Youth Advisory Committee for the National Council on Disability (YAC-NCD)
Nothing About Us Without Us!

Purpose and Role
The Youth Advisory Committee is a volunteer group. It was formed to provide the National Council on Disability with youth perspectives. The YAC only gives advice and recommendations to NCD. The information is used so that NCD can better understand how the implementation and enforcement of laws, issues and policies can affect youth with disabilities. The YAC reports to NCD through a federal official and a liaison from NCD. They report YAC's information to NCD through monthly updates and quarterly reports.

Structure
The Youth Advisory Committee has 12 members ages 16-25. Two of the members are high school students and the other 10 are not high school students. The committee leadership is the YAC Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Outreach/Networking Workgroup Chair and Policy Workgroup Chair. Every YAC member is on one of the two Workgroups and that is where the bulk of the work is done. With all of the youth having different experiences living with their disabilities in various places across the country, this is easily done. All of the work of the YAC is able to be performed as a result of the bylaws that have been approved by the NCD.

Goals
The Youth Advisory Committee seeks to perform its role of giving advice to NCD on disability issues effecting youth. The YAC is always willing and able to participate in NCD projects. This includes, but is not limited to, NCD opportunities for information gathering and awareness raising among youth and young adults. The YAC provides this type of national level input to assure that NCD proposals reflect the needs of youth with disabilities.
Areas of work by the Youth Advisory Committee

YAC Focus:
School Transition
New areas of interest to youth with disabilities

Policy Workgroup:
Education Issues
Employment Issues

Outreach/Networking Workgroup:
Resources list
Brochure on YAC

Past Accomplishment
Youth Voices on Capitol Hill (2005)
“Students with Disabilities Face Financial Aid Barriers” paper (2003)

*Topics listed about are subject to change.

Vision Statement

The Youth Advisory Committee provides youth specific input on public policy to the National Council on Disability. In addition, the YAC seeks ways to unite young people with disabilities through community participation, education and full-inclusion.

Contact the Youth Advisory Committee
Send Questions about YAC to YOUTH@NCD.GOV
TTY: (202) 272-2074
Fax: (202) 272-2022
Attention YOUTH
www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/youth/youth.htm