About Our Partnership
The Disability Policy Seminar is an annual federal legislative conference focused on cultivating champions on Capitol Hill and advancing the grassroots movement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It is co-sponsored by the following partner organizations: The Arc, Autism Society, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Caring Across Generations, Disability Belongs, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, National Down Syndrome Congress, United Cerebral Palsy, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered, and TASH. The Disability Policy Seminar strengthens our federal advocacy efforts by providing training, learning opportunities, and updates, as well as opportunities to visit members of Congress. The seminar promotes unity and movement building and amplifies the concerns of people with IDD before Congress.
Partners:
The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and serving them and their families. The Arc works tirelessly to ensure that every individual and family living with IDD in the United States has access to the information, advocacy, and skills they need to support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
The Autism Society’s mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the autism community with the resources needed to live fully. As the nation’s oldest leading grassroots autism organization, the Autism Society and its 70+ local affiliates serve over half a million members of the autism community each year. The Autism Society envisions a world where everyone in the autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it, including education, advocacy efforts, and supports and services throughout the lifespan.
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. They serve as a bridge between the university and the community, bringing together the resources of both to achieve meaningful change.
Since 1876, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has been providing worldwide leadership in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. AAIDD is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and others concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Caring Across Generations is a national organization of family caregivers, care workers, disabled people, and aging adults working to transform the way we care in this country so that care is accessible, affordable, and equitable and our systems of care enable everyone to live, work, and age with dignity. To achieve their vision, Caring Across Generations transforms cultural norms and narratives about aging, disability, and care; wins federal and state-level policies; and builds power amongst the people touched by care.
Disability Belongs™ is a diverse, disability-led, and cross-disability nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities and that advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. Their mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
The mission of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) is to elevate the status of direct support professionals (DSPs) by improving practice standards, promoting system reform, and advancing their knowledge, skills, and values. The various services and programs offered by the NADSP provide professional development opportunities along with the resulting recognition and acknowledgement that employees deserve. Whether a DSP pursues a rigorous certification or a frontline supervisor benefits from an in-depth curriculum, NADSP equips organizations with tools to help their employees succeed.
National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) is the country’s oldest national organization for people with Down syndrome, their families, and the professionals who work with them. They provide information, advocacy, and support concerning all aspects of life for individuals with Down syndrome and work to create a national climate in which all people will recognize and embrace the value and dignity of people with Down syndrome.
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) is the United States’ national self-advocacy organization. They are a national board of regional representatives and members from every state in the U.S.
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) has proudly served the disability community for over 70 years. On an annual basis, 155,000 individuals and families receive direct services and support from the 60 affiliates across the United States and Canada. UCP is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities live a life without limits.
