Fostering disability advocates: A framework for training future leaders through interprofessional education

This article describes the curriculum of an interprofessional training program tasked with teaching policy and advocacy knowledge and skills specific to the underserved population of individuals with developmental disabilities. The program, guided by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Leadership Competencies, emphasizes integrating professionals in health disciplines, including psychology, together with individuals with disabilities and their family members for shared learning experiences. The article discusses the importance of incorporating advocacy training into preparation programs for future psychologists. Strategies are described in the context of Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction and include goal development and mentorship, experiential opportunities, and didactic teaching. Lessons learned and next steps, specifically related to establishing efficient evaluation procedures, are discussed. Psychology graduate education programs and other training programs, especially those that have an interprofessional focus, may benefit from incorporating similar strategies to strengthen their advocacy curriculum and foster students and trainees to become skilled advocates. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).