Building tomorrow’s leaders. Forming productive partnerships. Creating inclusive communities.
Partners in Policymaking is a national leadership and disability advocacy training program for individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members. Only self-advocates and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities should apply.
Participants accepted into the Arkansas Partners in Policymaking Leadership and Advocacy training program will attend monthly two-day training sessions in Little Rock, AR. National and state experts on various disability-related topics will present on various issues concerning the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
Partners in Policymaking 2022-2023 Cohort
Cohort One of Partners in Policymaking took on the task of identifying a need and creating an advocacy project to improve their community, state, or country. Cohort One approached their advocacy project with great dedication, putting in effort to create trainings, educational tools, support groups, and channels to amplify the voice of the disability community. We are thankful for the work of the Partners in Policymaking participants, and we foresee great things coming from their advocacy projects and journeys to create a more inclusive and equitable place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
FAQ
What does it cost?
All session expenses are paid by the program. Covered expenses include lodging, food and materials.
Is attendance required at all sessions?
Partners in Policymaking participants spend the sessions building a “toolbox” for communicating effectively with legislators, policymakers, and administrators. All presentations, assignments, and group activities are designed to give participants practice and experience working to improve policy, service systems, and opportunities for full participation in community life. Because of this toolbox approach it is vital that participants be prepared to attend every session.
How are individuals selected to participate in the program?
Individuals are selected as Partners in Policymaking (PIP) participants in a statewide application process. Following the screening and selection process, all applicants will be notified of their status by letter. We encourage applicants who are not selected to re-apply, as we may receive more worthy applications than we have spaces to fill.
What will selected Partners learn about?
History of Disability Movements, Self-Advocacy, Independent Living, Inclusive Education, Supported Employment, Personal Futures Planning, Building Inclusive Communities, Natural Supports, Assistive Technology, Communication & Team Building, and Legislative Process and Strategies
What will selected Partners do during the program?
Partners will attend all information sessions by local and national experts in the disability field, complete and report on homework assignments, tour the state capitol and meet with legislators, and network with other individuals with disabilities and family members.
Inclusion Statement
Partners in Policymaking is a program that holds an intersectional approach with attention to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status, religion, and other identities that affect our lives. We acknowledge that multiple-marginalized groups have been and are under-represented in the disability rights movement. We are committed to no hierarchy of disability in our work and strive to engage with people across disabilities and their families. Our mission and passion are to create a diverse setting in which all individuals, regardless of differences, feel valued, respected, and supported, to participate fully and contribute their opinions equally while gaining the valuable knowledge Partners in Policymaking has to offer.