Learning through action.
The NH Leadership Series is grounded in action. That means learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom; it happens through practice, collaboration, and applied knowledge.
Throughout the NH Leadership Series, participants engage in hands-on projects designed to strengthen leadership skills and deepen understanding of systems change. Each project offers a chance to apply what you're learning in meaningful, real-world ways.
By the end of the NH Leadership Series, participants will be able to….
- Describe the historical milestones of the disability rights movement and analyze their impact on current systems, policies, and structures.
- Identify key disability service systems at the local, state, and federal levels and explain how they interact to support people with disabilities and their families.
- Demonstrate leadership skills in public speaking, storytelling, and community organizing to advance disability rights and inclusion.
- Design and implement a collaborative action campaign that addresses a current issue impacting the disability community, applying acquired knowledge, tools, and skills.
How We Will Learn Together
The NH Leadership Series learns together using a mix of:
- In-person sessions that include small group discussions and activities.
- Virtual/online sessions that meet using Zoom.
- Online assignments on our online learning platform, Canvas. You can access Canvas any time that is convenient for you and complete assignments any time before the deadline.
Leadership projects include:
Person-Centered Maps
Reflect on your story, support network, and goals for the future. Maps can be created using paper, art, or digital tools. You’ll share your map with your small group and submit it by email.
One-to-One Interviews
Interview a fellow participant and a professional working in disability policy or services. These conversations help build confidence, networks, and a broader view of leadership in action.
Action Campaigns
Work in a small group (5–7 people) to explore a public issue and plan a campaign that creates real momentum. You’ll break the issue down into achievable steps, take action together, and share your progress during a final presentation in April.
What’s an Action Campaign?
Action Campaigns are the heart of the program’s experiential learning. Groups choose an issue to focus on and work together over several months to understand the problem, engage stakeholders, and move toward a solution.
Some recent campaign topics include:
- Accessible transportation
- Inclusive education
- Housing access
- Playground accessibility
- Promoting universal changing stations
- Service navigation and support
Each group takes a different path—but every campaign is an opportunity to build leadership, challenge assumptions, and contribute to stronger, more inclusive communities.
Celebrating progress
At the April graduation, groups present their campaigns, sharing what they set out to do, what they achieved, and what they learned along the way. It’s a celebration of leadership in motion—and often, just the beginning of continued impact at the local and state level.
