2026 SC Youth Leadership Forum training conference convenes

The South Carolina Youth Leadership Forum annual leadership training conference was held June 21-24 at Presbyterian College in Clinton, bringing together a select group of first-time delegates and peer mentor alumni focused on leadership development for youth with disabilities. The conference included workshops and guest speakers, as well as time for recreation and networking. Speaker topics included leadership, independence, life skills, advocacy and the history of the disability rights movement.

The conference is funded by the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council and organized in partnership with Able South Carolina, Walton Options and AccessAbility.

The leadership program is open to South Carolina residents with disabilities ages 15-23. Fifty-five applications were received for this year’s program. Of the 23 candidates selected, 15 were new delegates and eight were peer mentors. The newly selected delegates represented 10 counties.

Julianna Carr of Beaufort was chosen to serve as a peer mentor after being selected as a delegate to the 2025 class. Reflecting on what she gained from her experience with the Youth Leadership Forum, Carr said:

“This year YLF was beyond amazing. In the short period of time I was at YLF, I had grown tremendously, probably more than I even realize. My favorite part of YLF is not the conventional answer. My favorite part of YLF was being in a community that is truly supportive, understanding and sees me for me and not my disabilities.”

In addition to her work with YLF, Carr was elected chairperson of the Student Stakeholder Work Group in the South Carolina Pathways Project, a disability-led statewide collaborative focused on the transition from high school to adulthood. In a youth spotlight interview for the Pathways Project posted by Able South Carolina, Carr discussed having autism and the empowerment of owning and accepting her disability.

Troy Hall, director of youth transition programs at Able South Carolina, said the goals of the leadership program include fostering disability pride and promoting an environment with no “disability hierarchy.” He said the conference, like other events, follows the concept of universal design to facilitate maximum participation by everyone attending, regardless of the nature of their disability.

Hall said it is essential for people with disabilities to work together and further emphasized the program’s goal of preparing participants for leadership. He said peer mentors facilitate that process because it is often easier for conference participants to begin those conversations with their peers. Hall said the peer mentors help participants feel seen, heard and respected. He added that peer mentors sometimes “nudge” participants toward realizing their leadership abilities.

“It gets them having conversations about the change they want to see. The program sets them on a path to a grander sense of leadership,” he said.

Hall also noted the significance of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, saying “people with disabilities can and must play a role in reshaping America.”

The South Carolina Youth Leadership Forum and Able South Carolina provide additional information about these and other programs on their websites and share comments from conference delegates on their social media pages.

Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.