Definitely-Abled Advisory Committee (DAC)
DAC is an advisory committee to the BLYO. It helps the BLYO be more inclusive.  The members of this committee are elected from within their own constituency at the DAYLE event held every three years alongside the Youth Gathering. The purpose of DAC is to help the LYO strive to be more inclusive, and to voice the concerns and needs of youth with disabilities. DAC is made up of a chairperson, a secretary, and a liaison to the BLYO. DAC meets twice per year.
 

Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE)
July 19-22, 2009
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel New Orleans, LA

ELCA Youth Ministry is deeply committed to strengthening ministries with definitely-abled young people, as full members of God’s Church and full participants in God’s mission. The leadership development ministry known as DAYLE is carefully designed to bless and empower gifted young people with a wide range of physical and cognitive/emotional differences, so that they might grow as faithful, wise, and courageous witnesses.

Young people at DAYLE will:

• Be invited to claim a powerful kind of hope centered on God’s life for us in the crucified and risen Jesus.
• Learn about ways to take hope home, and live it out in public discipleship and leadership.
• Be invited into deeper participation in the ministries of their congregations, synods, and the ELCA.
• Visit the main Gathering meeting and activity spaces, and take part in an orientation as they prepare to move from DAYLE to the ELCA Youth Gathering.

Who can register for DAYLE? Anyone going to the Gathering who is a:

• Young person with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
• Traveling companion for the young person with disabilities. The Gathering registration fee is waived for these participants, but the $125 DAYLE registration fee applies.

Online registration for DAYLE opens September 15, 2008, and closes January 15, 2009… the same as the ELCA Youth Gathering. The cost is $125 per person (includes housing, meals, and program). Please pass this information along to anyone whom you believe might be interested in participating in DAYLE.

For questions or additional information about DAYLE contact Bill Bixby, Director for ELCA Youth Ministry, at bill.bixby@elca.org or 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2459