Partners in Making Your Case is a self-study course designed to help people advocate for positive changes in public policies that impact people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Module 1 How Public Policy Is Made
Unit 1 Module 1: How Public Policy Is Made  
Unit 2 When Emotions Turns to Advocacy  
Unit 3 Why is Advocacy Important?  
Unit 4 The Disability Rights Movement  
Unit 5 What We’ve Accomplished  
Unit 6 The Parent Movement  
Unit 7 The Independent Living Movement  
Unit 8 Mr. Roberts  
Unit 9 Section 504 Occupation  
Unit 10 Self-Advocacy Movement  
Unit 11 Building Ongoing Relationships  
Unit 12 Qualities of a Successful Advocate  
Unit 13 What is Public Policy?  
Unit 14 Branches of Government  
Unit 15 Federal Policymakers  
Unit 16 How Federal Law is Made  
Unit 17 State Policymaking  
Unit 18 Local Policymaking  
Unit 19 Exercise: Match the Issue With the Right Level of Government  
Unit 20 Changemakers: Congressional Allies  
Unit 21 Pulling It All Together  
Unit 22 Partners in Making Your Case Quiz 1  
Module 2 Building Your Case
Unit 1 Module 2: Building Your Case  
Unit 2 Tools You Can Use  
Unit 3 The Advocacy Process  
Unit 4 Narrow Your Focus  
Unit 5 What’s Your Issue?  
Unit 6 The Power of Personal Stories  
Unit 7 Choosing a Specific Situation  
Unit 8 Requesting Action  
Unit 9 Get the Facts  
Unit 10 Write Your Story  
Unit 11 Exercise: Write Your Story  
Unit 12 Strength in Numbers  
Unit 13 Who Can Help Make It Happen?  
Unit 14 SWOT Analysis  
Unit 15 Identifying Personal Strengths and Weaknesses  
Unit 16 Identifying External Opportunities and Threats  
Unit 17 Pulling It All Together  
Unit 18 Partners in Making Your Case Quiz 2  
Module 3 Making Your Case In Writing
Unit 1 Module 3: Making Your Case In Writing  
Unit 2 The Case for Communication  
Unit 3 Why It Matters  
Unit 4 Choose Your Communications Approach  
Unit 5 Common Communications Tactics  
Unit 6 Put It In Writing  
Unit 7 Effective Written Communications  
Unit 8 Writing Effective E-Mails  
Unit 9 Following Up  
Unit 10 Using Social Media for Advocacy  
Unit 11 Internet-Based Options  
Unit 12 Social Networking Sites  
Unit 13 Blogs, Microblogs and Videoblogs  
Unit 14 Video Sharing Sites  
Unit 15 Changemakers: Advocates Harnessing the Power of Social Media  
Unit 16 Putting It All Together  
Unit 17 Partners in Making Your Case Quiz 3  
Module 4 Making Your Case In Person
Unit 1 Module 4: Making Your Case In Person  
Unit 2 Communicating In Person  
Unit 3 A Legislator’s Perspective  
Unit 4 Connecting Locally  
Unit 5 Connecting on “The Hill”  
Unit 6 Meet Kayla McKeon  
Unit 7 Telephone Calls  
Unit 8 Getting the Appointment  
Unit 9 Do Your Homework  
Unit 10 Put It In Writing  
Unit 11 Making the Meeting Count  
Unit 12 Follow Up  
Unit 13 Testimony  
Unit 14 What Makes Testimony Effective?  
Unit 15 Exercise: The Power of Public Testimony  
Unit 16 Getting on the Agenda  
Unit 17 Preparing and Delivering Testimony  
Unit 18 How Will You Make Your Case In-Person?  
Unit 19 Creating a Detailed Plan  
Unit 20 Creating a Timeline  
Unit 21 Changemakers: The Storytellers  
Unit 22 Pulling It All Together  
Unit 23 Partners in Making Your Case Quiz 4  
Module 5 Keeping It Going
Unit 1 Module 5: Keeping It Going  
Unit 2 Why Organize?  
Unit 3 Start With a Plan  
Unit 4 Building the Foundation  
Unit 5 Using Organizing Tactics  
Unit 6 Common Organizing Tactics  
Unit 7 Form Coalitions  
Unit 8 Engaging the Media  
Unit 9 Websites  
Unit 10 Social Media Campaigns  
Unit 11 Rallies and Demonstrations  
Unit 12 Petitions  
Unit 13 Communications  
Unit 14 Public Hearings  
Unit 15 Political Involvement  
Unit 16 Get Out and Vote!  
Unit 17 Changemakers: Disability Rights Activists  
Unit 18 Pulling It All Together  
Unit 19 Partners in Making Your Case Quiz 5  
Unit 20 Thank You!