C2P2 - Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking

Leadership training and skill building. Up-to-date information. 

National and local experts teach participants about the local, state and national issues that affect individuals with disabilities.

C2P2 2025 graduates, a group of mixed age, ability, and gender, pose together in front of a cherry red wall

C2P2 2025 graduates at Temple University in Harrisburg

Watch: Why join C2P2 and what are the benefits?

“This is important...and everything else can wait."

Elizabeth Tolis, C2P2 Graduate

Video Transcript

ELIZABETH TOLIS: C2P2 is a program that really opens up a world of information to self-advocates, parents who are advocating for family members, to really be able to explore the different ways that we can make an impact in the community, big and small. 

YVONNE MOORE: It's like an arsenal-- 

YVETTE THORNTON: Yeah 

YVONNE MOORE: --of resources that are provided to families and to self-advocates to be able to-- 

YVETTE THORNTON: Fight this fight. 

LIAM HOLLAND: C2P2 allows people to learn about how to advocate and support their children or themselves. 

DAVID FLORIA: C2P2 is an advocacy program for people with disabilities to fight for, like rights that they have. 

KRISTEN GERHARDT: I, myself, am a caregiver of two children. I have twin boys, eight years old with disabilities. And it's so great to hear from people in the class who are self-advocates. It's helping give me a different perspective, as a caregiver, to things that I should consider for my boys. 

CLISSITA DANIELS: They teach you about disabilities and how we have evolved from what it used to be, to where it is now, and how we still need to evolve even more to make sure that every person with disabilities, again, seen or unseen, knows what is available to them, and that every one of these people can be taken care of and have what they need. 

KRISTEN GERHARDT: I think everyone who is a caregiver of a child with a disability, or is a self-advocate, should be in this class. 

SHELBY TURIANSKY: I got drug to this class, kicking and screaming and crying because I heard it was going to be 8 months. And I was like, I don't know how I was going to do 8 months. And apparently it went by, like it felt only like two months. And now I'm going to be doing that same, kicking and screaming, holding on to the tables for dear life while someone has to pull me out of there after we graduate. 

YVETTE THORNTON: Do it. 

YVONNE MOORE: Just do it. 

YVETTE THORNTON: Yeah. 

YVONNE MOORE: Just do it. Don't think about it. Put the application in. Just do it. 

YVETTE THORNTON: It's worth it. 

YVONNE MOORE: Absolutely. 

DAVID FLORIA: As silent Bob once said, "Just do it." 

ELIZABETH TOLIS: I always encourage people to come to this space. There's a million reasons why you can't fit it into your schedule. You're too busy, you have this going on, you have that going on. 

I tell everyone, this is important. It is valuable, and everything else can wait. Because the information that you're going to absorb through this year-long program is literally going to be a spring pad to every other advocacy thing that you may encounter. 

LIAM HOLLAND: You should consider joining. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

Why join C2P2? ASL Version

About C2P2

Modeled after Minnesota's Partners in Policymaking, Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking is a leadership development training program designed for:

  • Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or autism.
  • Parents of school age children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or autism.

Participant Requirements

C2P2 participants make a commitment to attend multiple two-day training sessions during the course of a year. The program selects highly motivated people who represent different ethnic backgrounds and, who for the most part are not already involved in advocacy organizations.

C2P2 2027

Application Opens October 7, 2026

The C2P2 2027 application will open on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 and close at 5 pm on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 (subject to change).

Required Attendance

Sessions are held once a month. If accepted, you must attend all eight sessions.

2027 Sessions

2027 virtual sessions are scheduled for January, February, April, and June.

Each 3-day virtual session is held on:

  • Friday 1 pm - 6:30 pm
  • Saturday 9 am - 2:30 pm
  • Wednesday 7 pm - 9 pm

2027 in-person sessions are scheduled for March, May, July, and September.

Each in-person weekend session takes place at Temple University's Harrisburg campus on:

  • Friday 1 pm - 8 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am - 3 pm

C2P2 2026

2026 details

Program Funding

C2P2 is funded by Pennsylvania's Office of Developmental Programs.

For more information, please contact


215-204-1356