From Inclusion to Leadership: Engaging People with I/DD in Policy and Decision-Making

Equity should be a guiding principle in public policy, but it is incomplete unless it explicitly includes disability. For equity to be realized, the people most affected by policy decisions must help shape them—especially people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), who have historically been excluded from policymaking despite being directly impacted by its outcomes. Effective disability policy starts with inclusion and listening: when individuals with lived experience are at the table, government agencies and policymakers gain insights that data and research alone cannot provide, helping identify unintended barriers, shape practical solutions, and ensure policies and services reflect the experiences of the people they are intended to serve. 

This webinar will explore why meaningful inclusion of people with I/DD is essential to effective and equitable policymaking, drawing on California’s Master Plan for Developmental Services (MPDS) process to show how self-advocates helped shape policy recommendations, served in leadership roles and contributed lived expertise throughout the process. While these practices grew out of the MPDS process, they have broader application to policy committees, advisory bodies, boards, councils, commissions, task forces and other decision-making groups. Presenters will review a toolkit outlining best practices used to engage self-advocates and will highlight practical strategies for moving beyond consultation toward shared power, accessible communication and sustained engagement. The session is intended for state agencies, advocates, providers, family organizations and community partners seeking to design policy processes that center the voices and leadership of people most affected by the decisions being made. 

Join Manatt Health for a live, interactive webinar to discuss:

• An overview of the current landscape that impacts community engagement
• Key takeaways from California’s MPDS process and the “” Toolkit
• Leading community partner engagement and lessons learned for states and other policy makers
• Roundtable discussion and audience Q&A

Panelists:

• , Senior Advisor, Manatt Health
• Olivia Raynor, PhD, Disability Policy Consultant