The Young Adult Leadership Council is a yearlong leadership and advocacy program run by the National Center for Learning Disabilities. It brings together people ages 18–24 who identify as having a learning disability or who have persistent difficulties with reading, writing, or math.
Members build advocacy, communication, and leadership skills through virtual learning, a collaborative project, and policy engagement. The 2026 cohort is closed, and NCLD asks prospective applicants to check the program page again in Fall 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Access to a private online community, monthly interactive virtual training, and self-paced learning modules.
- Mentorship, possible internship opportunities, and networking with alumni and professionals.
- Participation in LD Day of Action in Washington, D.C.; NCLD covers travel, meals, and hotel for the trip.
- An opportunity to co-author or illustrate a children’s book about learning disabilities or neurodiversity, plus NCLD merchandise.
- The page advertises no cash award and lists no participation fee; the funding classification is Free.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be ages 18–24.
- Applicants should identify as having a learning disability; a formal diagnosis is not required for people with persistent struggles in reading, writing, or math.
- Applicants must be interested in state and federal advocacy and able to attend monthly meetings.
- Applicants should be interested in co-authoring or illustrating a children’s book and in developing self-advocacy, leadership, and communication skills.
- Applicants must not be participating in a similar national program at the same time.
- NCLD encourages applicants who entered the workforce after high school instead of pursuing a four-year degree; it states no degree, nationality, residency, or gender restriction.
Can you apply?
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Age requirement
18–24 yrs
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Application process
- 1Check the official YALC page in Fall 2026, when NCLD says prospective applicants should return for the next application window.
- 2When applications reopen, review the current eligibility details and schedule, then follow the official application link on the program page.
- 3Complete the online application by the deadline NCLD publishes for the new cohort.
Program timeline
Inform and Empower phase with virtual training and self-paced modules.
January–March 2026
Skill Development phase and collaborative group project.
April–June 2026
Implementation phase, including LD Day of Action in Washington, D.C.
June–September 2026
Changemakers in Action phase and transition to the alumni network.
September–December 2026
Prospective applicants should check the official page for the next application window; no exact opening date is published.
Fall 2026