Texas Partners in Policymaking Now Accepting Applications

Texas Partners in Policymaking (Partners) is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 program year. The application period opened on Jan. 26, 2023, and will close on March 25, 2023.

Partners is an innovative statewide leadership development program for people with developmental disabilities (DD) and family members of people with DD. During the training program, participants learn from local and national experts about topics such as:

  • community living
  • disability history
  • employment
  • inclusive education
  • the Texas Legislature, and more

Participants will also learn tactics and strategies to advocate for disability issues and impact policy change. In addition, participants complete a capstone project of their choosing that impacts their community. 

Graduates often serve on boards, councils, task forces, and advisory committees. Some run for elected office. Partners aims to advance systems change — creating, working toward, and achieving a vision of shared values regarding people with disabilities in communities across Texas. 

The program consists of six two-day training sessions held monthly from September to April. There is no cost to participate in the program and Texas residents are eligible to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 25, 2023.To learn more about the program, visit the Apply webpage on the Texas Partners in Policymaking website. For additional updates, you can follow Partners on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

Picture of James Meadours

This month James taught us about:

Feeling Not Worthy of Life

  • Feeling like you aren’t worthy of living
  • Feeling that life isn’t worth anything
  • Not feeling guilty about what happened in your life

Negative Ways of Coping

  • Negative ways of coping with loss
  • Not having the help or support you need
  • Helping when a person experiences a lot of trauma

If you are part of the LGBTQ community and are feeling like hurting yourself, you can call, text, or visit The Trevor Project any time for help: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/


Have you seen this website Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse & Assault? They have lots of information about sexual abuse and assault. If you want to learn more about the types of sexual assault, learn how you can stay safe, or get resources, they have it here:  https://helpingsurvivors.org/

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#IDD #Txcdd #SexualAssaultSurvivor #Neurodiversity

Lessons from the Peer Support “Dream Team”

Peer Support Specialists Ashley Sattler, Katie Sheffield, and Lisa Simmons presented with Project Director Cynthia Burrow at The Arc of the US’s 2022 National Convention in November. The session was titled “Building Better Lives Together: Peer Support that Works.” We shared our successes and challenges with a packed room. Many people were already working to bring peer support to their states. Many were excited to start the process.

If you missed our session and want to learn more, visit the Our Resources page and download our PowerPoint presentation under the “Peer Support” category. Or, email Cynthia Burrow to learn more.

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

James talking about being afraid

This month James taught us about:

Finally Telling What Happened

  • Talking to a woman from a rape crisis center
  • Feeling safe about sharing his experience and feelings 

Hiding Sexual Assault

  • Talking about hiding his sexual assault from his mother

Did you know RAINN can help people know what some of their options are after a sexual assault? Go here to learn more: https://www.rainn.org/after-sexual-assault 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.


#IDD #Txcdd #SexualAssaultSurvivor #Neurodiversity

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

This month, James taught us about:

Let Loved Ones Challenge Themselves

  • How families can encourage people with IDD to challenge themselves
  • Let them figure out who they are

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

#IDD #Txcdd #SexualAssaultSurvivor #Neurodiversity

Get Inspired in Denver!

The Peer Support Specialists team is presenting at The Arc’s 2023 Annual Convention in Denver, CO this week. Our session is called Building Better Lives Together: Peer Support that Works! We will share our challenges and successes. We hope to inspire others to try peer support.

Our session is Friday, 11/11, at 10:15 AM. If you can’t make it, you can view our slide deck on our Resources page.

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

And I was trying so hard to make friends but instead they used me

This month, James taught us about:

Loneliness

  • How hard it can be to make friends
  • How not being able to see friends outside of school hurts

Recovery Activities

  • How creative writing helped James to be more strong as a person
  • How creative writing helped James to write out his feelings
  • James’ ability to write and share his thoughts with others

We are thrilled to congratulate James Meadours! James has been appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID). We can’t think of a more deserving self-advocate.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

#SexualAssaultSurvivor #IDD #txcdd

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

This month, James taught us about:

Sexual Assault 

– How it feels to be sexually assaulted as a teenager.

– How hard it is to talk to people about sexual assault.

– Learning to stand up for yourself.

Family Support

– How families can support sexual assault survivors.

-Why families should become good listeners.

– How families can help sexual assault survivors get counseling and other services.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

#SexualAssaultSurvivor #IDD #txcdd

The Latest from Seen and Heard: IDD Community

This month, James taught us about:

Recovery

– How relationships for survivors can be hard.

Unsupportive Family

– Why survivors might be afraid to tell their families about their assault.

– How it feels when your family doesn’t believe or support you.

– Healing from a broken family relationship.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

#SexualAssaultSurvivor #IDD #txcdd

See You at The Arc’s National Convention

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been invited to present at The Arc’s National Convention in Denver, CO. The conference takes place November 10-12, 2022, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

Our session is called Building Better Lives Together: Peer Support that Works! We’ll be sharing some of the great work being done by peer support specialists at our Beaumont pilot site. Senior Peer Support Specialists Lisa Simmons and Ashley Sattler and Peer Support Specialist Katie Sheffield will lead the team. Hope to see you there!