EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
WE OFFER A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR LEARNER ENGAGEMENT
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If you're interested in one of our programs, reach out to ask when the next cohort will be open for applications.
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An organization or state agency engages Centered Resources to deliver the program directly to their participants.
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A state agency or organization partners with Centered Resources to receive guided support throughout the program, along with practical deliverables that help them independently sustain operations and programming over time.
program summary
Advocacy and leadership education in cohorts of 15-20 LeadersFacilitated by ALP alumni who are educated and certified as ALP Peer Facilitators
Large group discussion Sessions and small group Learning Team Meetings
Materials include the Leader Guide, the Story Sharing Toolkit and the Advocacy Planning Toolkit
Designed as a virtual program to support access and affordability; easily adapted for in-person learning
Can be customized to a particular community or population (for example, traumatic brain injury, youth transitioning to adulthood, etc.)
Also includes the ALP Facilitator Certification component
IN development:
Lived-Experience
Peer Facilitator certification
With organizations increasingly engaging in peer-led initiatives, there’s a growing need for skilled facilitators who bring both lived experience and leadership ability to the table. Our Lived Experience Peer-Led Facilitation Certification equips people with disabilities to lead meaningful group conversations, support peer learning, and navigate complex group dynamics with care and confidence. This program is designed to strengthen participants’ skills in facilitation, mentoring, and coaching.
We have developed this certification to support organizations and individuals seeking structured, experiential education that is not tied to a specific program model. Each cohort is facilitated by seasoned Peer Facilitators and Peer Mentors.
Our certification focuses on core skills and competencies, including holding space, listening to understand, navigating group dynamics, and providing peer support. It is designed to prepare individuals to become confident, effective facilitators and mentors who lead with empathy, clarity, and shared experience.
This program is a joint partnership between Centered Resources and Access Harmony.
Ability Leadership Program-North Carolina (ALP-NC)
In 2025, Centered Resources was awarded a contract by the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities to facilitate the Ability Leadership Program (ALP-NC). This initiative was originated by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities during their 2017-2021 Five-Year Plan then developed by Disability Rights North Carolina and the Center for Creative Leadership. The resulting project, ALP-NC, builds the capacity of self advocates to have an active and collective voice in changing the systems that support them.
In 2024, the contracting entity, Community Bridges, was tasked with reviewing and updating the curriculum. With stakeholder feedback, Cameron Kempson and Hannah Shumaker evaluated and enhanced ALP’s Leader (participant) curriculum and program format. Their work centered on three primary revisions:
● The application of Universal Design for Learning to ensure that program format, content, materials and activities could be equitably accessed by participants.
● The inclusion of the lens of lived experience by incorporating video stories, first-person accounts, and story sharing.
● The development of Standard Operating Procedures to support the capacity for people with lived experience to engage in program administration and implementation.
As a result, ALP-NC evolved from a “project” into a replicable program. By the end of 2024, NCCDD approved the use of the ALP-NC intellectual property by Centered Resources so we could begin the work of consulting with other states and agencies desiring to implement this advocacy education program.
program summary
Facilitator and leadership education and internship in cohorts of 10-12
Facilitated by certified and experienced Peer Facilitators
Large group Meetings that include small group breakout discussions
Materials include the Facilitator Guide
Designed as a virtual program to support access and affordability; easily adapted for in-person learning
Can be customized to the type of program they will be facilitating (for example, peer mentoring, advocacy, leadership, etc.)
in development:
Peer Mentor &
Peer support -
People with IDD
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Peer mentoring and peer-to-peer support education in cohorts of 15-20
Facilitated by certified and experienced Peer Facilitators and Mentors
Large group Sessions that include small group breakout discussions
Materials include the Peer Mentor Guide
An internship can be included for additional experiential learning
Designed as a virtual program to support access and affordability; easily adapted for in-person learning
We are partnering with FIRSTwnc to design a range of peer mentoring education and certification opportunities tailored for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These programs are being created to support people interested in offering guidance and building meaningful connections. Participants will gain the skills to become peer mentors—people who listen, encourage, and walk alongside others navigating similar life experiences.
While peer support programs exist in other fields like mental health or substance use recovery, they often aren't developed with the unique lived realities of people with IDD in mind. A tailored program ensures that the content, communication, pacing, and support strategies reflect how people with IDD best learn and lead. Our approach centers accessibility, respect, and the lived experience of participants—empowering mentors to build confidence, practice leadership, and foster inclusive community support.
