The presenter is ready.
YO! Working the booth!
Jake is a go-getter and is extremely active in his community. He has a full schedule every day and downtime is definitely not in his vocabulary. A major priority for Jake continues to be building leadership skills.
This year, he was asked to continue his work with Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud (YO!), a program for leadership opportunities, social networks and resources. He gets a monthly stipend to be an advocate and is often working with others in the organization to develop and present to groups and at conferences on topics such as disability culture, advocacy and social action. The current topic on the agenda is a campaign for anti-bullying.
His work with YO! has inspired Jake to create a group for youth with disabilities in his local San Jose community. He wants to focus on work that is closer to home and feels there is a need he can fill in his own community.
Jake lives on his own with the help of a supported living roommate. He loves where he lives, as it is close to public transportation options and there are shops and a grocery store within walking distance. Staying fit is a priority for Jake and he feels fortunate that his housing complex has a pool and gym. Other physical fitness activities that Jake participates in are track and field at his community college. This is a very exciting part of his day as he can be completely independent in ‘running’ the track using his power wheelchair.