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NCD Youth Advisory Committee
Charter
Bylaws
Members
Meetings
Minutes
Reports and Documents
Resources
DFO
Youth
Advisory Committee Charter RENEWAL
Official Designation: Youth
Advisory Committee
Scope and Objectives: The
Committee will provide advice to the National Council on Disability
(NCD) on various issues such as NCD’s planning and priorities.
NCD is seeking this type of input in order to make sure NCD’s
activities and policy recommendations respond to the needs of youth
with disabilities.
Duration: The Committee will
consist of 12 youth and young adult members representing the interests
of each federal region. Two of these members will be high school
students. The Committee will exist for two years from the date of
this Charter, unless earlier renewed.
Reporting Relationship: The
Committee reports to the National Council on Disability’s
Executive Committee.
Support: The National Council
on Disability will support the Committee’s activities.
Duties: The Committee will
provide advice and recommendations only.
Costs: The estimated annual
operating costs associated with supporting the Committee’s
functions are estimated to be $25,000 per year, including all direct
and indirect expenses. It is estimated that .2 of an FTE will be
required to support this Committee.
Meetings: It is anticipated
that the Committee will meet at least 4 times per year. This will
include three times via teleconference and one face-to-face meeting.
Organization: NCD will create
any subcommittee which may be necessary to fulfill the Committee’s
mission. NCD and the Committee will establish such operating procedures
as required to support the group, consistent with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, as amended.
Date of Termination: The
Committee will terminate 2 years from the date of the charter filing,
unless sooner renewed.
Charter Renewal Date:
October 29, 2003
Ethel D. Briggs
Executive Director
Youth
Advisory Committee Bylaws Section
1. Purpose: The National Council on Disability (NCD) Youth
Advisory Committee (YAC) was established as a non-paid advisory
body to include youth and young adult perspectives in carrying out
the mission of NCD. This is to ensure that NCD's activities and
policy recommendations incorporate the needs of youth with disabilities.
NCD's mission is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures
that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities,
regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to support
the empowerment of individuals with disabilities to achieve economic
self-sufficiency, independent living, inclusion and integration
into all aspects of society.
Section 2. Functions: In
an advisory role to NCD, the YAC will perform the following duties:
- Advise NCD on matters (e.g., economic, educational,
employment, housing, social, transportation, and technological)
related to the needs of children, youth and young adults with
disabilities.
- Review and provide comments on NCD's priorities
and projects.
- Select a reasonable number of issues and activities
among NCD's priorities for YAC concentration.
- Enhance NCD's knowledge about how the lives of
children, youth, and young adults are affected by the implementation
and enforcement of federal legislation (e.g. The
Americans With Disabilities Act, Individuals
With Disabilities Education Act, Carl
D. Perkins Vocational Education Amendments, Perkins
Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, Higher
Education Act, Fair
Housing Act, Assistive
Technology Act, Rehabilitation
Act Amendments, Ticket
to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, Aircraft
Carriers Access Act, and Workforce
Investment Act); advise NCD on compliance issues and recommend
policy changes.
Section 3. Membership: The
YAC, whose members shall be appointed by NCD, shall be comprised
of a balanced, culturally diverse membership, representing a variety
of disabilities and locations across the United States as to represent
the 10 federal regions
- The Youth Advisory Committee shall be comprised
of twelve members with diverse backgrounds and a variety of disabilities.
Two of the twelve positions are specifically designated for youth
who are currently enrolled in a high school curriculum. Each member
can be appointed for a three-year term. Terms of appointment may
be staggered to ensure that a portion of the experienced members
are retained during transition of newly appointed members. Selection
of members and their terms shall be determined by NCD; members
will serve until succeeded.
- A member who is absent, without due cause from
two consecutive public meetings and who does not contribute to
the tasks undertaken by the assigned workgroup and/or designated
work of the full committee may be recommended for termination.
After consultation with the DFO, the YAC Chair will notify such
members of this recommendation in writing, using an accessible
format (e.g., e-mail, electronic documentation, Braille, large
print, cassette) and will request that NCD appoint a replacement.
- In the event that a member vacates his/her position,
the Chair will, within 5 days after receipt of the resignation,
notify NCD's DFO, General Counsel/Director of Policy Team and
Counsel Liaison and request a replacement.
- YAC members will serve without compensation except
that NCD will reimburse each member for agreed upon reasonable
and necessary expenses incurred in attending the face-to-face
meeting (See Section 4, Paragraph A) as well as performing assigned
functions and duties, if funds are available. Reimbursable expenses
shall be determined by NCD.
Section 4. Meetings:
- The YAC shall hold at least four public meetings
within a fiscal year in order to provide timely advice to NCD
prior to its scheduled quarterly meetings. With the approval of
the DFO, the YAC shall determine the time, place, and manner of
meetings, including one annual face-to-face meeting.
