NACDD and CloseUp Foundation DC

RELEASE: October 20, 2015, WASHINGTON – The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Close Up Washington DC. The two organizations have agreed in principle to form a partnership focused on continuing NACDD’s effort to build civic capacity among its network of Councils while furthering Close Up’s outreach to include students with disabilities in their trainings.

Since 1971, Close Up Washington has worked to fulfill its mission – to inform, inspire and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy – through intensive week long programs for middle school and high school students, based in Washington D.C. and (depending on the program) Virginia & New York City. Since its inception, Close Up has made it priority to engage students regardless of race, gender, class, creed or disability, because it believes a democracy that is diverse and well informed is a democracy that serves all. To read more about Close Up, click here. To read more about Close Up’s curriculum and methodology, click here.

Rachel Talbert, Close Up Vice President for Curriculum and Programs, said, “We are excited to be working with NACDD to reach out to students who can benefit from Close Up. Close Up’s mission is to inform, inspire and empower young people to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy and we hope that students can come to Close Up, then dig in and get involved back home.”

NACDD CEO, Donna Meltzer, anticipates many wonderful developments coming from partnership with Close Up. “The partnership we are forging between NACDD and Close Up will be a game-changer because it sets up a two-way street – we (NACDD) are inviting Close Up to establish relationships with the State and Territorial Councils in an effort to include more high school students with DD into their well-respected advocacy training program and NACDD members will be speaking regularly with Close Up students about disability policy and advocacy, thus assuring thousands more students will learn about disability policy each year.”

The partnership will provide NACDD and its Councils with motivated and civically engaged high school & middle school students while supporting Close Up’s continued outreach to and support of the disability community. CivicSolve, a partner organization with NACDD will oversee the development and coordination of this partnership.