About
The Disability Policy Fellowship enhances students’ knowledge of the process of policy development relevant to the community of individuals with developmental and other disabilities. This one-year fellowship will involve experience in researching key ongoing state and national policy issues, tracking mechanisms of policy development, and proposing a course of potential actions/solutions. As part of these activities, fellows will be provided experiences to shadow policy meetings, attend seminars about policy development, and meet with individuals in the community working toward policy development relevant to the students’ chosen area of interest.
Outcomes
Fellows will be able to:
- Identify an issue of importance for the developmental disabilities community that could benefit from a shift in public policy.
- Develop a working knowledge for how state or national organizations approach policy problems and describe this process.
- Complete and present a scholarly project related to the chosen policy domain.
- Develop skills communicating to various stakeholders about policy gaps and progress.
- Participate as a Sonoran Center interdisciplinary trainee with connection to a national network of trainees
Requirements
This yearlong fellowship is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in a degree-awarding program. Students of any discipline are welcome. Fellows are required to enroll in practicum hours, attend cohort meetings, and participate in trainee activities throughout the academic year.
Activities:
- Regular cohort meetings with advisor
- Community engagement through policy related workgroups and committees
- Attend advocacy and policy meeting with representatives in congress at the state or national level
- Provide policy updates and emerging issues to Center staff and students
- Attend professional development and leadership trainings and seminars
- Complete a capstone project and present it at the Annual Sonoran Center Trainee Symposium
- Contribute a post to the Sonoran Center CACTI Blog
Fellows receive support to attend state and national events.
Contact
For more information or questions, please contact:
Austin Duncan, PhD
Disability Policy Fellowship Advisor
Celina Urquidez, MPH
Education & Clinic Coordinator.