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Bringing On the Rural Youth with Disabilities

APRIL has begun an ambitious and beneficial collaboration with rural youth with disabilities, recognizing that the young people of our country are our true leaders. With the support of the University of Kansas RTC on Full Participation in Independent Living (RTC:FPIL), and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation , APRIL focuses on bringing rural youth into the independent living movement by:

Hosting the first large-scale gathering of rural youth with disabilities and CILs at the tenth annual National Conference on Rural Independent Living in Minneapolis.
Continuing the youth pre conference and conference workshops at subsequent conferences in Honolulu and San Antonio
Bringin a youth onto the APRIL Board of Directors

Establishing an ongoing Youth Steering Committee
Establishing an active Youth Group Distribution E-mail to keep rural youth informed.

Providing stipends to youth to help cover the costs of attending Conferences.

Working with a noted photographer to capture the youth involvement at the Conference.

Providing support for a Kent State University Student Intern to work at the APRIL office throughout the school year.

Developing a reciprocal relationship with Kent State University through use of interns, practicum placements and student volunteers.

For more information contact Mike Beers
mikebbal@aol.com