It is now a requirement of local authorities and health authorities that those who use services should be not only consulted but much more closely and actively involved in policymaking. Users of services need preparation for this role. They need to think about what good practice is and also how they can contribute to policymaking.

Partners In Policymaking™ is a leadership training programme for disabled adults and parents of disabled children up to school leaving age.

The course takes two days a month over eight months. It describes state of the art practice. Assignments between sessions give participants opportunities to practice skills of finding information, making contact with policymakers and people who work in services, presenting their views, learning how decisions get made and how to influence them. They are provided with packs of books, articles from journals and other documentation at each session, to form the basis of their own libraries.

The course aims to provide information and skills training so that people with disabilities and family members can speak for themselves.

The course is intended to enable participants to:

• Be aware of options and possibilities in different areas of
• Contribute to policymaking and implementation in wider service development, locally and nationally
• Become real partners with the professionals and the policymakers
• Have the confidence and competence to influence decisions about services and negotiate much more successfully when decisions are made about what is needed
• Make informed decisions on what help, services and resources they need for themselves or their children
• Support and guide other service users and families
• Contribute to the training of service commissioners, providers, planners and policymakers
  

Topic areas of the course include:

History – Of the ways disabled people have been treated, history of services, self-advocacy, parent and independent living movements.

Education – Quality and inclusive education. Outlines strategies for including children with disabilities. Supports productive Transition strategies.

Whole Life Planning – Looking at and thinking about what children and adults with disabilities will need as they get older. Includes person centred planning, circles of support, supported living, community building and exploring community.

Employment – How people with disabilities, especially those with substantial disabilities, can be enabled to do a job with appropriate training and support.

Policy Development – How decisions on service provision get made and how to influence them.

Assistive Technology – How technology can help mobility, communication, self care and employment.

Supported Living – What it takes to create a positive home environment for adults with disabilities.

Advocacy – Developing a vision for the future and finding out about: relevant legislation; how to change policies; meeting officials; use of the media; developing alliances; community organising; and advocacy organisations.

The original Partners Course was devised in 1987 under the direction of Colleen Wieck PhD., Director of the Minnesota Governors Planning Council of Development Disabilities, and Ed Skarnulius PhD., of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The World Institute on Disability adopted the Partners in Policymaking programme in recognition of its potential as a model for leadership training for parents of disabled children and disabled adults.

The first Partners Course in the UK was held in the North West in 1996 directed by Lynne Elwell, North West Training and Development Team. The majority of the North West Partners graduates are involved in many activities, setting up support groups, making presentations delivering training to service staff and working with social services, health authorities and education on numerous groups and committees, at local regional and national levels. A number have also gone on to further and higher education and employment.