IU's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Receives Funding to Advance Policy and Practice (IN UCEDD)
August 21, 2017
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Indiana University's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community has been awarded a five-year, $2.7 million grant to develop and advance the transfer of research and new knowledge in the field of disability studies from the university setting to communities around Indiana, the nation and the globe.
This funding also federally designates the institute as Indiana's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Such centers were created in 1963 with the enactment of Public Law 88-164 to serve people with intellectual disabilities through advocacy, capacity building and systemic change efforts.
The Indiana Institute's core funding, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living, provides resources for administration and operations. This funding supports the institute's work in disability that crosses the lifespan through preservice preparation, training and technical assistance, research and evaluation, and information dissemination. Core funding dollars are also leveraged to obtain other federal, state and local funding. The Indiana Institute reports to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Indiana University.
"OVPR and Indiana University are very proud to support IIDC, which provides such an essential service to the state of Indiana via compelling research and studies of how to best integrate Hoosiers with disabilities into a wide range of different communities across the state," said Rick Van Kooten, vice provost for research at IU Bloomington.
"We are excited and honored to continue our work as Indiana's UCEDD," said Derek Nord, director of the Indiana Institute. "Over the last 45 years, much progress has been made to better integrate people with disabilities into mainstream society. Today however, far too many people, young and old, continue to lack critical services and supports to grow and flourish, such as education, health care or community-based support services.
"As a result, a great many Hoosiers remain socially isolated and excluded from their communities and peers. This is unacceptable, and we at the IIDC are passionate about changing this narrative through our ever-evolving research, training and technical assistance agenda. These dollars are critical to us supporting and serving our partners across the state and nation."
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities have played key roles in every major disability initiative over the past four decades. Many issues, such as early intervention, health care, community-based services, inclusive and meaningful education, transition from school to work, employment, housing, assistive technology and transportation have been directly benefited by the services, research and training provided by the centers.
About the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
The Indiana Institute works to put good ideas into everyday practice in schools and community settings to improve choices and quality of life for people with disabilities and their families through research, education, and service.
About the Office of the Vice Provost for Research
The Indiana Institute receives support from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Indiana University Bloomington, which is dedicated to supporting ongoing faculty research and creative activity, developing new multidisciplinary initiatives and maximizing the potential of faculty to accomplish path-breaking work.
