Dripping Springs resident Patricia Gonzalez Firkser was selected for Texas Partners in Policymaking, a statewide leadership training program designed to impact disability-related policies in Texas.
Texas Partners in Policymaking is an advanced leadership development training program for self-advocates and parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD). Graduates from the program will become partners with policymakers in Texas and work to improve the lives of people with DD.
Over the course of the nine-month program, participants will attend training sessions in Austin and San Antonio. During the trainings, state and national experts will cover topics such as disability history, inclusive education, the Texas Legislature, and more. Ultimately, graduates will work to influence policy and change systems so more people with DD are fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives.
Gonzalez Firkser, who is the parent of a child with a disability, was chosen from a statewide pool of applicants.
“My goal in this program is to learn how to advocate in different ways for both my son and others in my community,” Gonzalez Firkser said. “Ultimately, as a Mexican American mom, I want to teach other Hispanic parents how to advocate for their kids.”
A total of 33 participants from across the state were selected for the 2020 class of Texas Partners in Policymaking.
Texas Partners in Policymaking is funded by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD). The mission of TCDD is to create change so that all people with disabilities are fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives.
