Partners in Policymaking

Our state is sponsoring a program titled: Partners in Policymaking - a Leadership training project of the Developmental Disabilities Council. Sound interesting? Well, don't let the title put you off as I've heard from others that attended the sessions that it is life changing. Since programs sponsored by the state rarely get that kind of review we decided to check into it further.

According to the literature, Partners in Policymaking (PIP) is an innovative leadership training program that teaches people to be community leaders. It is designed for parents raising young or school-aged children with a developmental disability. PIP provides up-to-date information, education and skill building activities about the legislative process ad local, state and national issues that affect individuals with disabilities. Graduates gain the abilities to teach policy makers a new way of thinking about people with disabilities.

Ahhhh.......now this is a program I can get behind 100%. And since we are rapidly approaching aging out of the state's Birth to age 3 program, it is timely for us to find out about this program. Chris and I applied and are so happy we were accepted!

The program is great in that it is free - which meets our budget requirements! It includes lodging and meals, reimbursement for travel mileage to and from sessions, and reimbursement for respite care (this has an * in that it is determined on an individual basis). It is held over eight, two-day sessions from February through September with each session beginning on Friday at noon and ending on Saturday afternoon. There are also assignments to complete between sessions.

PIP was developed by the Minnesota Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities and has been offered in 40 states training over 5,000 people nationwide. PIP trains and educates Partners in:

• History of the Disability Movements
• Inclusive Education
• Community Supports and Supported Employment
• Vision for the Future and Planning Process
• Assistive Technology
• Local, State and Federal Policy and Legislative Issues
• How to meet Public Officials and give Legislative Testimony
• Community Organizing
• Working with the Media
• Holding effective meetings
• And more!

We're excited to participate in this program and report out on all the great stuff we plan to learn :-) The first session is in a couple of weeks and...................YES, I am shamelessly looking forward to an uninterrupted (I hope!) night of sleep in the hotel.