What's New at the DD Council?

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    Partners in Policymaking 2001
        (Rescheduled for Fall 2001)     

    The June 22nd Edition (Issue #9, 2001) of InfoNet is now available on the web!

Upcoming Events

     Autism Society of Iowa Fall Conference

Scholarships

     Family Mini-Scholarships
     VSA arts of Iowa Scholarship

    State Plan for 2001-2003

Partners in Policymaking

Now Accepting Applications - Sessions will begin Fall 2001!
(The DD Council is currently accepting applications for participants in the 2001 Session of Partners in Policymaking.)

Would you like to be a part of a growing group of individuals that are on the cutting edge of change? Would you like to learn how to effect that change at the local, state and federal level of Government to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities? If so, Partners in Policymaking is for you!

Partners in Policymaking is a training program federally-funded by the Governor's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council. Partners is an International program that is designed for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members of people with disabilities. We provide up-to-date, state-of-the-art information about disability issues from local and nationally-recognized presenters.

During Partners you will learn about current issues and best practices, policymaking and legislative processes, and build the skills you need to obtain appropriate services for yourself, family members and others. The overall goal is to achieve a productive partnership between the people needing and using services and those in a position to make policy.

As a Partner participant, you will attend nine, one-day sessions. The sessions will be one Saturday per month beginning in September and ending in June, excluding December. Sessions will typically run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The training sessions are held in the Des Moines area and are free of charge for participants. Overnight lodging will be provided for those participants living more than two hours from Des Moines. Meals will be provided during the session. Mileage is reimbursable. Personal assistant services and child care may be reimbursable, decided on a case-by-case basis. Participants are EXPECTED to make a commitment to attend ALL sessions, to complete and turn in homework assignments between sessions as well as complete forms recording time spent on disability-related issues.

Session topics include, but are not limited to:

• History of the disability movement
• History of institutionalization
• Self-Advocacy
• Creating a vision for tomorrow
• Local, state and federal policy
• Inclusive education and communities
• Supported employment
• And More...

Partners in Policymaking is now actively seeking applications from highly motivated men and women who have a disability or are family members of people with disabilities.

If you would like an application or would like to learn more about this exciting training program, please call 1-800-452-1936 or
(515) 281-9082, or via e-mail at: rshanno1@dhs.state.ia.us

Click HERE to view or print an application form
for Partners in Policymaking
(This document has been posted in pdf format.)

To save the application form, right-click on the underlined link and select "Save As", to download to your local directory. Then, launch Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.

Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

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Upcoming Events

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Autism Society of Iowa
Fall Conference & Fund Raising Auction
October 5, 2001
University Park Holiday Inn
West Des Moines, Iowa
All day session with Kathy Quill, Ph.D.,
author of "Do, Watch, Listen, Say"
Contact: 1-888-722-4799

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Scholarships

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VSA arts of Iowa Scholarship

The VSA arts of Iowa review committee met and selected 2 winners this year. Each will receive a $500 scholarship to pursue their study of art. The winners are:

Nina Givan, from Des Moines, a performing artist, who plans to further her professional ballet training at the Mexican Ballet Folklore School in Michigan. Nina will use the training to put together an authentic Mexican folk dance, to be presented next year at the "I'll Make Me a World" celebration. She will also teach the class at the Des Moines' McKinley Elementary School's Head Start preschool program. Nina is on the VSA
arts of Iowa artist roster.

Annette Hansen, from Forest City, a visual artist, who plans to take a summer class in creative writing. Annette says, "I want to reach out to people through my writing and to encourage others to act on their own decisions and to look to the possibilities of a brighter future. I understand others' fear such as not being able to walk and what it's like being different."

Family Mini-Scholarships
(Available for 2000-2001 School Year)

Grant Wood AEA and University Hospital School are making small grants available to individuals and families who want to attend conference, classes, or training sessions in the school year 2000-2001.

You are eligible to apply for a family mini-scholarship if:

• You are a person with a disability or a family member who wants to attend a disability-related conference
• You live in the Grant Wood area (the counties of Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington)

Grants will range from $100 to $250 per person. Mini-scholarships will be awarded for registration fees, hotel, and/or travel expenses. An application may be for more than one person. Conferences must occur no later than June 30, 2001.

Details about upcoming conferences can be found at www.DisabilityTraining.org.  An application form can be found at www.DisabilityTraining.org/minischolarshipapp.html