Katelyn Rath, a resident of Fairhope, recently took part in the Alabama Governor's Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) held on the campus of Auburn University.

During the Thursday graduation ceremony, Jane Elizabeth Burdeshaw, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), encouraged participants to pursue their passions and appreciate the value of teamwork.

"Each of you has unique talents, abilities and strengths," Burdeshaw said. "I hope you focused on those this week. I hope you learned a lot about other people's strengths and that sometimes we can't be the best at everything, but that's OK. We can hang out with somebody who is the best at that thing and then the two of us together can get things done."

The five-day event provides high school students with disabilities with essential leadership skills through sessions on self-esteem, career exploration, technology, independent living and etiquette.

As part of the camp, participants traveled to Montgomery to meet state leaders. The trip included a tour of the Capitol, the State House and a mentor luncheon, where delegates interacted with and received advice from successful adults with disabilities.

YLF delegates are chosen through a statewide search for students displaying leadership potential. Eligible candidates must be high school juniors or seniors with disabilities, between the ages of 17 and 21.