By HEATHER WRIGHT
Last spring, while volunteering at a day program in Barcelona for those with disabilities, Rachel Fredman struggled with Spanish words during a charades-like game. Members of the disability community coached her, helping her expand her Spanish vocabulary. That experience propelled her to help found Ready 4 Advocacy, a fellowship program for youth in Prince George’s County who have intellectual or developmental disabilities and want to become community advocates and leaders. The program is offered through The Arc Prince George’s County (The Arc PGC), a disability advocacy organization.
“I kind of realized that there was a lack of opportunity … for those with disabilities to be leaders,” Fredman, a University of Maryland senior who is interning with The Arc PGC, said.
In its inaugural year, which began this past September, The Arc’s Ready 4 Advocacy program has 12 fellows, aged 16 to 25, who each receive a $500 stipend for their year-long participation, according to Fredman. Fellows meet twice a month, do weekly check-ins with a coach, practice social and advocacy skills, learn about mental health and wellness, volunteer for 15 hours in the community, and serve as peer ambassadors for The Arc PGC.
On Feb. 13, Fredman and other disability activists will journey to Annapolis for Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature (DD Day). At least three fellows from the Ready 4 Advocacy program will go with a larger group from The Arc PGC, ready and eager to practice their leadership and communication skills as they advocate for disability support and awareness.
“My hope for DD Day is that people with disabilities, that we come together, and we show our legislators that we’re strong, we’re a strong community, that we have a strong voice and that we’re unified,” said Emmanuel James-Brooks, 20, Glenarden resident and Ready 4 Advocacy fellow.
