Independence Now strives to offer leadership opportunities to youth with disabilities through a statewide leadership program called the Maryland Youth Leadership Forum (MD-YLF).  MD-YLF is a program for rising youth with disabilities who are juniors and seniors in high school.  In the most recent solicitation for applications for MD-YLF, over 90% of the applicants were youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

MD-YLF invites approximately 30 students from across the state to come to a 3-day Forum held at the college campus of Towson State University.  While living on campus, students are taught about leadership and the active roles they can play in their communities to become our leaders of tomorrow.  They learn everything from self-advocacy and leadership skills to the history of the disability and civil rights movements.  The students also meet leaders with disabilities from across the state and learn how to prepare and present legislative testimony.  Alumni from previous years return as volunteers or staff in subsequent years.  Alumni also participate in the planning process completed by the MD-YLF Advisory Committee to help the Forum improve each year.  There are MD-YLF alumni supporting events throughout the year as well as a Facebook page for them to keep in touch.  Ultimately, the MD-YLF experiences will help guide students to advocate for themselves and grow as individuals.

Learn more and apply for the 2026 Maryland Youth Leadership Forym (MD-YLF) (https://www.innow.org/mdylf/)