Our Leadership Council

The STEP UP Advisory Council is composed of youth and young adults with and without disabilities.  Council members serve as leaders within their schools, colleges/universities and communities. The Council focuses on issues facing all young people including leadership, self-advocacy, transition, health care, education, employment, recreation and more. The STEP UP Advisory Council is a subcommittee of the overall Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) Advisory Council known as the Community Partnership Advisory Council (CPAC). Advisory members give input on current and potential IDS programs focused on meeting the needs of youth and young adults with disabilities. Anyone is invited to apply to be on the council because everyone has a voice. I want to join! Where do I start? To apply, complete the Member Application. For more information, contact Scott Mullins at: Scott.Mullins@usm.edu, 601.266.6129 or Dawn Lewis at dawn.m.lewis@usm.edu or 601.266.5163.

FAQ’s

• What does STEP UP mean?
  • STEP UP stands for: Starting Today Empowering Peers through Uniting and Participating
• What does STEP UP do?
  • STEP UP promotes leadership abilities and self-advocacy by allowing members to guide and lead themselves.
• The following are STEP UP principles . . .
  • STEP UP officers lead all meetings.
  • STEP UP has fun together as a group.
  • STEP UP focused on the lack of meaningful activities after high school.
  • STEP UP has a monthly fun day/night, a monthly service event and other recreation events throughout the year.
  • STEP UP promotes inclusion.
  • STEP UP includes members with and without disabilities.
• Who can join STEP UP?
  • ANYONE! ANYONE! ANYONE!