With the help of generous funding from the Starbucks Foundation, Family Network on Disabilities (FND) is very happy to announce the launch of a new statewide project called The Youth Advocacy and Action Project of FND.
This project is aimed at developing advocacy and leadership skills among youth with disabilities to help them improve their lives and their communities. The project will provide training in advocacy to youth with disabilities, who then put those skills into practice by advocating for themselves and for improvement in their communities.
In addition to the monetary help provided by the Starbucks Foundation, FND will be partnering with Starbucks employees to assist the project's "graduates" in choosing and participating in an activity or project that will benefit and improve their community.
By motivating youth to action, we hope to inspire a generation to take responsibility for their communities. The ultimate goal of this project is to leave in place a well trained, confident group of youths with disabilities who will be able to advocate for themselves - to improve their own lives - as well as their communities.
Family Network on Disabilities (FND) was founded in 1985 by a group of parents of persons with disabilities who came together for mutual support and information-sharing. FND is a grassroots organization for persons with disabilities and their families that is family-centered and family-driven.
The mission of Family Network on Disabilities is to ensure through collaboration that individuals have full access to family-driven support, education, information, resources, and advocacy. FND serves all persons with all disabilities and believes that everyone has intrinsic value and the inherent right to: respect, independence, knowledge, freedom of choice, inclusion, quality of life, success, and equality.
