Youth Organizing!
Disabled & Proud
Youth with disabilities experience an extreme sense of social isolation, which comes out of not sharing a collective disability identity, and disability pride. In ethnic minority communities culture, pride and identity are fostered in youth. However, most youth with disabilities grow up in families with non-disabled parents and no disability positive role models.
Disability in society is seen as a problem, something that needs to be fixed or cured, or a tragedy. Youth with disabilities are often segregated in special education classes, placed in institutions, and often encouraged to hide their disability and to “pass” as non-disabled.
YO! will assist youth with disabilities to learn about the disability rights movement, disability history, disability pride, disability organizing and advocacy. Youth with disabilities can build community with each other, develop a sense of history, leadership, a positive disability identity, and to organize and mobilize each other on issues that affect their lives.
YO! will develop community organizing activities to build a power base among youth with disabilities so that they can work effectively for change. Youth with disabilities will be able to build community and create social change that will help to end discriminatory practices and barriers that prevent access and inclusion in their local schools and communities.
Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud goals:
Goal: To connect Youth with Disabilities to each other, organizations, resources and opportunities for to increase leadership development, advocacy, action, disability pride, history and culture.
Goal: To organize Youth with Disabilities throughout California so that they will develop leadership skills, identify issues that affect their lives, and take action to create social change.
Goal: To train Youth with Disabilities to learn about the disability rights movement, disability culture and pride, community organizing, action, advocacy and community resources.
