Danielle is 18 years old and is a student at Capuchino High School. She hopes to major in Political Science and minor in Legal Studies so that she can become a Disability Rights Attorney. Danielle enjoys traveling, meeting new people, writing, and anything that has to do with art, especially music and theatre. She has been a part of YO! since January of 2012. Danielle says, "YO! has allowed me to get connected with amazing youth with disabilities that have become a second family to me. I absolutely love the fact that everyone involved with YO! is immensely dedicated and really wants to educate and encourage change as much as I do. I know that when a group of passionate people get together, as they do with YO!, amazing things can happen." Danielle says that YO! has impacted her life by "giving me a way to connect with the disability community and, in turn, given me an opportunity to help inspire my peers with disabilities. It has also impacted my life by reassuring my view that having a disability is an opportunity and something that I should take pride in, rather than something I should be ashamed of."

Youth Volunteer Corps Danielle F. Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities – San Mateo, CA

Alex is 19 years old and attends Santa Rosa Junior College. When asked what he wants to do in the future, Alex says "I want to do it all. I want to be involved in social work because I enjoy the idea of making life better one family at a time. I also want to be a rapper and tour largely in less developed nations. I'd be a rapper with a social conscience. I'd inspire a generation, and bring it back to when lyrics mattered, with disability being a prominent feature of the story I want to tell." Alex enjoys running, reading, writing, hanging out with his nephew and exploring aimlessly. Alex has been a YO! Volunteer since 2011. Alex says what he likes about YO!'s atmosphere is it's an unceasing thirst for advocacy and supportive staff with hearts of true comrades.

Youth Volunteer Corps Alex B. Disability Services and Legal Center – Santa Rosa, CA

Sara is 20 years old and a student at Foothill College. She would like to get her Masters Degree in Social Work and become a Social Worker to support those going through difficult times. Sara has been a part of YO! since the fall of 2009 as a Youth Organizer and a YO! Volunteer. Sara says, "I like how the program works to bring together youth and adult allies so that the youth can be inspired from their adult allies."

Youth Volunteer Corps Sara M. Silicon Valley Independent Living Center – San Jose, CA

Jonny is 19 years old and a student at Cal State LA. He hopes to be a high school counselor and to get more youth involved to make a difference in the disability community. Jonny enjoys hanging out with friends, listening to music and being on the computer. He has been a part of YO! since March 2010, working on the Disability History campaign, as well as outreach, as a YO! volunteer. He likes how YO! is mainly youth driven, how youth get things going and they know what they want. Jonny says "YO! has impacted my life by giving me the opportunities and tools and chance to meet others and do public speaking. It has given me a lot of friends and getting to meet other people who are passionate about the same things I am".

Youth Volunteer Corps Jonny V. Southern California Rehabilitation Services – Downey, CA

Katie is 17 years old and attends River City High School in West Sacramento. She plans to attend a UC or CSU in a year and would like to become an attorney or go into social work. She loves to read, cook and bake. Katie has been a part of YO! since September 2010. She says, "I love YO! because I feel like I am being proactive and making a difference, however slight, for disabled people all over California. YO! has given me the self confidence to be independent and to be my own advocate. It has helped me to realize that I am significant and I have a purpose."

Youth Volunteer Corps Katie L. California Foundation for Independent Living Centers – Sacramento, CA

Ron is 23 years old and attends the College of Marin. He is majoring in English and wants to be a writer or journalist. His dream is to be a screenwriter. Ron has been involved in YO! since January 2011 and has worked as a YO! Volunteer, on outreach and on the Disability History Campaign. Ron says, "I like YO! because it's an opportunity for me and others to help out the disabled community. I get to learn about disability issues that have never really crossed my and I get to do something about it such as anti-bullying and bringing awareness to the general public."

Youth Volunteer Corps Ron L. Marin Center for Independent Living – Marin County, CA

Penelope is 21 years old and attends Sacramento City College. She is planning to get her license to teach pre-school. Penelope's hobbies include volunteering and hanging out with family and friends. Penelope has been a part of YO! since 2009 when she attended the Disability History Youth Summit. She has worked as YO! volunteer, as a campaign organizer for Disability History Week, on Disability Mentoring Day and has done lots of outreach. Penelope likes going to conferences and getting first-hand experience working at CFILC. She says "YO! has taught me that I am not alone, that there are many youth and adults with disabilities, YO! has also taught me that it is ok and important to be proud of yourself and be proud of your disabilities because that's who you are and it makes you unique in your own way."

