About

The Program

DC Advocacy Partners is a nine-month leadership training program designed to develop and train self-advocates and family members of children with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the policymaking, influencing and implementing processes. DC AP’s goal is to empower a core group of district residents to work with policy makers to improve policies, programs and services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the District of Columbia. DC AP is modeled after the nationally and internationally recognized Partners in Policymaking program, which has graduated more than 23,000 people worldwide since 1987. The ​DC AP​ Class of 2012 is the first of its kind in the District of Columbia.

Program Support

DC AP is funded by a grant from the DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC), which seeks to strengthen the voice of people with developmental disabilities and their families in DC in support of greater independence, inclusion, empowerment and the pursuit of life as they choose.

About IEL

DC AP is a project of the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL). Founded in 1964, IEL builds the capacity of individuals in education and related fields to work together across policies, programs and sectors in support of better results for all children and youth from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education and work.  To learn more, visit www.iel.org.

Program Staff

Curtis Richards

Mr. Richards is a nationally recognized leader in the disability community and he is currently the director for IEL’s Center for Workforce Development and the National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth).

Suzanne Ripley

Suzanne Ripley is experienced in areas of specialized information and referral services on a national level in the fields of education and special education, adult services and the broader field of disability studies, with an emphasis on Developmental Disabilities. 

Sherri Coles

Sherri is a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking program in Texas. She has been a classroom teacher, educational program coordinator and information and communication specialist. She is the mother of 3 children, one of whom has multiple disabilities.

Jason Farr

Jason is a program associate at the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Center for Workforce Development. He is primarily responsible for managing communications, meeting and conference planning, and editing and disseminating  publications as well as providing general support for the Project Director and staff of the Center.

Contact Us

E-mail: contact@dcpartners.iel.org

Phone: 202-822-8405