Partners in Policymaking
New Partners in Policymaking (PIP) Class Coming in Fall of 2027 - Stay Tuned!
More information will be released in Fall of 2026 and the application will be released in January 2027.
What is PIP?
Partners in Policymaking (PIP) is a leadership and advocacy training program designed for adults with developmental disabilities and parents or family members of individuals with developmental disabilities.
The goal of PIP is to educate people with developmental disabilities, their family members, and supporters to become active partners with those who make the policies that impact their daily lives and opportunities for an appropriate, inclusive education, competitive community employment, independent living, and community inclusion. In other words, PIP focuses on helping people with developmental disabilities and their supporters to build positive, personal relationships with policymakers and become partners in the policymaking process to change the system that supports – and sometimes restricts – the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
What topics are covered in PIP?
- Disability History and Policy
- Inclusive and Integrated Home and Community Living
- Inclusive Education and Lifelong Learning
- Supported Employment
- Community Organizing and Advocacy
- How to Effectively Tell Your Story
- State and Federal Legislative Process
- Parliamentary Procedure
- Surveying on Boards
- Supported Decision Making
- Medical Safeguarding
How is PIP offered?
The Council uses a variety of ways to offer this training to each PIP class. PIP usually spans 8 months. PIP is a nationally-recognized training that requires 128 hours of learning through:
- Monthly self-paced learning at home with homework.
- Three in-person meetings usually over a Friday and Saturday.
- Five virtual meetings with each being 4-6 hours.
How much does PIP cost?
There is no cost for selected participants. The WVDDC covers travel, lodging, meals, and other associated costs for participants to attend.