Contact: Donna Meltzer National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities -  NACDD Phone 202.506.5813 xxxxxx@nacdd.org

Press Release

NACDD Receives Grant Award

Funding to further promote and expand training opportunities for disability advocates

Washington, DC, September 19, 2016: The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) is pleased to announce receipt of a grant award from UnitedHealthCare that will support a year of planning to identify ways to further promote and enhance the Partners in Policymaking® leadership training program and to support DD Councils and others to replicate the program. The grant will also help provide other opportunities to reach more advocates as well as explore ways to keep trained graduates engaged in advocacy work and systems change. NACDD will conduct work on this grant in partnership with the Minnesota Council on Developmental Disabilities, creator of the original program, and with ao Strategies, a national consulting firm helping disability organizations renew and sustain. NACDD will be bringing together an advisory group of Partners graduates, current participants, trainers and curriculum experts to explore and plan for the next generation of disability advocates.

“We are so grateful to UnitedHealthCare for this opportunity to improve the scope and volume of advocacy voices from across the United States,” said NACDD CEO Donna Meltzer. “NACDD is so pleased to be able to further the development and replication of the Minnesota program and to help other states and territories in building their cadre of trained advocates who are creating fully inclusive communities.“

NACDD is the national association for the 56 Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils) across the United States and its territories. The DD Councils receive federal funding to support programs that promote self-determination, integration and inclusion for all people in the United States with developmental disabilities. DD Councils are part of the Developmental Disabilities Network as outlined by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 2000 (The DD Act).

More information on participation in this effort will be coming soon.

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