Institute On Community Integration

The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota pushes the edge of inclusion through an intensive focus on policies and practices that affect children, youth, and adults with disabilities, and those receiving educational supports. ICI’s collaborative research, training, and information-sharing ensure that people with disabilities are valued by, included in, and contribute to their communities of choice throughout their lifetime. ICI works with service providers, policymakers, educators, employers, advocacy organizations, researchers, families, community members, and individuals with disabilities around the world, building communities that are inclusive. ICI is a designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, part of a national network of similar programs in major universities and teaching hospitals across the country. The Institute is home to over 70 projects, addressing disability issues across the lifespan. ICI conducts the following four core activities – Interdisciplinary Education & Training, providing training for students, paraprofessionals, professionals, and leaders seeking to better support persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Technical Assistance, offering training, consultation, and program evaluation services to enhance the capacity of existing agencies and services. Research, improving policies & practices affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through applied research, conducted in collaboration with organizations, agencies, colleges, and universities around the globe. Dissemination, sharing information through newsletters, curricula, training materials, resource guides, reports, brochures, journal articles, books, websites, videos, social media, and other resources. Many research findings are translated into plain-language resources tailored to specific audiences, including people with intellectual disabilities.