Welcome to Partners!

Twenty five years ago, the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities created a ground-breaking, innovative training program called Partners in Policymaking^® to teach parents and self-advocates the power of advocacy to change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. During the past two decades, important issues have been confronted and dramatic changes have been made.

1987-2007, Partners in Policymaking - 21,000 Partners graduates in the United States, 2000 Partners graduates internationally

"Telling Your Story"

App Available Now for iPad, iPhone/iPod Touch, and Kindle Fire

Compose and practice your personal story to present to elected public officials or other policymakers. Learn the best ways to introduce yourself and talk about your issue, record and practice your story, and include a photo if you would like.

The iPad version of the app is available free at the iTunes Store.

The iPhone/iPod Touch version is also available free at the iTunes Store.

The Kindle Fire HD version is available at Amazon.com.

May 12, 2012 Proclaimed Partners in Policymaking Day

State of Minnesota Proclamation

WHEREAS: In 1987, the Partners in Policymaking program was created by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities; and

WHEREAS: The Partners in Policymaking program is a leadership training program designed for parents of young children with developmental disabilities and adults with disabilities. The program teaches leadership skills and develops positive partnerships with elected officials and policymakers who influence the services used by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families; and

WHEREAS: Over the last 25 years more than 800 individuals from across Minnesota have graduated from the Partners in Policymaking program; and

WHEREAS: On May 12, 2012 Partners in Policymaking will observe a quarter century of leadership at its 25th Anniversary celebration. This day will be an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 25 years and to look toward the future of personal and group advocacy and the mission to change the way people with developmental disabilities live and work.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARK DAYTON, Governor of Minnesota do hereby proclaim, May 12, 2012 as

PARTNERS IN POLICYMAKING DAY in the State of Minnesota.

Signed by the Governor, Mark Dayton and the Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie.

As Partners in Policymaking celebrates a quarter century of helping people with developmental disabilities and their family members become effective advocates, it’s important to remember that the work is not finished and, in fact, never will be. At the first Partners class, Ed Roberts, a well-known disability rights activist, urged participants to take up the fight for the rights of people with disabilities. His words have stood the test of time and are as relevant today as two decades ago. Click here to view Ed Robert’s stirring call to action.

Since 1987, Partners programs have been implemented nationally and internationally. More than 23,000 Partners graduates are part of a growing national and international network of community leaders serving on policy making committees, commissions, and boards at all levels of government. We are also reaching thousands of people monthly through the online courses.

25 Years of Partners in Policymaking!

On May 10, 2012, the Partners in Policymaking program will celebrate its 25th Anniversary, a quarter century of leadership training that began here in Minnesota, teaching self advocates and parents about the power of personal and group advocacy, and best practices in the field, to change the way people with developmental disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live, and work. With 850 Partners graduates in Minnesota, 21,000 Partners graduates in the United States, and 2,000 Partners graduates internationally, important issues have been confronted and dramatic changes have been made. The Partners network will expand and be strengthened in the years ahead, and this work will continue.

Read 25th Anniversary congratulations and testimonials

Ideas for Integrating Online Learning in Classroom Settings
Blending online learning with a classroom training program, homework assignments and skill-building activities helps create richer, more effective learning experiences. Many Partners Coordinators have asked for help integrating elements of the existing online courses into their sessions. We have identified a number of ways to use the online curriculum to enhance your classroom experience. You’ll find them in the Partners in Policymaking^® Coordinator’s Handbook Supplement: Integrating Online Learning (3.3 MB Acrobat pdf file). These ideas are intended to be a starting point...once you delve into the courses—if you haven’t explored them already—you’ll find countless other ways to integrate online learning into the Partners program!

Ideas for Integrating Online Learning in Classroom Settings

Blending online learning with a classroom training program, homework assignments and skill-building activities helps create richer, more effective learning experiences. Many Partners Coordinators have asked for help integrating elements of the existing online courses into their sessions. We have identified a number of ways to use the online curriculum to enhance your classroom experience. You’ll find them in the Partners in Policymaking^® Coordinator’s Handbook Supplement: Integrating Online Learning (3.3 MB Acrobat pdf file). These ideas are intended to be a starting point...once you delve into the courses—if you haven’t explored them already—you’ll find countless other ways to integrate online learning into the Partners program!

