Each year in Washington, DC, Dan Hopkins & Associates conducts a training for people with disabilities who come from around the country.

At last year's event, 13 Latinos – all of whom in one way or another are involved in the disability field – participated in the training.

All the participants had the opportunity to have contact with people from different ethnic/cultural groups and disability types.

One of the objectives of the training was to encourage understanding among participants about the needs of individuals with different kinds of disabilities.

In this way, the participants – many of whom were service providers – will be able to better understand and serve a variety of people with different disability types, according to their needs.

During the event, each participant had the opportunity to discuss their personal experience with disability. Many discussed their disability, if they were born with it or if they had an accident. They also talked about different ways of living independently, about barriers they have confronted and overcome, what it is like to interact with their families and if they are employed.

One tendency among those participants who were employed was that the majority of them provided services for other people with disabilities. And, many of those who weren't working expressed a desire to work in the disability service field.

This was a united group that, no matter the activity in which they were engaged, was eager to learn from one another.

Many of the participants who participated in the training continue to have contact with one another. They exchange ideas, experience and advice to help one another.

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