The Florida Youth Council

Welcome all to the October 2009 issue of The Noodle. The theme for this edition of the ever popular Noodle news letter is “Thoughts on Leadership.” The members were asked to think about what leadership means to them, and how they could express that to others. Members have written about how they are leaders, what leadership means to them, and even about leaders in their lives. All the articles come together to form a pretty diverse look at leadership. I hope you enjoy these articles all about leadership.

Use this link, November 2009 Noodle, to access the electronic version of The November 2009 Noodle.  Printed copies are also available by contacting our office at 888-309-CAFE (2233). 

You can also access a word version of The November 2009 Noodle at this link.

Disability Factorids

Did you know:

In 1984 Gallaudet University, a university for the blind, football quarterback Paul Hubbard created the “huddle” to prevent the opposing team from seeing the signs the Gallaudet team used to communicate their next play to their teammates.

Over 51 million Americans - 18% of the population - are classified as disabled.

The diagnosis of autism is four times more prevalent in males than females.

Baseball hand signals used by umpires to signify balls, strikes, out and safe originate from Outfielder William Hoy’s request to umpires that they use sign language because he was deaf and could not hear the umpires’ verbal calls.

 Visually impaired individuals competed for the 1st time at the 1976 Paralympics in Toronto.

In 1776, Stephen Hopkins referred to his Cerebral Palsy when he signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence saying, “My hands trembles, but myheart does not.”

One in four people will be affected by mentally health in the course of their life.

Florida, the fourth most populous state, ranks third in the number of persons with disabilities. This number is estimated at 2.2 million people with disabilities

The typewriter was invented as a private writing device for a blind member of a royal family.

On June 13, 2008, Governor Charlie Crist signed Senate Bill 856, commonly referred to as The Disability and History Awareness Bill.

In honor of Disability History and Awareness weeks October 1-15, 2009, here are some facts on Disability in America today.

• Senate Bill 856 was promoted by the Florida Youth Council. The members of the FYC worked hard and had  set backs, but were successful during their second year of trying to pass the Disability History and Awareness Legislation
• Florida was the fifth state to pass similar legislation. The first was West Virginia.
• In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act was founded on four principles: inclusion, full participation, economic self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity for all people with disabilities.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law.
• According to the 2000 United States Census there are 3,274,566 people with disabilities living in the State of Florida.
• According to the Florida Department of Education, in October 2008, there were a total of 351,179 K-12 students with disabilities being served in Florida.
• Disability History and Awareness weeks in Florida will lead to better treatment for people with disabilities in society, especially for youth in school, increased attention to preventing the bullying or harassment of students with disabilities, students becoming more likely to hire, retain, and promote people with disabilities as employees once they become adults, increased self-esteem and pride among persons with disabilities, resulting in more of them going to college, entering the workforce, and contributing to their communities and a commitment to the full inclusion of all individuals with disabilities in society.

Welcome all to August 2009 issue of The Noodle. This is a very special issue of The Noodle. Its release corresponds to opening of The 2^nd Annual Youth Summit (AYS). The AYS is the annual conference that the Florida Youth Councils plans and hosts. The articles in this issue are all about the AYS. Some cover the members’ feelings about last year’s summit, and others cover a look forward to this year’s summit. I hope you enjoy these articles all about the AYS!

Use this link, April 2009 Noodle, to access The August 2009 Noodle. Printed copies are also available by contacting our office at 888-309-CAFE (2233). 

You can also access a word version of The April 2009 Noodle at this link.