Community Supports / Inclusion

Outside Resource Links

  • Best Buddies
    The mission of Best Buddies is to enhance the lives of people with mental retardation by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
  • California Alliance for Inclusive Communities, Inc. (CAIC)
    “The California Alliance for Inclusive Communities, Inc. (C.A.I.C.) is a state-wide family based organization committed to advocating for high quality community-based services and supports for individuals of all ages with developmental and other related disabilities, and their family members, throughout the individual’s life span.”
  • Capacity Works
    Books and posters to inspire person-centered work by Dr. Beth Mount.
  • The Center for an Accessible Society
    Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, The Center for An Accessible Society is designed to focus public attention on disability and independent living issues by disseminating information developed through NIDRR-funded research to promote independent living. The Center for An Accessible Society is a project of Exploding Myths, Inc., a media enterprise company.
  • Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies
    “The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service, is a partnership of people that brings together the resources of the community and the University to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. We achieve our mission through interdisciplinary education, research, community service, and dissemination of information that reflect culturally competent attitudes and practices. As agents for social change, we believe in self-determination and advocacy for people with disabilities, and we are committed to community inclusion, interdependence, and the recognition of each person’s ability to contribute to society.”
  • The Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy (CSADP)
    The Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy (CSADP) provides public education, leadership development and training, technical assistance and information dissemination, and conducts action-research and analysis of public policy issues affecting individuals with disabilities and their families.
  • The Center on Disability & Community Inclusion
    The Center on Disability & Community Inclusion, located at The University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont, is part of a national network of developmental disabilities programs established to support individuals with disabilities and their families. The Center on Disability & Community Inclusion has adopted a conceptual framework that reflects their values, philosophy and commitment to individuals with disabilities and their families.
  • Community-Works!
    This is the web page of David and Faye Wetherow, who as independent facilitators and teachers, conduct planning, training and design sessions for individuals and families, government and community agencies, schools, parent associations and self-advocacy groups throughout the United States and Canada.
  • The Council on Quality and Leadership
    “The Council provides a continuum of services and resources that increase the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and systems. The Council accomplishes this mission by working collaboratively with its customers and in partnership with public and private organizations to: Develop quality measures, performance indicators, and evaluation methods that are person-centered; Provide consultation, education, and other learning tools to build individual and organizational capacity; Conduct research and promote the availability of data for decision making and policy development; and Provide access to the latest information, developments, trends and best practices to consumers, their families, support and service organizations, and governmental organizations.”
  • Diverse City Press Inc.
    Diverse City Press Inc. produces and distributes inspiring and informational books, audio CDs and video tapes, dealing with persons with developmental disabilities, and a range of social issues. Diverse City Press aims to provide educational materials for people with disabilities and their care providers and is informed by the disability rights movement, and is closely linked with organizations and individuals fighting for the rights of all people with disabilities to take control of their own lives and control their own fate.
  • Faith And Light
    “Faith and Light is an international movement located in 75 countries on 5 continents comprising more than 1350 communities. This spiritual movement supports persons with developmental disabilities, their families and friends. The movement was founded in France by Jean Vanier and Marie Helene Mathieu in 1971. Although Faith and Light began in a Roman Catholic context, it has become increasingly ecumenical through the participation of members of different denominations. One of the goals of Faith and Light is to integrate its members in the churches.”
  • imagine – Finding New Stories for People Who Experience Disabilities
    This is the home page of David Pitonyak’s imagineimagine is dedicated to supporting people who experience disabilities and exhibit, what some have called, “difficult behaviors.” In David’s view, what’s most needed when supporting someone who engages in difficult behaviors is imagination.
  • Inclusion Press International
    “Inclusion Press is a small press striving to produce readable, accessible, user-friendly books and resources about full inclusion in school, work, and community.”
  • Institute for Human Development
    The Institute’s mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities across this entire age span by promoting community inclusion, community membership, independence, productivity, and social participation; and promoting high quality and effective community-based services and individualized supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families.
  • Institute on Community Inclusion
    The Institute for Community Inclusion supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the community.
  • Institute on Community Integration
    “We believe that persons with developmental disabilities should live as valued members of our communities, receiving the services and supports they need to fully develop their potential.”
  • Institute on Disability
    The Institute is a University Affiliated Program (UAP) located at the University of New Hampshire that promotes full inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities.
  • Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
    Formerly the Institute for the Study of Developmental Disabilities, The Institute has long been invested in disability and community issues with a mission to improve the lives of people with disability in typical settings. The mission of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is to provide leadership that enables communities to include, support, and empower people with disabilities and family members. The Indiana Institute accomplishes this by promoting innovative practices, and policies that facilitate community membership.
  • Issues in Developmental Disabilities
    A web based distance education course providing information and insights into the lives of people with developmental disabilities, their family, friends and service providers.
  • MS Central Support
    This is a web site providing support and information concerning Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
  • Options in Community Living
    Options’ mission is to provide support and coordinate services to enable adults with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes. The agency assists people to make informed choices and reach their own goals, with support available to the extent and for as long as it is needed. Options strives to help people with disabilities, their families, and the larger community learn from one another, in order to promote mutual understanding, personal satisfaction, and fulfillment of the potential of each individual.
  • Paradigm
    Paradigm is a consultancy and development agency with a difference–formed by people with a wealth of real current experience in inclusion, health, social services, community care and organisational development.
  • Partners in Policymaking for Developmental Disabilities
    Partners in Policymaking was created in Minnesota by the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities in 1987. Partners is an innovative, competency based leadership training program for adults with developmental disabilities and parents of young children with disabilities. The purpose of the program is twofold: To teach best practices in disability, and to teach the competencies of influencing and communication.
  • QualityMall.org
    QualityMall.org collects and disseminates information related to or useful in promoting quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities. It uses the format and theme of a shopping mall to help connect visitors to the best products and services available.
  • The Rural Institute
    The Montana University Affiliated Rural Institute on Disabilities is guided by values of independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The Institute is also home to the Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services, whose goal is to solve problems of access to transportation and housing, employment and self-employment, independent living, health and wellness, community planning, and integration faced by people with disabilities living in rural areas and those who serve them.
  • Training Resource Network (TRN)
    Publisher that offers resources on the full inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities, especially on the topics of supported employment, person-centered planning, supported living, and self-determination.
  • TASH (formerly The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps)
    TASH is an international advocacy association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates, and people who work in the disability field. TASH believes that no one with a disability should be forced to live, work, or learn in a segregated setting; that all individuals deserve the right to direct their own lives. TASH’s mission is to eliminate physical and social obstacles that prevent equity, diversity, and quality of life.
  • Western Connecticut Association for Human Rights (WeCAHR)
    “WeCAHR advocates for the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. We are an association of families and children building communities that respect and welcome people. We educate the public consciousness and promote the understanding of human similarities.”