A young person with Autism walks into the War Room of the New York State Capital building.  His nerves are telling him to run and hide.  His colleagues encourage him to move forward into the organized chaos of a disability rights rally. 

Quiet at first, this young person soon is overwhelmed by the strengthening energy of the 300 advocates around him and raises his voice to speak and chant with his new-found fellowship. “We who believe in freedom will not rest ‘til we have our choice!” 

This young “autistic”, as he proudly refers to himself, is empowered to speak up for his needs, rights, and knows that his voice can and will affect positive change in his life and the lives of his peers.

Access to Independence’s (ATI) Youth in Power program puts young people with disabilities in the driver’s seat.  Young people have the right to make choices, determine their future, and advocate for their voice to be heard within the systems that serve them.  Locally, Youth in Power aims to provide youth peer support and opportunities to help participants Lead, Empower, Advocate, Recreate, and Network (LEARN).  Youth in Power can help young people become more involved in the local community through event planning and assistance, volunteerism, and even systems advocacy. 

For example, Cortland County experiences high rates of school drop-out, low standardized test scores, and over-used IEP Diplomas (certificate of attendance). Is this due to ever-increasing Board of Regents standards? Or is it due to the lack of understanding that an IEP Diploma is meaningless if a person wants to attend college or seek competitive employment?  Or is it due to the lack of empowered young voices in the area? 

While each of these plays a major role, the fact is that when young people feel as though they are listened to and respected for their opinions, they truly value their choices.  When young people have a support system which includes their empowered young peers, they find strength in numbers.

Currently, the NYS Education Department is investigating possible changes to graduation requirements.  These changes, both negative and positive, include: raising the standards by increasing the necessary passing grade percentage from 65% to 80%; eliminating the Local Diploma leaving all students with only the option of Regents Diploma; affording students with more options of Regents they desire to take; and reforming the IEP Diploma to show aptitude and skill allowing the recipient to pursue their educational and career goals.

It is imperative that young people have a true say in the education reform process to ensure that the needs of students are considered and to guarantee that students leaving high school are prepared for life afterwards and not just simply “learning to take tests”.  Furthermore, we need to support young people to take part in this process and take action to change the system.

While Cortland County offers a variety of services for its youth, the 900+ disadvantaged youth and youth with disabilities remain underserved. Fortunately, the Cortland Area Communities That Care (CACTC) Coalition provides a forum for a number of key community organizations to work earnestly to close these gaps in services. This is essential in order to ensure that those youth avoid risks that lead to problem behaviors, including substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school drop-out and violence. Access to Independence of Cortland County, Inc. is a proud supporter and contributor to the CACTC Coalition.

Access to Independence encourages youth to become involved with activities and organizations that allow them to have a voice.  As the slogan goes, “Nothing About Us, Without Us!”

For more information on Youth in Power or on the priorities of the local youth movement, please contact Aaron T. Baier, Youth Transition Coordinator, at 607-753-7363, or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .