Take your advocacy to new heights through Partners in Policymaking®! Maryland’s year-long program prepares adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), parents, and family members of children and adults with IDD to be effective advocates at the local, state, and federal levels.
Through 12 sessions, Partners in Policymaking® participants will learn about systems change: creating, working towards, and achieving a vision of shared values about people with disabilities. Partners graduates often become lifelong and long-term agents of change in the community.
Partners in Policymaking® is free for participants due to the incredible financial support of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, with each spot in the program valued at over $6,000. Read more about the program below!
Applications for the 2023-24 Partners class are now closed!
Partners Schedule and Topics
- Sessions 1 & 2 | November 11 & 12, 2023 | History of Disability Advocacy
- In-Person in Howard County
- 1 PM to 5 PM on Saturday AND 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday
- Session 3 | December 13, 2023 | State Laws & Policy & Those Who Create Them
- In-Person in Annapolis
- 9:30 AM to 3 PM
- Sessions 4 & 5 | January 13 and 14, 2024 | Inclusive Education & Lifelong Learning, Assistive Technology & Media Skills, Behavior as Communication
- In-person in Howard County
- 1 PM to 5 PM on Saturday AND 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday
- Session 6 | February 21, 2024 | Developmental Disabilities Day at The Legislature
- In-Person at the Graduate Hotel, 126 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401
- 8 AM to 2 PM
- Session 7 | March 19, 2024 | Living Your Ideal Life
- Virtual via Zoom
- 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM
- Session 8 | April 16, 2024 | Federal Laws & Advocacy in Action (Federal Day on the Hill) – Part 1
- Virtual via Zoom
- 9 AM to 12 PM (part 1)
- 1 PM to 4 PM (part 2)
- Session 9 | May 30, 2024 | Annual State Convention
- In-Person at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City
- Session 10 | June 11, 2024 | Federal Laws & Advocacy in Action (Federal Day on the Hill) – Part 2
- In-Person at the Supreme Court of the U.S. and the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC
- 9 AM to 4 PM
- Group Transportation to be arranged
- July | Break to Work on Capstone Project
- Session 11 | August 13, 2024 | Home of Your Own
- Virtual via Zoom
- 1 PM to 5 PM
- Session 12 | September 13, 2024 | Taking Your Place and Graduation
- In-Person in Howard County
- 11 AM to 5 PM
Please note that any in-person session in this schedule is subject to change to a virtual format based on program assessment and logistics.
Additionally, throughout the year, Partners are challenged to identify and work on a project to inspire change in the community by exploring issues faced by people with IDD and their families.
Partners Info Calls
Want to learn more about Partners in Policymaking® before taking the next step in the application process? The Arc Maryland hosted a series of information calls to answer questions about the program from potential applicants. You can watch our September 13th info call through the button below.
Partners FAQs
Want to know more about the Partners program and its application process? Read more through our frequently asked questions below!
Partners of the Past
The wealth of information and encouragement in Partners in Policymaking® is unmatched. You come out with a renewed sense of purpose and the ability to make those changes that you want.
Meeka Caldwell, 2020 Partners Graduate
You will learn a lot in the Partners program. You will meet a lot of people with similar goals and learn to make laws to protect people with disabilities.
Hari Kannan, 2021 Partners Graduate
Partners will help you learn to navigate government systems and public policy, not only for your children, but for all children and adults with IDD, in order to make a difference at the local, state, and national levels.
Grace Williams, 2001 Partners Graduate
I came out of Partners a better person than ever before. I’ve always been shy and afraid, but Partners boosted my confidence.
Amanda Del Riego, 2019 Partners Graduate
If you have any further questions about Partners in Policymaking®, contact Coni Nepomuceno by email at CNepomuceno@TheArcMD.org or by phone at 410-571-9320.
This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,265,982 with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.