New Hampshire has achieved national recognition in recent years for its innovative approaches to supporting people with disabilities and their families within their communities and fostering communities - where everyone belongs.
Substantial positive changes have taken place during the past decade in New Hampshire, and many of these changes are a direct result of work by leaders who have graduated from the New Hampshire Leadership Series.
The series, which began in 1988 at the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability/UCED, was modeled after Minnesota's Partners in Policymaking Series with later input from the Colorado Partners in Leadership Training. The seven-session long series is held from September through April, and provides parents with state-of-the-art information and strategies to effectively impact local and state organizations on issues related to individuals with disabilities.
More than 700 parents and adults with disabilities have graduated from the NH Leadership Series, which is updated and revised each year. These leaders advocate with service providers, use the legislative process to achieve change, and organize communities to support inclusion.
Leadership graduates serve on school boards, family support teams and councils, judicial benches, local and state government, and other community boards. Two graduates are even representatives in the current New Hampshire House of Representatives. When asked about their entrance into the world of leadership positions, many graduates point to the NH Leadership Series as a pivotal experience in their lives.
The NH Leadership Series and its graduates:
The Institute on Disability/UCED, in collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Council, People First, the New Hampshire Division of Mental health and Developmental Services, Department of Education, and other organizations, has sponsored a Leadership Series each year since 1988.
The New Hampshire Leadership Series was originally based on the Minnesota Partners in Policymaking model, with later input from the Colorado Partners in Leadership. The Leadership coordinator provides a set of readings and handouts for each session, as well as a fieldwork assignment.
Session 1: History of the Disability Movement in New Hampshire: This session describes the history of services for, and perceptions of, people with developmental disabilities - the Roots of Exclusion. We learn of the power and influence of parents in the closing of the Laconia State School - the NH state institution for people with developmental disabilities.
Session 2: Creating a Vision: In this session we hear from people who have thought bigger and "outside of the box" - beyond the traditional services offerred -- and created a full life for their son, daughter, and/or themselves. The importance of futures planning and self-determination for people with developmental disabilities becomes clear. The goal is to create a vision for yourself or your child, and to work to define the steps to make that vision a reality.
Session 3: Community Organizing: This session clearly identifies strategies for beginning and sustaining grassroots level organizing. The focus is on building allies and sustaining power in order to create change. Skills such as 1:1 interviews are practiced and polished.
Session 4: Inclusive Education: The benefits and values supporting inclusion and quality education for students with and without disabilities are presented in an interactive, personal, story-focused way. Specific strategies to achieve inclusion and quality education are demonstrated and practiced. Friendships play an important role in everyone's life - let's figure this out...
Session 5: A Good Life: Tools and options for a good life as an adult in the community are explored. The principles of choice and control of resources and futures planning are discussed by presenters who are using this option. Other topics for the weekend include: the importance of community connections, transportation issues, post-secondary education as a choice for all people, the importance of supported, competitive employment opportunities, state-of-the-art technologies for people with severe disabilities, and home ownership/control as an option and one of the defining characteristics of adult life in our culture.
Session 6: The Legislative Process: By the end of this session we all understand how a bill becomes a law at the state and federal levels, have identified critical federal and state issues, and have met with legislators to discuss issues and concerns.
Session 7: Culmination and Celebration: The grand finale! Each small group provides a presentation of their issue and what they organized as a group to address the problem. We now understand the role of when and how to use the media effectively. A graduation ceremony and celebration end the Series... but this is only the beginning of the personal, local, and statewide changes that will be brought about by the graduates of this 7-month event!
Over the past 10 years, four Advanced Leadership Series have been offered to Leadership graduates for the purpose of exploring issues in a more in-depth way. These series have varied from four to nine days in length. Topics have included:
Graduates of the Advanced Community Organizing Series recently founded ABLE NH (Advocates Building Lasting Equality in new Hampshire - formerly CAUSE - Communities Actively United for Social Equality), a statewide organization that advocates for the civil and human rights of all children and adults with disabilities and promotes full participation by improving systems of supports, connecting families, inspiring communities, and influencing public policy.
56 Old Suncook Road, Suite 2 | Concord, NH 03301