Madison, WI- The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) has announced the launch of the Wisconsin Disability Policy Program, an innovative program designed to empower people with developmental disabilities and their family members to engage in policy advocacy and leadership. This program is funded by the Inclusa Foundation, with an aim to foster inclusive communities. BPDD is dedicated to improving the independence and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life. Through advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change, BPDD works to ensure that individuals with disabilities are valued and included in their communities. The new project fits perfectly within the agency’s goals. The Wisconsin Disability Policy Program aims to train future leaders by equipping people with the knowledge and skills necessary to impact disability policy and advocate for change through year-long paid Fellowships and short-term (4-6 month) part-time paid internships. This program focuses on professional development, offering valuable work experience and mentoring to enhance career opportunities in the disability policy and advocacy field. By fostering a better statewide understanding of disability issues, the program seeks to expand inclusive policies in Wisconsin. “We are excited to launch the Wisconsin Disability Policy Program and provide these critical opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families to engage in policy advocacy and leadership,” said BPDD Executive Director, Beth Swedeen. “We are grateful to the Inclusa Foundation for their generous support and commitment to supporting the next generation of disability advocates.” BPDD will begin accepting applications for the Wisconsin Disability Policy Fellowship in late June and for the Policy Internship in the fall. The programs are designed to provide individuals with disabilities and their family members with the opportunity to develop their skills in policy analysis, advocacy, and leadership. Individuals will work closely with experienced mentors and have access to a range of professional development opportunities. For more information about the Wisconsin Disability Policy Program, fellowship and internship opportunities, and application details, please visit Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (wi-bpdd.org) or contact Sally Flaschberger at sally.flaschberger@wisconsin.
