LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING
The Kansas DD Council provides leadership development and training for Kansans with developmental disabilities, both directly and indirectly. Directly, this is accomplished through the Partners in Policymaking program. Indirect impact is achieved through collaborating with fellow advocacy organizations to produce such training opportunities as the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum and SACK’s annual conference.

Partners in Policymaking
Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training program for adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. Partners in Policymaking provides up-to-date information, leadership training, and skill building. Participants learn about the local, state, and national issues that affect systems change at these levels. This is a unique training program that encourages participants to alter their future…it is designed for the next generation of disability advocates.
Participants will attend instruction over eight (8) weekends, one weekend session each month. The overall goal of the program is to develop productive partnerships between people who need and use services and those who make public policy. Upon graduation, Partners will be knowledgeable about issues such as the history and future of the disability movements, inclusive education, parliamentary procedure, person-centered planning, assistive technology, and state and federal legislation.
Training is the key to the program. Participants must make a commitment to attend all training sessions. Participants will need to review materials and other handouts before and after each session. There will also be a variety of homework assignments to do between each session.
All sessions this year will take place in Topeka. Eight, two-day training sessions will be held once a month from March through November (excluding August). Each session begins at noon on Friday and concludes by 4:00 p.m. Saturday. The tentative topics to be covered:
• History of Future of Disability and Person-Centered Philosophy
• Inclusive Education and Disability Law
• Person-Centered Planning and Positive Behavioral Supports
• State Legislation and Advocacy
• Federal Legislation
• Assistive Technology, Accessible Housing, and Competitive Employment
• Parliamentary Procedure, Negotiation/Mediation, Effective communication Skills
• Grassroots Mobilization and Graduation
Participants will be reimbursed for travel, lodging, and some meal expenses. Personal assistant services and respite care costs are reimbursed, as well.
Application for Kansas Partners in Policymaking

The Kansas Youth Leadership Forum (KSYLF)
The Kansas Youth Leadership Forum is a leadership-based training program specifically designed for youth with disabilities. Over the course of a five-day forum, a group of about 20-25 high school juniors and seniors, each with a variety of disabilities, come together to learn about leadership, advocacy, goal setting and career planning. Delegates and volunteers from all over the state gather on a local university campus to experience this intensive, resourceful conference. Through various small and large sessions, delegates are able to both interact with and learn from each other, as well as successful adults with disabilities.
The Kansas DD Council provides funding for the KSYLF through their parent agency, the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy (KYEA) to support the attendance of students with developmental disabilities. The KYEA is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, mentoring, and supporting young people with disabilities to be productive members of Kansas and their communities. For more information on KYEA and the KSYLF program, please visit www.kyea.org.

The SACK Annual Conference
Each year, the Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK) presents a conference designed to promote leadership skills and networking among people with developmental disabilities. Attendees have the opportunity to meet, share with, and learn from both peers and experts in the field during workshops, breakout groups, and speaker presentations. The Kansas DD Council is a primary funder of the SACK Conference.
SACK is a statewide advocacy group made up of adults with developmental disabilities, the majority of whom receive services through the Kansas Developmental Disabilities Service System. SACK encourages and teaches people to speak up for themselves and to obtain the highest possible level of independence. SACK endeavors to promote empowerment and independence for adults with developmental disabilities. For more information on SACK and their programs, please visit www.sackonline.org.