What is NSIP?
The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI), a University Center of Excellence (UCEDD), University of Massachusetts in Boston, in partnership with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (formerly the American Association of University Affiliated Programs) instituted a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for National Service (CNS) to operate the National Service Inclusion Project. In this role, we will implement a comprehensive program of training, technical assistance, and dissemination designed to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in National Service.
Our project will implement a comprehensive program of training, technical assistance, and dissemination designed to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in National Service. CNS provides US citizens various opportunities to improve their communities through service in the areas of education, public safety, the environment, and other human needs through AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, and National Senior Service Corps. It is part of the mission of these federally supported programs to increase the participation of people with disabilities in national service.
To assist national service programs, the National Service Inclusion Project will develop and implement the following:
- Cluster (regional), state and program-specific training and technical assistance
- On-going needs and preference surveys to ensure applicable and meaningful training and technical assistance activities
- A "one stop" interactive website coming in late Fall
- Strategies conducted to develop state and local partnerships between national service entities and the disability community, particularly UCEDDs
- Information dissemination focusing on the opportunities for individuals with disabilities in national service through networking, conferences, postal and electronic mail.
- A National Conference on Inclusion in National Service in Year II
Considerable effort will be dedicated to cultivating working relationships between CNS grantees and UCEDD's in each state over the three years of the project. We anticipate that this strategy will increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in community service. Individuals with disabilities have much to gain from active participation in community service, as does the CNS program that involves them. Participating in national programs will enable individuals with disabilities to perform a service that can make a meaningful difference in their communities. We will be devoting considerable effort to developing working relationships between CNS grantees and UCEDD's in each state over the three years and anticipate that this strategy will increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in community service.
For information contact Paula Sotnik, Project Director, 617-287-4343 (voice) or 617- 287-4350 (TTY), or Anne Riordan, 301-588-8252 (voice)
