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The cover of "Where Passion Meets Purpose: A Realistice Job Preview of Direct Support," shows people with disabilities with their direct support professionals. The logo of the New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation appears on the cover.

Passion + Purpose

Answering a call to address the dire shortage of direct care workers – including those who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – ICI's Direct Support Workforce Solutions has launched a trove of recruiting and marketing tools that lean into the passion and purpose of the work. The tools include a DSP handbook, flyers, public service announcements and other videos.

Learn more about the tools.

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MNLEND leaders Rebecca Dosch Brown (pictured fourth from left) and Ajibiké Ojomo (extreme right) gathered with MNLEND fellows in May to mark the completion of the 2024-25 fellowship year.

Future Leaders Complete MNLEND

Graduates and leaders of ICI's MNLEND program recently celebrated accomplishments and urged one another to resolve dire challenges facing people with disabilities. Those challenges include the proposed elimination of federal LEND and other programs providing services and support to the disability community.

"Our work makes real change in communities," said ICI Director Amy Hewitt. "We conduct groundbreaking research, deliver statewide and national training, and translate new knowledge into real-world improvements for people with disabilities across education, healthcare, employment, and community living."

Learn more about this MNLEND event.

Katrina Simons, host of the Boldly Challenging Ableism podcast, sits in her wheelchair and smiles. She is wearing sunglasses and a black top with a large multicolored heart. The background is orange with a light burst behind her. In the foreground is the podcast title, "Boldly Challenging Ableism." Below that are the wordmarks of ICI and the University of Minnesota.

Boldly Challenging Ableism, a new AM950 radio show and podcast series produced by ICI, debuted May 18 and quickly generated more than 2,000 downloads on just one of its platforms, in addition to several thousand radio listeners. "This podcast starts conversations, and the first step to eliminating any prejudice is talking about it," said host Katrina Simons (pictured). "We’re confident some of those conversations will be heard outside the disability community, and not just within it."

Learn more about Boldly.