Advisory Councils

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CPAC

The Community Partnership Advisory Council (CPAC) is the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) statewide community action council facilitated by IDS’s Self Advocacy Coordinator and Interim Executive Director. The Council consists of 15 members, including self-advocates, family members, and agency representatives. The CPAC self-advocates include the presidents from the Starting Today Empowering Peers through Uniting and Participating (STEP UP) Councils, youth and young adult council extensions of the CPAC. Other members include additional self-advocates,  five parents, and five providers, including the directors of the Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities and Disability Rights Mississippi (the state’s protection and advocacy organization), a staff member of Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE, the state’s independent living center) of Mississippi, a parent representative of the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center, and staff member of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Council members provide guidance and input to IDS operations, assist in the development and dissemination of products, and actively promote the Institute’s resources and services. 

For more information, contact Jerry R. Alliston, PhD, MSW, Interim Executive Director, at Jerry.Alliston@usm.edu or 601.266.5979.

STEP UP To Leadership Advisory Council (Hattiesburg and Long Beach)

The Starting Today Empowering Peers through Uniting and Participating (STEP UP) to Leadership Advisory Council is a program that empowers young adults, with and without disabilities, to develop their voices through advocacy and self-advocacy. STEP UP assists youth transition to adulthood by offering mentorship and opportunities for socialization, community service, and leadership development. Monthly activities provide a chance to connect with others through shared interests, while also building self-advocacy and independent living skills. By fostering a sense of community and encouraging personal growth, STEP UP prepares individuals to take on leadership roles and actively contribute to their communities.

For more information, contact Scott Mullins, Transition Coordinator for Service and Volunteerism (Hattiesburg), at Scott.Mullins@usm.edu or 601.266.6129, or Beth Robertson, Executive Coordinator for Transition to Adulthood Services (Long Beach), at Beth.Robertson@usm.edu or 228.214.3422.