• In 1987, the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities created Partners in Policymaking.
• Since then, Partners programs have been implemented and funded in 46 states as well as in the United Kingdom (1991).
• More than 8,600 Partners graduates are part of a growing national and international network of community leaders serving on policymaking committees, commissions, and boards at local, state, and national levels.

• National Association of the Deaf’s Leadership Training Program was installed in 1980’s to educate the Deaf new inexperienced promising leaders on how to become effective leaders of their state associations.
• The Youth Leadership Program for high school students with hearing loss has been very motivating and active for many years.
• In March 1988 Deaf President Now Rally was the national-wide influential advocacy that inspired many thousands of people with hearing loss.
• In 1992 the Americans with Disabilities Act including the vital parts on the needs of the Deaf and hard of hearing was the product of many advocates in the Deaf culture.

• The Leadership Academy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is designed for the adults with hearing loss and other disabilities and parents of the children with the similar backgrounds.
• Younger generations of Deaf and hard of hearing have been mainstreamed at the fast growing rate since the laws of P.L. 92-142, IEP, & IDEA were passed.
• The increasing number of hard of hearing people is being recognized.
• The already-inclusive Deaf and hard of hearing leaders of tomorrow needs the knowledge of power in the field of advocacy at local, city, and state levels along with their Deaf and hard of hearing organizations to make their systems change happen.

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