Project We Lead hoping to recruit

One local leadership group says there are some people who are overlooked for leadership positions because of disabilities, and that’s something they’re hoping to change.

The group is called Project We Lead, and their leaders are currently in the process of asking local businesses for items to be auctioned off for their annual auction in April.

“We wanted to help educate younger people with disabilities that they can do anything they want if they focus on it,” signed Justin Kauffman, Project We Lead president, and interpreted by the group’s secretary Aaron Rold, “and help empower them to become better leaders for their age group.”

Kauffman, who is deaf, said because the organization is fairly new, they are still trying to recruit new members, whether they have disabilities or not.

“It would help us feel like we want to do more, because it’s hard when you have three or four people show up,” Kauffman signed. “So, the more people the better.”

While hearing impairment is something they focus on, they also work with young adults with autism, attention deficit disorder and more. All range and types of people with disabilities are welcome.

Kauffman said sometimes folks with disabilities are at more of a disadvantage by lack of independence than by their disability.

“It’s mainly because our parents or family members basically do everything for them,” he signed. “They’re not giving the disabled person the opportunity to make a mistake and then learn from it.”

Their annual auction in April will help the 501-C3 non-profit raise funds for their outreach efforts.

One of their long-term goals includes being able to have an office for their organization, but they say they can’t achieve any of their goals without the support of the community.

For more information about Project We Lead, you can find them on Facebook here: on.fb.me/1IBrOyc.