- All public meetings are open to the public and
will be held in accessible facilities. Announcements and proceedings
of all meetings and documents related to the functions of the
YAC will be available in accessible format and in a language that
the general public can understand.
- To comply with Federal law requirements for public
notice, the announcement of all public meetings will be provided
to the DFO for transmittal to the NCD public information officer
no less than thirty days before the meeting date for publication
in the Federal Register. Information about the 30-day notice shall
also be provided to YAC members.
- The YAC's meeting agenda will be presented in
a consistent structure, with flexibility when appropriate to address
new matters (e.g., welcome and introductions, project, team, and/or
work group briefing, discussion of relevant policy issue(s), reaching
consensus on any item(s) intended as advice or recommendations
to NCD, determination of next assignments with timelines for completion,
announcements, and adjournment).
- With the approval of the Designated Federal Official
(DFO), special public meetings of the YAC may be called by the
Chair or upon the consensus of one-third of the members and made
known to the Chair who shall notify all YAC members and the NCD
public affairs staff no less than 30 calendar days prior to the
meeting stating the purpose. No other business may be transacted
at a special public meeting .
- Operational meetings or work group sessions to
discuss the operations and procedures of the YAC may be called
from time to time. Work groups will report relevant suggestions
in the next public meeting. Members designated to participate
in workgroups will be notified at least ten business days prior
to the date of the discussion to allow for reasonable accommodation
arrangements, as needed.
- Each YAC member is entitled to one vote on all
matters before the Advisory Committee. All decisions of the YAC
shall be made by a majority vote of members in attendance. No
proxies will be accepted in place of a member for purposes of
voting.
Section 5. Officers: The
officers of the YAC shall include a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary.
- The Chair will:
1. Preside at all YAC public meetings.
2. Exercise general oversight and coordination of the affairs
of the YAC.
3. Authenticate by his/her signature, all YAC actions, documents
of advice, and recommendations to NCD.
4. Implement the organizational structure and procedural of the
YAC.
5. Report the YAC activities and accomplishments at the face-to-face
meeting.
6. Recommend appointments to internal workgroups for purposes
of collecting youth perspectives, sharing information, increasing
knowledge about policy issues and the enforcement of laws, information
dissemination and outreach to other youth and young adults.
7. Solicit areas of interest regarding the identified NCD projects
and issues and designate YAC members for shared leadership of
internal workgroups.
- The Vice-Chair will:
1. Perform the duties of the Chair in the event of the absence
or incapacitation, or at the request of the Chair.
2. Automatically succeed to the position of Chair in case of a
vacancy in that position and serve until the next election.
3. Coordinate the activities of all special internal workgroups
and where leaders have been designated maintain communication
and provide assistance, as needed.
4. Assist with the planning of public meetings and internal discussions,
as appropriate.
- The Secretary will:
1. Assist with note-taking tasks for public meetings, share notes
and collaborate with the DFO.
2. Serve on the Executive Committee with input equivalent to the
Chair and Vice-Chair.
3. Develop summary notes from Executive Committee discussions
and assist with editing prior to posting information for the public
through the YAC newsletter.
4. Assist with keeping a record of YAC accomplishments for the
fiscal year.
- Officers will have such other duties as prescribed
by these By-Laws.
- Officers will be elected by the YAC and shall
serve for one year or until their successors are elected. Officers
shall be elected at the face-to-face meeting and shall assume
responsibility at the beginning of the fiscal year (see section
8).
- No officers may be elected to the same position
for more than two consecutive years.
Section 6. Conflict of Interest:
In the event that an issue, proposal or similar matter is presented
to the YAC, resulting in a potential conflict of interest, the affected
YAC member shall recuse him or herself from any discussion involving
the matter, except for points of clarification requested by the
YAC, and will not vote on the pending matter. For the purpose of
these By-Laws, a conflict of interest situation would exist when
work that a YAC member is performing for another organization, state,
local, or federal agency and the interests of that entity are likely
to be impacted by advice or recommendations that the YAC makes to
NCD.
Section 7. Term Year: The
term year of the YAC shall be the same as that of the fiscal year
for NCD (October 1 through September 30).
Section 8. General Communication
and Official Statements:
- The designated NCD Staff (DFO) and NCD Council/Board
Liaisons to the YAC will provide guidance to the YAC as a unit
and, as appropriate, to individual members.
- Questions about operational procedures of the
YAC or its internal discussions should be respectfully referred
to the NCD Staff (DFO) and NCD Council/Board Liaisons and chair.
- Statements in the name of the YAC shall be made
by the Chair, or in his/her absence by the Vice-Chair or designee.
The Chair will speak, write and act on behalf of the YAC on issues
consistent with the functions, objectives and purposes of Section
1 and Section 2.
