The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Alyson Parish of Orange recently graduated from Texas Partners in Policymaking,

a statewide leadership training program designed to impact disability-related policies in Texas.

Parish lives in Orange and is one of 28 graduates in the 2020 class of Texas Partners in

Policymaking. Parish and her fellow graduates from across Texas will work to influence policy

and change systems so more people with developmental disabilities (DD) are fully included in

their communities and exercise control over their own lives.

Over the course of the nine-month program, Parish attended training sessions both in-person in

San Antonio and then online after COVID-19 prompted the program to shift to remote sessions.

During the trainings, state and national experts covered various topics, such as disability history,

inclusive education, the Texas Legislature, and more. During the program, Parish and the other

trainees also expanded their networks, developed informational resources, and completed

capstone projects.

Parish's capstone project was to become a certified support planner so she can help others

navigate the complex Medicaid Waiver system. With the certification, Parish can help people

with DD and their families find and receive the Medicaid services they need to stay healthy and

independent.

"Alyson Parish is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities and we're excited

to see how she impacts disability-related issues in Orange and beyond," said Dr. Beth Stalvey,

executive director of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD). "By completing

this program, Alyson joins a vast network of Texans who are creating change at the local, state,

and national levels."

Parish joins the over 700 alumni who have graduated from the program in Texas and the more

than 27,000 alumni the program has worldwide.

About the program: Established in 1987, Partners in PolicymakingTM is an advanced leadership

development training program for self-advocates and parents of children with DD. In addition to

the program in Texas, numerous programs have been conducted in the United States and around

the globe. The Texas Partners in Policymaking program is a TCDD project.