Our Theory of Change
Young people with disabilities and special health care needs will have control over their own lives and futures. This will be achieved through:
~ informing youth about their rights ~
~ providing peer support and training ~
~ changing systems to include us ~
KASA's Guiding Principles:
- We take risks in our own lives and as an organization. We can take risks because we know we'll have support and our experiences are showing us that we can do this and be successful.
- We need to increase the visibility and support for youth with disabilities and special health care needs. We will have enough KASA youth members at adult and youth conferences and meetings in order to be noticed and visible and to provide support to one another.
- We make it a priority to hire youth with disabilities and special health care needs when we have the opportunity.
KASA's Mission Statement (what KASA believes the project should focus on)
Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) is a project created by youth with disabilities for youth to educate society about issues concerning youth with a wide spectrum of disabilities and health care needs. KASA believes in supporting self-determination, creating support networks and proactive advocacy for all youth with disabilities in our society.
Our Vision
Our goal is to increase understanding of disability and health care rights as they relate to youth with disabilities and health care needs.
KASA will empower youth to learn how to advocate for themselves and others through better knowledge in areas such as school, health care, technology, and other current issues related to youth.
Through this education youth will start to hold themselves and society responsible for upholding the rights of those with disabilities and health care needs.
Youth with disabilities and health care needs will understand their rights as members of our society, will determine the supports that they need to be independent within communities that are accepting of them as individuals.