What is the significance of the name Kuska?
About Kuska
Kuska has a special meaning to our organization with a tie to our founder’s family heritage in Peru. The word comes from the Quechua language, the primary indigenous language spoken across the Andean region (~8-10 million total, ~5 million native speakers in Peru). It literally translates in English to “together.” In the context of Kuska Autism Services this is significant for two reasons:
- The word “kuska” or together is symbolic of the work we do and progress we make together as our team partners closely with the individual we serve directly as well as the parents/loved ones with whom we are shoulder to shoulder along the journey.
- We believe the best outcomes happen when work closely as a team internally. We are a bit fanatical about our team culture, ensuring each member is growing personally and professionally in addition to feeling supported in their work. As a result, this is also our first core value.
Fun Fact: Cuzco or Cusco (preferred spelling) is not related to the word “kuska.” Cusco is derived from the Quechua word “Qosqo,” meaning navel or center of the universe, which is what the ancient capital meant for the Inca Empire.
What’s that llama-looking creature in your logo and what does it mean?
Our logo is a hand-illustrated image of two vicuñas (abstractly forming a K for Kuska). Never heard of a vicuña? That’s okay. Let us share why they hold a prominent place in our team.
The vicuña is a cousin to the llama and alpaca, all part of the camelid family. Similar to the population we serve, there is not a lot of awareness about vicuñas outside of those near them. Additionally, we believe that our friends we serve with autism are among the most special humans on earth. This lesser-known cousin to the llama is sacred and only lives naturally in the high sierras of the Andes mountains. Their wool is considered to be the finest of any known animal, about twice as fine as Cashmere. Their coats grow very slowly and can take as long as three years to grow back after being sheared. This is the animal found on the national flag of Peru (similar to the reverence given to the bald eagle on the U.S. national flag). In 2023, our CEO and Clinical Director had the opportunity to travel to Peru and visit with a clinic owner who serves children with special needs. While on that trip, they were both able to experience first hand the beauty of the vicuña, a symbol of the wonderful individuals we get to be with each day at Kuska Autism Services.
