Are you ready to take the next step in your advocacy journey? Maryland’s Partners in Policymaking® program prepares adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), parents, and family caregivers to be effective advocates at the local, state, and federal levels.
Through this year-long program, Partners in Policymaking® participants will learn about the systems that work to support people with IDD and their families, and how to engage in systems change effectively and professionally as our community’s needs evolve.
“Partners” graduates often become lifelong agents of change in the community, going on to serve on boards, commissions, advisory councils, and to hold leadership positions at the local, state, and federal levels of government.
The Maryland Partners in Policymaking® program is offered free for participants, due to financial support from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, matched with funding from The Arc Maryland and programmatic support from People On the Go Maryland. Your contribution is considered to be your valuable time and commitment to professional development! Each spot in the program is valued at more than $6,000.
Applications to be part of the 2026-27 Partners class are now open! You can access the application through the button below. Apply by September 4th for consideration to be in this year’s class.
Information Call Recording and FAQs
Interested in learning more about the program and application process for Maryland Partners in Policymaking®? We hosted a series of information calls for potential applicants, with one recording available for you to watch below. During it, you can learn about the application process, goals and outcomes of the program, and the schedule. Before applying for the class, you can also read about the program through the Frequently Asked Questions below!
*This Info Call takes place during People On the Go of Maryland’s Biweekly Membership Call
Partners’ Schedule and Topics
- Sessions 1 & 2 | Sunday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19, 2026 | Kickoff Retreat and The History of Disability Advocacy
- Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (In-person in Columbia, MD)
- Monday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Virtual on Zoom)
- Session 3 | Monday, November 16, 2026 | Inclusive Education and Lifelong Learning
- Virtual on Zoom
- 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Session 4 | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | State Laws & Policy & Those Who Create Them
- In-Person in Annapolis, MD
- 10:00 am to 5:00 PM
- Session 5 | Sunday, January 10, 2027 | Behavior as Communication; Use of Media in Advocacy
- In-Person in Columbia, MD
- 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Optional/Encouraged Session | Monday, February 15, 2027 | DD Day Preview (Primer for Event)
- Virtual on Zoom
- 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Session 6 | Wednesday, February 17, 2027 | Developmental Disabilities Day at The Legislature
- In-person at the Graduate Annapolis Hotel, 126 West St, Annapolis, MD
- 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Session 7 | Sunday, March 7, 2027 | Developing & Living Your Ideal Life
- Virtual on Zoom
- 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Session 8 | Tuesday, April 6, 2027 | A Home Of Your Own – Independence In The Community
- Virtual on Zoom
- 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Session 9 | Tuesday, May 11, 2027 | Federal Laws & Advocacy in Action
- Location TBD (Virtual or In-Person)
- Time TBD
- Session 10 | Tuesday, June 1, 2027 | The Self Advocate in Systems Change
- Location TBD (Virtual or In-Person)
- 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Session 11 | Tuesday, August 10, 2027 | The County’s Role in Developmental Disabilities
- In-Person in Ellicott City, MD
- 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Session 12 | Friday, September 17, 2027 | Taking Your Place and Graduation
- In-person in Columbia, MD
- 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Please hold all the class dates in your calendar, in the event you are selected for enrollment in the Maryland Partners in Policymaking® program.
Additionally, throughout the year, Partners are challenged to identify and work on a Capstone Project to inspire change in the community by exploring issues faced by people with IDD and their families.
Testimonials from Partners Graduates
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 the Maryland Partners in Policymaking® program, contact Natalie Brooks at NBrooks@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 $1,254,032. 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.