Youth Volunteer Corps Penelope D. California Foundation for Independent Living Centers – Sacramento, CA

Danielle is 18 years old and is a student at Capuchino High School. She hopes to major in Political Science and minor in Legal Studies so that she can become a Disability Rights Attorney. Danielle enjoys traveling, meeting new people, writing, and anything that has to do with art, especially music and theatre. She has been a part of YO! since January of 2012. Danielle says, "YO! has allowed me to get connected with amazing youth with disabilities that have become a second family to me. I absolutely love the fact that everyone involved with YO! is immensely dedicated and really wants to educate and encourage change as much as I do. I know that when a group of passionate people get together, as they do with YO!, amazing things can happen." Danielle says that YO! has impacted her life by "giving me a way to connect with the disability community and, in turn, given me an opportunity to help inspire my peers with disabilities. It has also impacted my life by reassuring my view that having a disability is an opportunity and something that I should take pride in, rather than something I should be ashamed of."

Youth Volunteer Corps Danielle F. Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities – San Mateo, CA

Rosie is 17 years old and attends Mira Costa College. She is planning to get her Masters in Psychology to become a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. She is interested in photography, playing the guitar and traveling. Rosie has been a part of YO! since September 2010 and has worked on the Disability History campaign, as well as working as a YO! Volunteer. She likes YO! because "it's all youth organized. We are part of a big family. They take in all that we say and we all work well together. Teamwork makes it happen." Rosie also says that YO! has impacted her life by "making me more aware of who I am. Being able to have more confidence in presenting and it personally affects me. I can contribute to the disability community."

Youth Volunteer Corps Rosie M. Mira Costa College – San Diego, CA

Phred is 20 years old and attends Peralta Community College. She is currently taking Theatre Art classes. Phred enjoys dancing and strives to be happy, healthy and a viable part of her community. Phred has been a part of YO! since September of 2009 and has worked on the Disability History campaign, outreach and as a YO! volunteer. Phred says, "I like the community support and the connections and resources that YO! allows me to have. It has given me pride and the sense of disability identity".

Youth Volunteer Corps Phred S. Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco – San Francisco, CA

Aisha is 21 years old and a student at Contra Costa College. She wants to be a youth advocate and travel all around the world and help people with disabilities. Aisha also wants to open her own restaurant and become a chef. She hopes to attend culinary school. Aisha enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends, her YO! family, shopping, photography, baking, scrapbooking, kayaking, running and going to San Francisco. She has been a part of YO! since May of 2010 and has worked on the Disability History Campaign as a YO! volunteer. She enjoys YO! because she's met and worked with amazing people and YO! offers a lot of cool events. Aisha says "YO! teaches me about advocating on my own behalf and issues that I'm passionate about. Advocating has made me feel more confident and stronger as a leader in my community. YO! is a team of YO! members that work together. I have learned about famous people with disabilities while attending high school. YO! has made me stronger and more outgoing. I can express my disability to other people. When I am around other youth and the YO! staff they all make me feel very comfortable."

Youth Volunteer Corps Aisha K. Center for Independent Living Centers – Berkeley, CA

Nick is 21 years old and has been a part of YO! since August of 2010, working on the Disability History campaign and outreach as a YO! Volunteer. Nick enjoys reading magazines, hanging out with friends, basketball and taking photos. He loves making timelines and figuring out dates for life events like the year he was born or when he went to high school. Nick says that YO! "gives me different subject to talk about to the students at the high school. It has boosted my self confidence and self esteem in presentations when going out and public speaking. YO! has impacted my life tremendously… When I thought I was younger certain things I was not able to do. I have found myself and my identity as a person with a disability."

Youth Volunteer Corps Nick R. Resources for Independence, Central Valley – Fresno, CA

Addy is 18 years old and a student at Moorpark College. In the future she not only wants to educate a lot of people about disabilities and disability pride, but also become an animal trainer. Addy loves to act, sing and play percussion. She also loves animals. Addy has been a YO! Volunteer since Fall 2011. She likes how YO! advocates for disabled people and shows that having a disability isn't a bad thing. Addy says that YO! has "shown me that I can help people that have disabilities and that I can be proud that I have a disability. And no one should say I can't do anything because of my disability."

Youth Volunteer Corps Addy H. Independent Living Resource Center – Santa Barbara, CA

Jamie is 19 years old and is graduating from American High School in Fremont the summer of 2011. She is thinking of becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant or a Special Education Teacher. She enjoys singing, hanging with friends and Facebook. Jamie has been a part of YO! since September of 2010 and has worked on the Disability History campaign and outreach as a YO! volunteer. She likes YO! because she can interact with other youth and help out the disabled community. Jamie says "YO! has impacted my life because it made me more open with disabilities in the community".

Youth Volunteer Corps Jamie C. Community Resources for Independent Living – Hayward, CA