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 10 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 $5,000. Read more about the program below!
Applications for the 2022-23 Partners class are now closed.
Partners Schedule and Topics
- October 9 and 10, 2022 | History of Disability Advocacy
- In-Person in Howard County; Location TBD
- 9 AM to 4 PM on Sunday, October 9th AND 9 AM to 4 PM on Monday, October 10th
- November 15, 2022 | Developing Your Ideal Life
- In-Person in Howard County; Location TBD
- 12 PM to 5 PM – Lunch and networking 12-1
- December 13, 2022 | State Laws & Policy & Those Who Create Them
- Virtual via Zoom
- 1 PM to 5 PM
- January 15 and 16, 2023 | Inclusive Education & Lifelong Learning, Assistive Technology & Media Skills, Behavior as Communication
- Virtual via Zoom
- 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday, January 15th AND 1 PM to 5 PM on Monday, January 16th
- February 22, 2023 | Developmental Disabilities Day at The Legislature
- In-Person at the Graduate Hotel, 126 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401
- 8 AM to 2 PM
- Either March 22 or 23, 2023 (TBD) | Federal Laws & Advocacy in Action (Federal Day on the Hill)
- In-Person The Capitol (alt. location – The Arc US, if Capitol closed) Washington, DC
- 9 AM to 4 PM
- Group transportation will be arranged to Washington DC from a Park-and-Ride location in Columbia, MD.
- April 18, 2023 | Living Your Ideal Life
- Virtual via Zoom
- 1 PM to 5 PM
- May 23, 2023 | Annual State Convention
- In-Person at Turf Valley Resort, 2700 Turf Valley Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- 9 AM to 4 PM
- June 20, 2023 | Home Of Your Own
- Virtual via Zoom
- 9 AM to 4 PM
- August 15, 2023 | Taking Your Place & Graduation
- In-Person in Howard County; Location TBD
- 11 AM to 5 PM
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 FAQs
Want to know more about the Partners in Policymaking® Program and application process? FAQs are available below for the process.
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 $1,201,464 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.