Nothing For Us Without Us!
We are a community of teens and young adults with developmental disabilities from Asian American Immigrant Community. We are self-advocates hoping to make our voices heard and our needs met.
Who We Are
AASA of Project Ready is the first-ever Asian American self-advocacy group in New York State, comprised of individuals with developmental disabilities from the Asian American immigrant community.
We are a vibrant community of young adults and teens with developmental disabilities who are passionate about advocating for ourselves and others.
Our group includes members with a range of developmental disabilities, including Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Visual Impairment, and intellectual disabilities.
Our Story
AASA was founded in response to the unique challenges faced by Asian American individuals with developmental disabilities.
We recognized the need for a dedicated space where our voices could be heard, our experiences validated, and our needs addressed.
Since our start earlier this year, we have grown to 40 members and have become a close-knit community of self-advocates.
Our Value
Inclusivity, Equity, Empowerment, Self-Determination, Community
Our Mission
Make our voices heard and our needs met.
Our Achievements:
We have successfully advocated for increased funding for culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
We have raised awareness about the needs of Asian American individuals with disabilities through public speaking engagements and media appearances.
Events
We actively participate in various advocacy events to further our mission:
Representing special needs families in New York State and City budget advocacy.
Participating in legislative advocacy, meeting with local and state legislators to share our perspectives and advocate for policy change.
Joining the OPWDD Office of Language Access meetings.
Training and Support
We educate our members and their parents about disability rights and the needs to advocate for themselves.
We conduct regular training sessions to prepare our members for effective self-advocacy and community involvement.
We empower our members through training and leadership development opportunities.
Regular Monthly Meetings
We will hold regular monthly meetings where members can share experiences, plan advocacy activities, and support each other.
In addition to these, we participate in various Project Ready events to stay connected with the broader community.
Our advocacy efforts focus on several key issues:
Access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services: Ensuring that Asian American individuals with disabilities and their families can access services that meet their unique needs.
Community inclusion: Advocating for policies and practices that promote full participation in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Self-determination: Empowering individuals with disabilities to make decisions about their own lives and advocate for their own needs.
📢 Stay tuned for upcoming events and advocacy campaigns!
Follow us on Instagram and visit our website.
For more information on how to get involved, please see below or email us at contact@projectready.org.
There are many ways to support our mission.
