™

Parents Reaching Out to Parents

Join Us On

You can also "follow" PIP on Twitter @SCPIP



Join Our Email List Email:

PARTNERS IN POLICYMAKING™

Partners in Policymaking Graduating Class D

Partners Make A Difference!

What is “Partners in Policymaking”?

Partners in Policymaking (PIP) is a leadership training program that teaches self-advocates and parents to be community leaders and how to obtain the best available services for themselves and others.
Two-day training sessions are held in Columbia once a month for five months.
Participants will receive information, training and resources about the local, state and national issues that affect people with disabilities.
Participants will become familiar with the policymaking and legislative process at the local, state and federal levels.
National and state experts will speak about current issues and state-of-the-art practices.
The overall goal of the PIP program is to foster a PARTNERship between people who need and use services and those who make public policy and law.
PIP was developed in 1987 by the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and is now being replicated in 40 states, the Virgin Islands and Great Britain.
Various learning approaches will be used including e-learning.

Partners in Policymaking is a project of the South Carolina Partnership of Disability Organizations and is administered by PRO-Parents. The PIP project is funded through a grant from the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council.

Who is “Partners in Policymaking” For?

Adults who have a disability* (self-advocates).
Parents of young children with a disability*.
Men and women, representing different ethnic backgrounds and ALL geographical areas of the state.
Motivated people who want to be effective advocates for themselves and others.
People who want to work for systems change and to make a difference on a local, state and national level.

(* see Disabilities Definition below.)

What Does “Partners” Cost?

There is NO financial cost for any of the PIP sessions.
Participants will be reimbursed for their travel to Columbia.
Lodging and meals will be provided.
Attendant care and respite services will be reimbursed when necessary.
Other needed accommodations will be provided at no cost to the participant.
PIP does cost the participant's time, energy and effort.

What Is My Role As A “Partner”?

Make a commitment to attend five two-day sessions between October and June. All sessions will begin at 1:00 PM on Friday and conclude by 4:00 PM on Saturday. This commitment is necessary to benefit fully from the training. Partners graduates agree that the commitment is well worth the life changes that result from the training program.
Complete all homework assignments.

Attendance at ALL sessions is mandatory.
Only individuals selected to participate in Partners in Policymaking
will be able to attend.

What Topics Will Be Addressed?

History of the Disability Movement.
Inclusive Education and Transition.
Supported / Competitive Employment.
Supported / Independent Living.
Person Centered Planning.
State / Federal Legislative Issues.
State Service Systems.
Family Support Services.
Parliamentary Procedure.
Assistive Technology.

Partners in Policymaking advocating to the South Carolina Legislature

Partners in Policymaking Class Rountable Discussion

“Partners enabled me to get the appropriate services for my son and to become involved in various advocacy groups.”

- Beth Dombek
1998 Partners Graduate

Individuals selected to participate in Partners will be notified by mail.
For additional information, please contact:
PRO-Parents
652 Bush River Road, Suite 203
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone (local): (803) 772-5688
Toll Free: 1-800-750-4776

Disabilities Definition

Autism, Brain Injury, Mental Retardation, Spinal Cord Injury, and Related Disabilities

A developmental disability is a severe, chronic disability of a person which is-
1. attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments;
2. apparent before the person reaches age twenty-two;
3. likely to continue indefinitely;
4. results in substantial functioning limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activities:
  - self-care
  - learning
  - communication
  - self-direction
  - independent living
  - mobility
  - economic self-sufficiency
5. requires the need for lifelong individually planned and coordinated services
A Brain (head) and spinal cord injury is-

attributed to a physical impairment, including head injury, spinal cord injury or both, or a similar disability;
regardless of age of the onset;
not associated with the progressive degenerative illness or dementia, or a neurological disorder related to aging;
results in substantial functioning limitations in two or more major life activities

A Related Disability is- a “severe” chronic condition (cerebral palsy, epilepsy, visual / hearing impairment or other condition, other than mental illness) which results in impairment of intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior and requires treatment or services similar to that required of a person with developmental disabilities.

~ ON-LINE REGISTRATION ~

If you need help with completing this form or if you need an alternative format,
please call (803) 772-5688 or Toll Free 1-800-750-4776

PLEASE COMPLETE ENTIRE APPLICATION

NAME:

STREET ADDRESS:

CITY:

COUNTY:

ZIP CODE:

HOME PHONE NO:

()

WORK NO:

()

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

ARE YOU:

MALE

FEMALE

RACE / ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

[Above information requested to ensure balanced representation of race / ethnicity and gender]

1. Are you a person with a disability?

YES

Date of Birth: / /

If yes, please describe your disabilities: (See disabilities definition)

2. Are you a parent of a son / daughter who has a disability? (Please answer for each child if you have more than one child with a disability. See disabilities definition.)

YES

Date of Birth: / /

If YES,

A. What is your child’s disability or disabilities:

B. Describe how the disability affects the ability of your son / daughter to function in at least three (3) areas of major life activity: (Part D of disabilities definition)

C. How old is your son or daughter?

D. Describe your child’s school placement:

E. Does your son or daughter live at home?

YES

F. Do you have other children?

YES

How many?

Ages?

3. What services (employment, personal assistant, respite care, service coordination) are you or your child currently receiving?

4. Why are you interested in participating in the Partners in Policymaking program? Is there a specific issue, area of concern, or problem that encourages you to apply?

5. If selected to participate in the Partners in Policymaking training program,

I WILL:

Travel to Columbia to attend the regularly scheduled training sessions?

YES

Make a commitment to attend 2-day training sessions, held once a month for five months (Friday afternoon / evening & all day Saturday)?

YES

Complete all homework assignments?

YES

The training sessions are FREE. Meals, hotel and travel expenses will be paid by the PIP project.

6. Are there any special accommodations necessary for you to participate in this program?

YES

If YES,

describe accommodations needed (accessibility, interpreter, respite care, personal assistant services, etc.)

These accommodations will be provided by PIP project at NO COST to the participant, if necessary.

7. Please list any membership in other advocacy organizations and indicate any office held.

(Membership in other organizations is NOT a requirement.)

8. What types of experience have you had in advocating for people with disabilities?

9. Please tell us a little about yourself and your family:

Please list two references. Include names, addresses and phone numbers:

(1)

(2)

How did you learn about Partners in Policymaking?

~ To request a hard copy of this registration form to fill out and mail in, please contact: ~

PRO-Parents
652 Bush River Road
Suite 203
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone (local): (803) 772-5688
Toll Free: 1-800-759-4776
Fax: (803) 772-5341
E-mail: PROParents@proparents.org

Partners in Policymaking

c/o The South Carolina Partnership of Disability Organizations
PRO-Parents
652 Bush River Road, Suite 203
Columbia, SC 29210

Top of Page

HOME :: ABOUT US :: BOARD MEMBERS :: CALENDAR :: CONFERENCE(S) :: CONTACT US :: LINKS :: NEWS & EVENTS :: NEWSLETTER :: PARTNERS IN POLICYMAKING :: REGIONS :: S.C. ADULT SIBLING LEADERSHIP NETWORK :: SERVICES :: STAFF :: SURVEY(S) :: WORKSHOPS

GoodSearch | GoodShop

Raise money for PRO-Parents of SC
just by searching the web and shopping online!