Section 9. Ethics and Member Responsibilities:
The members of the YAC will:
- Participate actively in at least one internal
workgroup to carry out tasks based on NCD projects or priorities
annually.
- Be sensitive to the needs of individuals with
disabilities and their families.
- Be aware of the role and goals of the YAC to ensure
consistency with NCD's mission and goals.
- Be regular in attendance at and participation
in meetings.
- Participate actively in the work that NCD requires
of the YAC.
- Respect other members' viewpoints, opinions, values,
and professional standards. This includes keeping the lines of
communication open, relating to one another in a courteous, professional
manner regarding NCD business matters, as well as setting and
maintaining boundaries between official business and social or
informal environments.
- Support the leadership of the YAC.
- Make official statements on behalf of the YAC
only when authorized by the YAC to do so (see Section 8, Paragraph
C.) Such official statements may be made only after the official
Committee position is formulated consistent with NCD positions.
- In public conversation and in written communication,
state clearly whether speaking as individuals or on behalf of
the YAC. If the YAC has not formulated a position on a matter,
the member has an obligation to make this known before speaking
as an individual regarding the matter.
- Refrain from using YAC membership as a basis for
obtaining personal benefit or privilege.
Section 10. Other Procedures:
Consistent with these By-Laws, the Advisory Committee may establish
other procedures to guide its operations.
Section 11. Parliamentary Authority:
Unless other procedures are established by the YAC at the commencing
of a meeting, Robert's
Rules of Order Revised (Rules), will govern the conduct of business
at all meetings. These Rules are applicable unless in conflict with
these By-Laws.
Section 12. Amendments: Any
proposed amendment to these By-Laws shall be consistent with the
content of the YAC's charter. Any member of the YAC may propose
and will present to the Chair an amendment in accessible format.
The Chair will notify the members of the YAC of the proposed amendment
at least thirty calendar days prior to the public meeting at which
it is to be voted upon. A two-thirds vote of those members present
is required for ratification. An amendment shall become effective
upon ratification of NCD (See Section 13).
Section 13. Ratification:
The By-Laws of all NCD advisory committees will be ratified by NCD.
I, the undersigned, certify that the above is a complete
and accurate copy of the By-Laws as approved by these members of
the National Council On Disability Youth Advisory Committee on October
15, 2003 and edited on March 8, 2004:
Isaac Huff, Chair and Rebecca Hare, Vice –
Chair
Youth
Advisory Committee Members Jeremy Block - Postsecondary
Advocate
Sam Bynum - Postsecondary Advocate
Zachary Damon - High School Student Advocate
Stephanie Enyart - Postsecondary Advocate
Alexandria A. Fearn, Student/Advocate
Rebecca Hare, Student/Advocate
Renaldo Hemphill, Student/Advocate
Issac Huff, Student/Advocate
Denna Lambert, Student/Advocate
Amy Litzinger - High School Student Advocate
Miranda Pelikan - Postsecondary Advocate
Johnathan Perelman - Postsecondary Advocate
Marco Rodriguez, NCD Member and Liaison to Youth Advisory
Youth Advisory Committee
Meetings 2004 Meetings
July
23, 2004
2003 Meetings
August
20, 2003
February
5, 2003
2002 Meetings
December
12, 2002
October
23, 2002
June
13, 2002
April
10, 2002
February
27, 2002
2001 Meetings
August 6, 2001
March
14, 2001
2000 Meetings
November
15, 2000
Youth Advisory Committee
Minutes 2004 Minutes
April
30, 2004
January
23, 2004
2003 Minutes
October
27, 2003
March
21, 2003
January
24, 2003
2002 Minutes
October
23, 2002
September
18, 2002
July
24, 2002
June
13, 2002
April
10, 2002
February
27, 2002
2001 Minutes
August
6, 2001
March
14, 2001
2000 Minutes
November
15, 2000
July
25, 2000
Youth
Advisory Committee Reports and Documents How
do students with disabilities pay for college? (April 24, 2003)
Youth
Advisory Committee Perspectives on the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act: Youth with Disabilities and Others Respond (November
20, 2002)
Youth
Advisory Committee Quarterly Reports, Fiscal Year 2002 (November
2002)
Responding
to the Challenge of Empowerment, Remarks to the National Coalition
for Students with Disabilities, by Eric M. Peebles (July 25, 2002)
What
Works For Youth: Programs That Achieve Results (May 16, 2002)
We
Want to Hear From You! (May 16, 2002)
Speak
Out: Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities (November 2001)
Youth
Advisory Committee Resources Ben's
Guide to the U.S. Government for Kids
Youth
Advisory Committee Designated Federal Official Gerrie
Drake Hawkins, Ph.D.
Program Analyst
National Council on Disability
ghawkins@ncd.gov
202-272-2116
202-272-2074 TTY
202-272-2022 fax |
