Chat - FOR OUR KIDS WHO WANT TO GET INVOLVED

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Message: 2

Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 10:03:45 -0500

Subject: Opportunity for Youth: KASA info and board membership

application

Here is some information about an exciting opportunity for youth

with disabilities. Please share it widely with the family networks

with whom you are connected. The application is pasted below, and

also attached. For those of you that receive the digest form, the

application has been uploaded to the files area of the listserv.

Sincerely,

Beth Dworetzky

Mass Family Voices @ FCSN

KASA, the Kids as Self Advocates Project of Family Voices, is

seeking youth with disabilities & health care needs to serve on

their National Advisory Board. KASA is seeking youth with

disabilities and/or health care need, between the ages of 13 and 21

to serve on the all-youth volunteer Advisory Board, which is

responsible for strategic planning for this growing project, program

planning,

activities and outreach. KASA works to help support youth to have

control over their lives and future through peer-support and

training, changing systems to include youth and educating youth

about their rights.

The Advisory Board meets about every two to three weeks, by

teleconference, via a toll-free dial in number. As funds allow,

there will be 1 or 2 face-to-face meetings per year, for 2-5 days

each. Any travel costs will be advanced when they can be and

reimbursed the rest of the time.

Advisory Board members are expected to spend about 2-4 hours/week on

KASA activities and projects.

All conference calls are toll free and a calling card is provided to

Advisory Board members for between meeting conversations and support.

If you meet the following qualifications, you can complete an

application.

KASA is looking for:

- Youth with disabilities and/or health care needs who are between

13 and 21 years old.

- Youth who can make a commitment to be on the Board for 2 years.

- Youth with some leadership experience.

- Youth who are enthusiastic about leadership and advocacy.

- Youth who are interested in learning more about disability

history, culture and rights.

- Youth who can work as a team member and who are interested in

understanding more about how a project works.

KASA is a growing network, sharing information through our website

and through the mail, on issues that interest and are important to

young people with disabilities & chronic health conditions. KASA

membership is free and open

to anyone who works with and cares about youth with disabilities

and/or health care needs. We also have a listserv that we use to

share information and action alerts.

DEADLINE (for Board applications): JANUARY 9, 2006

Send completed applications and inquiries to:

KASA at Family Voices

2340 Alamo SE, Suite 102, Albuquerque, NM 87106

or FAX to

or EMAIL: julie@...

If you are not interested in KASA Advisory Board membership at this

time KASA also welcomes your participation in the following ways:

- Become a member of KASA.It's free and easy. See below for info

on how to join.

or - Send us written materials that you have found helpful in

school, in finding a job, in communicating with your friends, or

about health care, advocacy, etc that we can share with others

- Let us know about activities you are involved in that others may

want to do in their communities (good ideas)

- Share struggles that you are having that you need others help

with.

-Tell us about information that you can't seem to find that maybe

we can help you access.

-Tell us what you would like to see KASA doing and how you can help

us do it!

- Shre helpful websites for youth with disabilities

KASA National Advisory Board Member Expectations

Participation

a. You must participate in KASA Advisory Board calls [usually 2 per

month]

b. You must contribute at least one article or resource to the

listserv each year.

c. You must write at least one article or submit a resource to the

website each year.

d. You must check your email at least once a week or CALL someone to

see what you missed

e. You must register in the KASA Forums and participate in

discussions once every two months

f. We work under an Annual Operating Plan that we develop. You must

work on enough projects in a one year period to equal 10 points.

Most projects are

1-2 points, each, and committee participation is 4 points. The KASA

Advisory Board recommends what the projects will be for the year and

how many points a project is worth. Peer support and accommodations

are always included in the

work we do.

KASA National Advisory Board APPLICATION

Applicant Contact Information

Name:______________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________

City:______________________ State: _____________ ZIP:

________________

Preferred method of communication:_____________________

e-mail address:_______________________ Phone or TTY:

______________

Best time and day to contact you:_________

The following questions on Cultural Diversity and Disability are

optional. We are asking these questions to order to make sure that

we are representing as many perspectives as we can, with specific

outreach to underserved groups of people. Your choice of whether or

not to answer to theses question will have no impact on your

selection to the KASA Advisory Board.

Cultural Diversity (please circle one)

Asian/Pacific Islander

Mixed Racial Background

Black/African American

White (non-Hispanic) Hispanic/Latino

Native American/Alaskan tribe Other ____________ Decline to

answer

Disability and/or Chronic Health Issues (please circle as many as

apply)

motor/mobility

cognitive

communication

physical

chronic health issues

sensory

other__________

decline to answer

Getting to know YOU!

Age:_______

Grade:________________

Where do you go to school?__________________________________

Activities you are involved in:___________________________

How many siblings and pets do you have?_____________________________

Favorite food:_____________________________________

Favorite color:_____________________________________

Essay:

On a separate piece of paper please describe:

-yourself... your likes, dislikes, qualities about you, and you in

general.

-What effect(s) did your disability/chronic illness have on your

life?

-Your leadership experience

-How you heard about KASA and why you want to be involved

Personal Recommendations:

Please list three references that are non-family members, and

include each person's name, phone number or e-mail address, and

relationship to you.

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