The SPAN Youth Hub

Education is often described as an important step for youth and young adults to find success in the world. However, for those with disabilities, quality education can sometimes be hard to come by. Eye-To Eye National is a community whose goal is to improve education for those with disabilities, in addition to working towards an anti-ableist and inclusive society for all.  They were kind enough to join our Chat this week, so let's dive into the resources that they shared with us .   Featuring… Featured Work From Eye To Eye A major component of Eye To Eye's success is the work of their community. This blog post found on their website features several research  projects created by six young adults. These diverse projects do a great job of advancing education standards for youth with disabilities, while also opening discussions about different issues facing youth of different backgrounds.  The Transitioning Guide, Plus A Shared Story In addition to the research projects,...

Self-advocacy gives youth and young adults with disabilities the confidence to ask for the tools they need to be successful in the real world. The strategy not only benefits youth at home and school, but helps to explain their learning disability to friends and family members.   Let's explore some resources that focus on self-advocacy.   Featuring… Four Steps To Self-Advocacy A great self-advocacy resource comes to us from the Churchill Center & School website.  While there's an entire page of resources available, we're going to focus on the 4 Steps To Self-Advocacy found at the beginning of the page. Know your strengths. Be aware of your weaknesses. Identify strategies to overcome those weaknesses. Effectively communicate those needs to others.  These simple to follow steps can serve as a good inspiration for anyone learning to advocate for themselves.  Adulting Shorts: The Tea On IEPS Like the one discussed before, most of our resources are usually blog po...

Halloween is a nationwide celebration for millions of families. But there is still much work to make it an inclusive holiday for individuals with disabilities .  Read on to learn how families and communities can create an inclusive Halloween in the future.   Featuring… How to Have a Safe Halloween The best part of Halloween isn't the decorations, the costumes, or even the super sweet candy. The best part of Halloween is having the community come together, with youth of all ages and backgrounds showing off their creativity and having fun. Of course, staying safe should also be a top priority, and this YouTube video from the channel   National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)  includes some great ways to stay safe, while also making the spooky season more accessible to everyone.  How to Host An Inclusive Halloween If you're interested in creating a more inclusive Halloween for next year, there's a lot more that can be done to accommodate...

Getting involved in sports is a great way to meet new people, build confidence, and maybe discover a new passion or hobby. From baseball and hockey, to chess and esports, it’s never been easier to find a sport that’s right for you. Featuring… What Are Your Favorite Sports? Some of us have already discovered our favorite sport, while others haven't quite found theirs yet. This is perfectly ok, as choosing a favorite sport doesn't come naturally to everyone. There are many to choose from, and the options can seem overwhelming.  Luckily, there are different ways to find a particular sport that you can enjoy. This can be as easy as getting hooked onto a sport you play for the first time, as explained in this adorable short YouTube video, What Are Your Favorite Sports?  How to Get Into A New Sport So you've discovered a new sport that your interested in. Is there anything you can do, besides playing, to learn more about the sport. The answer is yes! Reading up on the sport's...

Music can have a deep impact on the human mind.  Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.  Let’s learn about the power of music, and how it can benefit us both mentally and physically. Featuring… How Does Music Affect Your Brain? Music has been a part of human history since it's beginning. However, only in recent years have studies shown it's true effects on the brain. This YouTube video from Wired.com explores how listening to music can lead to finding inspiration, improving your mood, and even allowing you to connect with others. Your Brain On Music Music has such an impact on our brains, because each part of our brain responds to music on it's own. We were able to find an interactive map of the brain on ucf.edu. , that goes into detail on how each and every part of the brain has it's own response to the sound of music.  Keep Your Brain Young with Mu...

Whether it’s a future job, an important party, or an everyday hangout, planning is crucial to make sure everything, well, goes to plan! Planning is a skill that not everyone gets right away, but anyone can master over time.  Let’s chat about the do’s and don't's of making plans. Featuring… What Is An Action Plan? Everyone has goals, yet some people seem to be more successful than others in achieving them. That’s because people who accomplish goals at a higher rate are those who have developed a personal action plan. In this short YouTube video, Brian Tracy, an awarded author and public speaker, details 7 different ways to create an Action Plan. Making An Effective Action Plan Part of making a good Action Plan isn't just detailing what you want to happen; equally, it's about avoiding the things you don't want to happen. This blog post from creately.com shows off 6 ways to improve your Action Plan, as well as how to keep your plan updated and flexible, so that if any...

Self-advocacy, the practice of speaking up for your rights and well-being, is a topic I'm sure many of us are familiar with. Every month, as part of the Youth Empowerment series, we touch on different topics relating to self-advocacy; this includes unique and important ways you can advocate for yourself. This time, we're covering special lessons and personal stories about youth learning to become self-advocates. Featuring… Advocacy Activities There are some fun ways to learn about self-advocacy, for those unfamiliar with it. On the explore-work.com  webpage, there are many different ways to explore the topic. There's short videos on self-advocacy, self-reflection journals, guides on taking action, and plenty more. This site is a great hub of resources, each of which can be explored on your own time.  Encouraging Self-Advocacy While self-advocacy relies on making your own decisions and plans, there's nothing stopping your family and friends from offering their support. P...