Partners in Policymaking Mock Testimony

Last week, the particpants of the Partners in Policymaking program took part in practicing giving testimony at the Capitol on disability issues.

This experience is a unique one that gives participants on the course a chance to practice giving testimony to legislators so that they learn from their mistakes.

The event was well attended with seven state legislators and three staff persons.

Partners in Policymaking was created in 1987 by two experts in developmental disability issues: Colleen Wieck, Ph.D., Director of the Minnesota Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Ed Skarnulis, Ph.D., of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Drs. Wieck and Skarnulius designed the program's model to be flexible and responsive to paradigm shifts in the disability field. In addition, the program provides state-of-the-art training from leaders in the field, enabling Partners learn to histories, philosophies, and concrete strategies for creating systemic change in disability areas.

The goal is simple: to establish and maintain productive partnerships between people needing and using services and those who make public policy and laws. To accomplish that objective, the program works to educate its participants about current issues and best practices and familiarize them with policymaking and the legislative processes at the local, state and federal levels. Participants also learn what they can do to act as a catalyst for change. Upon graduation, participants use their new skills to work to obtain state-of-the-art services for themselves and others.