40 Big Ideas

Summary

Partners in Policymaking began in Minnesota in 1987. The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities started the program to help self-advocates and families learn to be better disability advocates. During eight weekends together, everyone learns about history, living, learning, and working, and they practice telling their story to local, state, and federal government leaders. This program is based on the gifts, strengths, and abilities of every person. Self-advocates and their parents know best what it is like to live with a disability. They are the experts and can make changes to policy. The graduates are leaders. They go on to serve on boards, become public speakers, and testify at the Capitol.

In 1987, after a Minnesota mother’s testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee, the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities launched Partners in Policymaking® to equip self-advocates and family members with the skills to influence policy. It was time to prepare self-advocates and families who had traditionally been underrepresented in leadership roles and underserved by disability advocacy groups. Rooted in the belief that people with developmental and other disabilities have inherent worth and talents, its purpose is to teach best practices and effective communication skills when working with local, state, and federal officials. People with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities and their parents know best what it is like to live with a disability. They are the experts, and they are the people best positioned to make meaningful policy changes. Supporting their advocacy and growth has exponential benefits in making systemic change.

The program has supported the promises of the Americans with Disabilities Act by helping people with disabilities and their family members understand their civil rights and use them to continue fighting for full inclusion. Minnesota’s program has graduated about 1,200 people in 43 classes, joining 29,000 other graduates in the United States and internationally.

The 25 competencies addressed in Partners in Policymaking® have remained constant, but the training has been updated annually to keep up to date with changes in best practices and social media. Core topics include disability history, inclusive education, competitive integrated employment, person-centered planning, self-determination, assistive technology, and effective communications and meetings. These topics are covered during 128 hours of direct instruction across eight weekends.

Partners in Policymaking® is about system change; reshaping policies and services at every level of government. The participants are trained to be tomorrow’s leaders. The goal is to create a cadre of capable disability advocates who can help reshape the way services for people with disabilities are created, delivered, and evaluated.

The program benefits those who complete it as well as society at large. Graduates form lasting networks. It is intentional that parents of young children and adult self-advocates are classmates. One of the most valued learning moments comes from parents meeting and getting to know adults with disabilities. It helps them to think in terms of long-term dreams—living, learning, working, and building social relations. The program provides a safe space to dream of making society inclusive and accepting.

The training empowers individuals with disabilities to create the society in which they want to live. They make lasting change in the disability system and for future generations. Each year, graduates serve on the boards and commissions of federal, state, and local agencies and nonprofit organizations across the United States. Graduates have gone on to serve on boards and lead nonprofits, champion legislation, such as accessible playgrounds and adult changing tables, and win elections to public office. Evaluation has been built into the program with a baseline survey, a six-month follow-up study of each class, and longitudinal surveys of three graduating classes. Every speaker is evaluated, and each person completes a pre- and post-assessment of independence, productivity, self-determination, integration, and inclusion.