The Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD) improves the lives of people with developmental and other disabilities in Indiana by strategically funding grants, influencing public policy, and training people with disabilities and their family members to more effectively communicate and advocate for themselves and their communities. GCPD works to ensure that people with disabilities can live independent and productive lives in the community with the supports and services that they need to maximize their potential. The following is a snapshot of just some of the work that GCPD has done in the past five years:

GCPD awarded over $5 Million dollars grants and contracts and leveraged an additional $4.25 Million dollars in non-federal funds, including projects that:

• Increase the availability of accessible housing in Indiana
• Increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities
• Improve transportation coordination and access
• Empower people with disabilities to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Registered 11,022 individuals with disabilities to vote
• Recruited 28,867 individuals with disabilities to join Indiana’s statewide disability advocacy coalition

Over 130 policies and programs were created or improved through Council activities and collaborations, including policies that:

• Provided greater and safer access to the community for people with disabilities through the adoption of municipal ordinances and regulations
• Helped open the doors for individuals with developmental disabilities to attend colleges and universities around the state
• Assisted with the statewide adoption of “Employment First” which makes integrated community employment at competitive wages as the first and preferred outcome for all people with disabilities 

Nearly 21,000 individuals were trained to enhance their leadership skills, increase their knowledge, and more effectively communicate with policymakers.

• People with disabilities and families are members of boards and leadership coalitions and remain active in grassroots advocacy since receiving training
• In the words of one recent trainee: “For me, this has been a life changing experience. I now feel that I CAN be the change I want to see in the world.”

Applications for the Partners in Policymaking Academy of 2018-2019 is now closed.

The Selection Committee will be meeting at the end of June to review applications and select the Class of 2019. Applicants will be notified by email no later than July 1, 2018, as to whether or not they have been selected to participate in the class, or have been selected as an alternate. Because the Council typically receives twice as many applications as there are available spots, alternates are selected to fill spots that are vacated prior to the start of the program in October. Sign up for information about future opportunities with the Council by clicking here!