What was the initiative?
Youth LEAD (Leading for Equity, Accessibility, and Discovery) was an initiative aimed at creating fully accessible employment and community engagement opportunities that are meaningful for high school students living with disabilities. Additionally, Youth LEAD supported and uplifted student-led disability advocacy groups. Youth LEAD was an asset-based community-driven initiative that is rooted in love, equity, joy, and freedom.
What was the community connection?
During her time as a student at Horton High School, Jami was a member of the Unified basketball team. Unified is a student-led program where students with and without disabilities participate synchronously in basketball games and tournaments. Through her involvement with Unified basketball, post-secondary disability research endeavors, and more personal connections to the disability community, Jami grew passionate about building more accessible and equitable communities by centering individuals with lived experience.