Who We Are
Kokua Services provides supported living for adults with disabilities in Thurston County. Our mission is to provide these individuals the support needed to live full and meaningful lives. Kokua’s LEAD program was created with the belief that inclusion benefits our community by promoting acceptance, understanding, and friendship.
Another Kokua Services community program, hummingbird studio, brings people of all abilities together through art. Click to learn more.
What We do
The LEAD program was originally launched by Kokua Services and The Center for Community Based Learning and Action (CCBLA) at The Evergreen State College in January 2011. Kokua expanded LEAD to St. Martin’s University in 2015 and South Puget Sound Community College in 2016. We match college students with adults with disabilities for one-on-one weekly tutoring sessions on campus and Zoom. The interests and learning are as varied as the individuals who participate and have historically included basic literacy, math, personal finances, computer skills, language and writing. We are honored to have paired over fifty adults with disabilities with hundreds of college students over the last 11 years.
LEAD was initially a program solely for individuals who receive supported living assistance from Kokua Services. However, we have slowly opened our free program to those outside of the Kokua community. There is tremendous potential for growth and our plan is to continue to raise money and recruit tutors in order to meet the needs of the many adult learners in the community who have expressed a desire to participate.
We currently provide our volunteer tutors professional training and support and many of our tutors have been a part of the program for multiple years. Many of our former tutors have have gone on to careers in social services, medicine, occupational therapy, teaching, and non-profit work. College credit and internships are possible. Tutors and learners will commit to participate from January – June.