of Ethics
The Youth Leadership Academy is Virginia's premiere opportunity for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with disabilities to participate in customized learning and fun through personal, career, advocacy, and leadership development activities.
Each class size is limited and students will be selected through a highly competitive application process. Those chosen will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop themselves and make brand new lifelong friends!
Delegates will learn directly from peer mentors and successful adult role models while they work on their own personal leadership plans, enhance their communications skills, and have a chance to speak directly to state legislators and policymakers, plus much more. Best of all, all expenses are paid by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities!
The 2023 Youth Leadership Academy will be held in-person and is tentatively scheduled for either the second or third week in July. VBPD will announce the dates and location on our website and Facebook page as soon as they are available. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, April 7, 2023. Apply online at vbpd.virginia.gov. Apply today!
2023 Youth Leadership Academy Application - PDF
The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) seeks students from across Virginia to serve as Delegates to its Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who want to become leaders in their schools and communities are strongly encouraged to apply for the honor of serving as a YLA delegate.
Student delegates demonstrate:
The YLA program is held in the summer on a university campus. Twenty-five Virginia high school students with developmental and other disabilities are selected to receive full scholarships to participate in this leadership development program.
For more information about YLA, contact us at Training@vbpd.virginia.gov or 800-846-4464.
The YLA program seeks to develop personal, leadership and career development skills in young people with developmental or other disabilities. Based on the California model of youth leadership development, YLA recruits rising high school juniors and seniors with disabilities who have demonstrated leadership potential and motivation.
To be eligible for YLA, the student must:
The VBPD uses the definition below to determine eligibility:
For more information on YLA, please contact:
VBPD Training Programs
Training@vbpd.virginia.gov
804-786-3441
or
info@vbpd.virginia.gov
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities / YLA
1100 Bank St, 7th Fl
Richmond, VA 23219
800-846-4464 (TTY/voice)
Have you given a presentation? Volunteered your time? Completed a goal from your personal leadership plan?
If you’re a Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) graduate, we want to hear from you. Accomplishments of all types are welcome, especially those involving community activities. The Board wants to highlight young leaders, and we know your participation in school and volunteer activities will inspire others.
Submit brief details on our form, or share photos, videos (under 3 min.), or documents to training@VBPD.virginia.gov
Thank YOU for helping us keep YLA in the news!