Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) is excited to announce the opening of applications for Year 3 of the Wisconsin Disability Policy Fellowship, a unique, full-time year-long paid opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members of people with developmental disabilities to gain hands-on experience in public policy.
BPDD’s Fellowship program is made possible through funding from Common Good Philanthropies, which supports initiatives aimed at advancing services and policies for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Their continued commitment to fostering leadership and advocacy has been instrumental in bringing this program to life and ensuring its success.
The Fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of disability advocates and leaders by placing selected individuals within key Wisconsin state agencies and policy organizations. Fellows will spend one year immersed in real-world policy work-learning how state systems operate, how laws and regulations are developed, and how public policies can better support people with disabilities and their families.
“This Fellowship creates meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities and family members to bring their lived experience directly into policymaking,” said Jenny Price, Executive Director of BPDD and former Disability Policy Fellow. “As a former Fellow, I have seen how powerful hands-on training, mentorship, and paid policy experience can be in developing strong disability leaders while helping build more responsive and inclusive systems.”
The 2026-2027 Fellowship begins in September 2026 and runs through August 2027. Fellows will receive an annual stipend that is paid monthly, travel and technology support, and a health insurance stipend. Participants will be expected to work full-time and may be matched with State agencies or legislative offices.
Who should apply? Applicants must identify as a person with a developmental disability or a family member and demonstrate a commitment to disability advocacy. Experience with state or local advocacy, strong communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are also required.
Deadline to apply: Wednesday, June 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM CST
More information is available on the BPDD Website at WI Disability Policy Leadership Program – Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
For questions or accommodation requests, please contact Sally Flaschberger at Sally.Flaschberger@wisconsin.
