The Iowa Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) Alumni Survey Measuring Success One Student at a Time BACKGROUND Iowa Improving Transition Outcomes (ITO) is a project to improve transition outcomes for youth with disabilities through the use of intermediaries. ITO is funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U. S. Department of Labor and administered by Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a Division of the Department of Education. A Governance Group of seven state agencies established in 1999 to expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities provides the solid foundation of partnership and commitment to cross-agency collaboration necessary to address and improve transition for youth with disabilities. These seven partner agencies are: Department for the Blind; Department of Education; Department of Human Rights, Division of Persons with Disabilities; Department of Human Services; Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council and Iowa Workforce Development. ITO identified Iowa Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) as an intermediary to improve transition outcomes for youth with disabilities. Since 1999, the Division of Persons with Disabilities (DPWD), a division of Iowa Department of Human Rights, has annually provided a YLF focused on transition for students with disabilities. Youth participants are selected in accordance with the YLF goals of: . Employed and self-sufficient; . Knowledgeable about available resources; and . Connected to role models with disabilities. This five-day leadership training program provides opportunities to at least 30 high school students to: . Learn the history of and how to self- advocate using the ADA; . Discover the culture of disability; . Experience assistive technology designed to enhance independence; . Identify barriers to personal and professional success; and . Develop a “Personal Leadership Plan” to overcome identified barriers. ITO staff initiated discussion with Iowa YLF Program Director Mike Williams on the value of a follow-up survey with YLF alumni in regard to education, employment, civic involvement, personal leadership plans, mentoring relationships, and use of YLF resources and tools. ABOUT THE SURVEY The follow-up survey with YLF alumni from 1999 through 2003 was developed in the spring, conducted in the summer, and completed in the fall of 2004. It was distributed electronically and interns followed up via telephone contact, e-mail, and U.S. mail. ITO provided funding for follow up and data entry; DPWD provided facilities and supervision of the interns. Cyndi Chen, Data Analyst with ITO, developed the survey, provided technical support, and analyzed survey results. “Now I can accept my disability. I don’t see it as a disability. I see people with disabilities actually have a bigger gift than people without disabilities. You can think deeper because you have more struggles in your life. You can actually hit your dreams even more so...” Andrew HIGHLIGHTS OF SURVEY RESULTS . 78% - Survey return rate. 105 of the 135 surveys distributed were returned. . 32% - YLF alumni returned as staff. . 97% - Indicated the YLF experience was important to them. . 67% - Identified their disabilities as mild. . 47% - Living independently. . 51% - Vocational rehabilitation services clients. . 63% - Obtained college degrees or were still enrolled in college. (National Center for Educational Statistics: nationally 53% for students with disabilities and 64% for those without disabilities) . 29% - Had mentors. 26% - Mentored others. . 40% - Encountered discrimination because of disability. . 24% - Identified transportation as the #1 barrier to active participation. Solutions for transportation problems included: . . . Affordable, reliable public tra