Partners in Policymaking^® E-Learning Courses
"Partners in Living" is a seven-hour self-directed e-learning course created to help people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the important concepts of self-determination, family support, community living and assistive technology. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/living to review the course. We would appreciate any comments and feedback. Please take a few minutes to fill out the feedback form within the course. Last updated in 2011. "Partners in Time" is an eight-hour self-directed e-learning course created to help people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the history of society's treatment of people with disabilities from ancient times through the present. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/history to review the course. We would appreciate any comments and feedback. Last updated in 2011. "Partners in Education" is a six-hour self-directed e-learning course to help parents with children with developmental disabilities better understand and maximize the benefits of special education services and inclusion for their children. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/education to review the course and give us your comments and feedback. The course has been updated with information on IDEA 2004 and includes current thinking on educational reform and the importance of teaching children to use digital technology to improve educational outcomes and better prepare children to work in the future. Last updated in 2011. "Partners in Education" is now also available in Spanish. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/education-sp . "Making Your Case" is a three-hour self-directed course on how to communicate with public officials by effectively telling your personal story, writing a letter, providing testimony, and communicating in positive ways. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase to review the course. Please take a moment to complete the evaluation. We welcome your comments and feedback. Last updated in 2011. The app, "Telling Your Story," helps you create and practice your personal story with tips on how to best present yourself, to help inform and educate your elected public officials about issues that are important to you. Go to http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/telling-your-story/id541403749 "Making Your Case" is now also available in Spanish. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase-esp. An American Sign Language version is also available and can be accessed directly at http://www.mncdhh.org/makingyourcase. Funding for this version was provided through the Telecommunications Access Fund, Minnesota Department of Commerce. Adaptations were made to best meet the needs of individuals who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. "Partners in Employment" is a six-hour self-directed course on how to find a job, write a resume, participate in an interview, and plan for your career. The course has been updated to include information on ways that people with autism and other developmental disabilities can find competitive, meaningful employment in the emerging “digital economy.” Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/employment to take the course and give us your comments and feedback. Last updated in 2011. An EZ Read version of the "Partners in Employment" online course is now available and can be accessed at www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/employment-ez. This version contains the same information as the regular course along with exercises and exams but uses icons (visuals) to help the reviewer understand concepts and facilitate the learning process. These e-learning courses are available to everyone! GCDD is committed to your privacy when taking these e-learning courses. Click here to review our Privacy Policy.

Partners in Policymaking^® E-Learning Courses

"Partners in Living" is a seven-hour self-directed e-learning course created to help people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the important concepts of self-determination, family support, community living and assistive technology. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/living to review the course. We would appreciate any comments and feedback. Please take a few minutes to fill out the feedback form within the course. Last updated in 2011.

"Partners in Time" is an eight-hour self-directed e-learning course created to help people with developmental disabilities, their parents, family members and friends, educators and service providers understand the history of society's treatment of people with disabilities from ancient times through the present. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/history to review the course. We would appreciate any comments and feedback. Last updated in 2011.

"Partners in Education" is a six-hour self-directed e-learning course to help parents with children with developmental disabilities better understand and maximize the benefits of special education services and inclusion for their children. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/education to review the course and give us your comments and feedback. The course has been updated with information on IDEA 2004 and includes current thinking on educational reform and the importance of teaching children to use digital technology to improve educational outcomes and better prepare children to work in the future. Last updated in 2011.

"Partners in Education" is now also available in Spanish. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/education-sp .

"Making Your Case" is a three-hour self-directed course on how to communicate with public officials by effectively telling your personal story, writing a letter, providing testimony, and communicating in positive ways. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase to review the course. Please take a moment to complete the evaluation. We welcome your comments and feedback. Last updated in 2011.

The app, "Telling Your Story," helps you create and practice your personal story with tips on how to best present yourself, to help inform and educate your elected public officials about issues that are important to you. Go to http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/telling-your-story/id541403749

"Making Your Case" is now also available in Spanish. Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/makingyourcase-esp.

An American Sign Language version is also available and can be accessed directly at http://www.mncdhh.org/makingyourcase. Funding for this version was provided through the Telecommunications Access Fund, Minnesota Department of Commerce. Adaptations were made to best meet the needs of individuals who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing.

"Partners in Employment" is a six-hour self-directed course on how to find a job, write a resume, participate in an interview, and plan for your career. The course has been updated to include information on ways that people with autism and other developmental disabilities can find competitive, meaningful employment in the emerging “digital economy.” Go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/employment to take the course and give us your comments and feedback. Last updated in 2011.

An EZ Read version of the "Partners in Employment" online course is now available and can be accessed at www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/employment-ez. This version contains the same information as the regular course along with exercises and exams but uses icons (visuals) to help the reviewer understand concepts and facilitate the learning process.

These e-learning courses are available to everyone!

GCDD is committed to your privacy when taking these e-learning courses. Click here to review our Privacy Policy.

Click here to see other Partners Activities and Highlights

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