YES! - YOUTH EMPOWERMENT STRATEGIES FOR ALL
Working With Youth Who Have Developmental Disabilities

Creating Inclusion

Nearly 4 million Americans have developmental disabilities that impact their ability to participate in everyday community activities. For youth with developmental disabilities, that often translates into many fewer opportunities to build the skills and self-confidence that all young people need to succeed and thrive into adulthood.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Youth with developmental disabilities can be empowered to become active participants in community programs. It only takes some simple changes -- in facilities, activities, and attitudes -- to make opportunities for positive youth development accessible to everyone. It's not only the youth who will benefit: other young people and adults in your program will be positively influenced by youth who are working hard to become productive, healthy, and happy adults who make contributions in their communities along with others.

Tips for working with youth who have developmental disabilities:

• Use language that puts the person first, i.e., "youth with a disability," rather than "disabled youth."
  
• Make sure that your facilities and transportation are accessible for all youth.
  
• Don't assume that youth need accommodations. Ask them.
  
• Work with each youth and his or her caregivers to set goals that are achievable.
  
• Don't be easier on youth with disabilities. Maintain high expectations.
  
• Rather than making special accommodations that could isolate youth with disabilities, modify activities so all youth can participate fully and equally.
  
• Pair youth with disabilities with other youth and hold team activities.
  
• Create partnerships with organizations that specialize in working with youth with disabilities, such as the Special Olympics.
  
• Teach youth about their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  
• Give youth access to information about assistive technologies that could help them.
  
• Offer materials in multiple formats and for a variety of reading levels.
  
• Show people with disabilities on your program's promotional materials.
  
• Train your staff to work effectively with youth with special needs.
  
• Bring in volunteer mentors or hire staff with disabilities to model self-confidence and success.
  
• Work with youth with and without disabilities in developing activities that can include everyone.
  
• Involve all youth in the program in educating policy makers about public policies that benefit people with disabilities.

Resources

Print
Youth Development and Youth Leadership Background Paper. Authors: A. Edelman, P. Gill, K. Comerford, M. Larson, and R Hare. 2004. Available from the National Collaborative for Workforce and Disability for Youth, www.ncwd-youth.info.

Youth With Special Needs Leaders Handbook: Making 4-H More Accessible. Authors: B. Emerson and N. Wheeler. 2004. Available from California 4-H Youth Development Program, www.ca4h.org/leadership/ambassador/03-04/casa-book.pdf.

Youth Volunteer Corps: Training Manual for Working with Youth Volunteers Who Have Disabilities. Authors: G. White, K. Froehlich, and V. Knight. 2000. Available from Youth Volunteer Corps, 4600 W. 51st Street, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66205; (913) 432-9822. Abstract available from www.nationalserviceresources.org.

Web
Disability Info
www.disabilityinfo.gov

Administration on Developmental Disabilities
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/index.html

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
www.ncset.org

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth)
www.ncwd-youth.info

National Youth Leadership Network
www.nyln.org

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
www.pacer.org

Working With Youth Who Have Developmental Disabilities was developed by the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth (NCFY) for the Family and Youth Services Bureau; Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Administration for Children and Families; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on positive ways to work with youth, please go to ncfy.acf.hhs.gov, or contact NCFY at (301) 608-8098 or ncfy@acf.hhs.gov.