News @ Noon: Advocacy Training Available for Parents of Children with Disabilities

UNDATED - Parents of children with disabilities can sign up now for an advocacy program. The "Partners in Policymaking" program is a nine-month leadership program.

Kelly Korpela of South Haven has two sons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She just graduated from the program in May. She says one thing she learned is to ask more questions.

You need to not just take what is given to you, and be okay with that. If you think to yourself, this just doesn't seem right, it probably isn't right. You need to speak up and you can't worry about being 'that parent'. You need to be that parent.

She says the best part was realizing she's not alone.

I didn't realize how alone I felt until I was in a room with other parents and other people with disabilities. We were all on the same page. We all have the same sorts of stresses in our lives, and everybody understood that. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

The sessions cover the history of the disability and self-advocacy movements, and also state and federal legislative processes.

There is no cost for people selected to the program. It is limited to 40 people. The deadline to apply is July 10th.