LEAD Program for Spanish Speaking Parents

To access this application in Spanish click here: https://forms.gle/fm9ye9obivur4gJD9

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. m. EST on Friday, March 27, 2026

The purpose of this application is to find applicants who meet the grant requirement to participate in the LEAD  Parent Program for Spanish speakers.

This program is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MiDDC) and is for parents/guardians of a child with an intellectual and/or developmental disability.


Criteria: 

The applicant must:

1. Live in Michigan 

2. Be a parent* or guardian of a child with an intellectual and/or developmental disability.

3. Use Spanish as their primary language

4. Commit to attending a 2 day in person retreat and attend 4 virtual sessions 


*Definition of parent: When we use the term parent, we are also including youth guardians and are embracing all families. We support families of choice which can include parents, step-parents, domestic partners, foster-parents, kinship- parents, neighbors, communities, religious leaders, and any other person the individual defines as a parent.


Additional Information: The Michigan Disability Rights Coalition will provide financial assistance for travel, time, personal assistants, and child care in creating an accessible experience for participants during the cohort experience. MDRC will also accommodate the communication needs (example: interpretation and translation services, etc.) of participants and any other accessibility requests made by participants.


Note: MDRC recognizes that transportation can be a barrier to people with disabilities attending events in person. If transportation is a barrier, don't let that stop you from applying. These issues and the assistance we can offer will be discussed upon acceptance into the program.


If you do not know if your child's disability is an intellectual and/or developmental disability and you would like to participate in this program. Please reach out to Lead@mymdrc.org. Or call 517-333-2477

If you need help completing this application, please contact us.

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Email *
Our Goal
LEAD strives to develop leaders and empower families of children with intellectual/developmental disabilities.  The LEAD Programming focuses on strengthening communities of color and dismantling oppression within the disability community. 
LEAD Parent Cohort Participants are:

  • Parents or guardians of children with intellectual/developmental disabilities
  • Interested in or a passion for advocacy for their children, themselves, their community, and society.
  • Leaders who live in Michigan and want to learn and eventually engage in leadership opportunities in areas where they have passion and interest in advocacy.  We define leadership by a person who has made an impact in not only their lives but the lives of others.
  • LEAD encourages typically underrepresented people with disabilities to apply.  We believe that equitable representation is essential to create leadership and lasting change.

Topics to be Covered
  • Disability Pride and History
  • Inclusion and Belonging
  • Understanding Ableism and Internalized Ableism
  • Self-advocacy
  • Disability Justice Advocacy
  • Navigating the Special Education System
  • Resources and Benefits for Children with Disabilities
  • Accommodations and Assistive Technology
  • Non-disabled privilege
  • Mental Health
  • Self Care
  • And More... 


Stipend Information: 
Participants will receive a $75 stipend for their attendance and participation after the retreat. Participants will participate in virtual continuing education sessions to expand their learning. These 4 continuing education sessions will be held twice a week . For each continuing education session attended, participants will receive a $25 stipend.
Session Dates
Saturday April 11th- Sunday April 12th . 9AM-5PM

Location will be in Kalamazoo

Four Sessions will be held Virtually in the evenings.

The LEAD Program can assist with technology needs to fully participate. 

The LEAD Parent Cohort requires a significant time commitment for the curriculum to be implemented. 
Do you have the time to commit to this one month Cohort?
 *
Your Role as a LEAD Cohort Participant:
    • Attend a training series to help prepare for leadership roles in your personal life, organizations, groups, or issue areas.
    • Engage in self discovery about areas of advocacy interest and passion.
    • Work with LEAD staff to identify advocacy interest areas and leadership opportunities available in your communities.
    • Support Lead staff to co-lead trainings for organizations on Disability Pride and Inclusion


Expectations as a participant:
  • Attend all trainings
  • To be enthusiastic about engaging in advocacy and learning.
  • Interest in leadership roles and making a difference  
  • Time commitment: attend a 2 day in person retreat and 4 continued learning sessions online.
  • Continued work with organizations, groups, issue areas after training to promote change in your advocacy area.
  • Participate in evaluations and surveys 
  • commit to participate in focus group

    • Statement on Social Justice:
    As the goal of the LEAD program is to connect parents to leadership and/or employment opportunities in the community, we are required to perform background checks.

    MDRC supports employees engaged in social justice issues.  Background checks may produce reports of felony and misdemeanor convictions of applicants, volunteers, or employees. Some of those convictions may be those MDRC considers being social justice issues. Other convictions may be for things that happened a long time ago or are not a threat to our employees, youth, or vulnerable adults. MDRC supports employees engaged in social justice issues and will consider both the type and relevance of the actions that led to any arrests or convictions.

    MDRC acknowledges the existence of ableism, racism, homophobia, and other discrimination, and these issues shall be examined in reviewing individual reports. When MDRC receives information about an employee or candidate raising concerns, experts may be called in when necessary, including the MDRC’s attorney and/or social justice advocates with special knowledge, sensitivity, and experience with similar issues.

    MDRC also acknowledges while the background investigations may reduce the liability to people we serve or interact with, especially youth, vulnerable adults and our employees, we are not necessarily safer because of the background investigations. Technology and state-to-state tracking of convictions are not reliable.

     Therefore, MDRC will consider both the type and relevance of the actions that led to any arrests or convictions.
    Physical Application Submission Information
    If you would like to submit your application physically rather than digitally please reference the following information below. 

    Email: Lead@mymdrc.org
    or fax to: 517-333-2677
    or mail to:
    Michigan Disability Rights Coalition ATTN: LEAD
    3498 East Lake Lansing, Suite 100
    East Lansing, MI  48864
    First Name
     *
    Last Name
     *
    Please list your pronouns
     *
    Do you identify as Hispanic or (Latinx, Latino/a, Latine)? *
    Is Spanish your primary language? *
    Please indicate your race *
    Do you identify as a person with a disability? *
    What is your age?
     *
    Do you have a child with an intellectual and/or developmental disability? *
    Please list your child's disabilities.
     *
    What is your disabled child/children's ages?  *
    Required
    If your child is over 18 years old, is your child still in school? 
    Clear selection
    Phone
     *
    Current Address
     *
    Current City
     *
    Current Zip Code
     *
    Current County
     *
    Do you live in an Urban or Rural Area? *
    We will be conducting interviews please select which times of the day work best for you. *
    Will you need LEAD to provide travel accommodations to the in person retreat?  *
    Emergency Contact name and Phone
     *
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