Though she loved the school, Angela could never participate as fully as her Class of 2005 schoolmates. She was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

Right now, she's stuck in a Catch-22 situation. She is nearing completion of her bachelor's degree in management studies, via an online curriculum at University of Maryland University College.

Angela already completed her associates degree in general management and business studies at Anne Arundel Community College. Like all college graduates, she's eager to get a job. That part shouldn't be a problem: Angela is bright, articulate and more than capable. However, she needs a car to get to her job, a car that is specially outfitted so she can drive using hand controls and safely stow her wheelchair.

That's the catch. She cannot get a loan to buy a car until she has a job. It's maddening.

That's why the Leaders in Disability Policy course, a leadership training program offered at The Coordinating Center in Millersville made sense to her. The center, a statewide disability care coordination organization, hosts the course in two locations. Much of the coursework occurs in the center's Millersville location, in the Brightview Business Center, 8258 Veterans Highway. Some of the classes are held in a handicap accessible room at the Maryland General Assembly offices. The course is taught by three to four instructors, all experienced advocates or lobbyists. Most classes also feature guest speakers, including legislators.

For the third year in a row, the course is an eight-session class that begins in September. Leaders in Disability is an advocacy program that takes its students through the steps of how to shape laws and public policies that affect disabled Maryland citizens. Angela enrolled in the program last year.

"I found out about the class online while I was compiling a resource book for transportation, jobs and other information," she said. "I contacted The Coordinating Center for information. I wasn't sure what I was getting into except that I am disabled and I wanted to help others."

She wants to lobby for better access to transportation for Maryland's handicapped. Her own situation is a case in point. She is frequently at home as her mother works during the day and cannot drive her around. There are few public bus lines on the Broadneck Peninsula, none near her home in Cape St. Claire.

The course, Angela said, "gives you an opportunity to learn not only how to advocate for yourself but for others."

"You learn how to interact with the media and with legislators."

"When Gov. O'Malley announced the closure of the Rosewood facility in Owings Mills, I sent a letter thanking him."

Carole Marsiglia, the center's outgoing project director, said "It's good to reinforce good decisions as well as complain about bad ones."

"We also teach students how to master an 'elevator speech.' It's a speech you give in 30 seconds or less that outlines who you are and what you are advocating for.

She said the classes are open to all types of physically and mentally challenged Maryland residents, as well as family members, support people, neighbors, co-workers, colleagues and friends of people with disabilities.

Or someone who wants to advocate for the people with disabilities. A dozen enrolled in 2007 and 11 completed the course. Course graduates have been involved in several issues including accessible housing, nursing home quality, expanding Medicaid benefits, and inclusive education.

The program was initially funded through an Innovation Grant from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. The grant expired in April and the center is seeking an individual or corporation to sponsor the program and keep it going.

Angela said she is learning to be more confident, as well as who to contact. "People like me do want to get out there and work, but they don't want to lose their medical benefits."

Through the course, she found the Employed Individuals with Disabilities program offers incentives to handicapped people who want to be employed.

Jodie Sumeracki, the new project director pointed out, "There are 18,000 people with disabilities in this state, waiting for services. They're sitting on lists for years and years waiting for help. Our goal is to empower people like Angela to speak up. We're asking the people affected by local, regional and state policies to talk about it."

The course is $1,500. The Innovation Grant paid that fee in the past. This year, Ms. Marsiglia said, "We're asking students to pay what they can or to find a scholarship among their contacts. We're not turning people down. Last year, it cost $150 to transport Angela to each class, but we found a way to make that possible.

Applications are available online at the program's Web site www.bealeader.info. The deadline to register has been extended to Aug. 15. If you need help filling out the application, if you have questions or need additional information, call Ms. Sumeracki at 410-987-1048, Ext. 161.

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Wendi Winters is a freelance writer who lives on the Broadneck Peninsula. Contact Wendi at BroadneckNews@quantumstep.com.