Transportation is a critical part of the employment process and is key to accessing one’s community. For many provider agencies, navigating transportation, or the lack thereof, is identified as a …
The Institute's monthly staff newsletter features news of recent activities, accomplishments, and resources. This month's first feature story is about new modules and related resources that ICI …
This report summarizes the key discussions and findings from a forum held on June 25, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Organized jointly by the Assessment, Standards, and Education for Students with …
In 1967, 29.1% of adults with IDD in the U.S. lived in large state-run institutions, while most others resided with family. By 2021, only 0.7% lived in such facilities, with an additional 0.8% in …
When direct support professionals (DSPs) support people, each life stage presents different opportunities and challenges. As people age, their decisions and bodies may change. DSPs' frequent …
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights MTI at MN APSE's annual conference and features a story from the field about a peer mentor helping a friend find a job. The newsletter also contains …
This report summarizes the seventeenth survey of states by NCEO, collecting over three decades of data on the participation and performance of students with disabilities in statewide assessments. …
Objectives : Transition from school to adulthood is important in the lives of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This study seeks to identify what models, policies and trends …
Dupree once struggled with tasks like cooking, cleaning, and daily living skills. He felt DSPs gave up on him, but things started to get better when Miss Gail came into the picture. She taught …
What big ideas have most shaped the lives of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities? To mark its 40th anniversary, the Institute on Community Integration polled self-advocate…
The Institute's monthly staff newsletter featuring news of recent activities, accomplishments, and resources. This month's first feature story is about ICI's 40th anniversary event, at which …
This October issue of NCEO’s newsletter focuses on renewal, highlighting NCEO's 35-year history, commitment to innovation, and future partnerships.Published: October 2025
As a Project of National Significance, RISP provides critical and unique insights about residential supports to people with IDD across the United States, but RISP collects other data too. While …
Michael Sack talks to us about his work with the city of Minneapolis in getting and keeping the community accessible. Then a conversation with disability advocate Ed Bartz.
On this episode of Boldly Challenging Ableism, host Katrina Simons speaks with artist and self-advocate Thomas Robinson. Thomas shares his journey as a leader in disability advocacy and how art …
Renáta Tichá is a research associate at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. Renáta talks with Katrina about her research work around transitioning to adult …
Children with autism spectrum disorder and/or with intellectual disabilities (IDD) who experience complex communication needs often benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) …
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, featuring a story from the field. The newsletter also contains upcoming trainings, resource…
The history of alternate assessments and the 1.0 percent participation cap on state-level participation rates is deeply rooted in federal education legislation. From 1994 to 2025, federal legislati…
BJ Stasio is Advocate for the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. An activist, he talks to us about his life of advocacy work—and about being a rebel.
Federal law requires states to engage stakeholders in the State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), especially for the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP). …Published: September 2025
This report presents a synthesis of the research literature published in 2023 on testing accommodations for U.S. elementary and secondary students with disabilities.Published: September 2025
This month's first feature story is about a disability rights roundtable recently hosted by a member of Congress, at which ICI staff and parents spoke. The second story concerns an upcoming …
This issue of Momentum opens with Kal-el Spears, a prospective college student from Red Lake. The News section features an inclusive higher education needs assessment and a visit to the University …
Using data from the Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) is a powerful way to tell the story of residential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It …
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights the upcoming MN APSE conference, which MTI is sponsoring, and MTI's latest Quarterly Training on provider transformation. The newsletter concludes …
There has been a shift in U.S. population health and wellness initiatives in the past decade from initiatives to describe health disparities to initiatives to understand and address underlying …
Before the Minnesota Transformation Initiative (MTI) took shape, several provider organizations across the state received support for their transformation efforts through the 2018-20 Minnesota …
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who want to live and work in their communities need committed direct support professionals, but this workforce is chronically underpaid…
Katrina is joined by Jen Sommerness, a research associate at the TIES Center at the Institute on Community Integration. Jen discusses ableism in schools and making education meaningful for every …
Katherine McLaughlin joins us to talk about sex and disability. She also shares why involving people living with disabilities in sex education is important.
The Institute's monthly staff newsletter features news of recent activities, accomplishments, and resources. This month's first feature story is about last month's successful Disability Pride …
Nikki Villavicencio is a Disability Culture and Leadership Specialist at Advocating Change Together. She is also an activist and City Council member. Nikki talks about what it’s like living with a …
Katrina is joined by Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. Chris talks with Katrina about limitations around disability and money. We also talk about working …
Kathy Ware continues our discussion on ableism in systems meant to help and protect people living with disabilities. This is the second part of a two-part series.
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights Wabasha County Developmental Achievement Center's transformation to community-based employment and a leadership needs survey. The newsletter concludes…
The Institute's monthly staff newsletter features news of recent activities, accomplishments, and resources. This month's first feature story is about the new Frontline Initiative , which highlight…
Funding for support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) comes from a variety of funding sources called funding authorities. In 2020, every state and the District of …
In 1982, almost all long-term supports and services (LTSS) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were provided in institutions licensed as Medicaid Intermediate Care …
Kathy Ware introduces us to herself and her adult child. Kathy and Katrina talk about how systems and disabilities interact—for good and for NOT so good. This is the first part of a two-part …
Background: Researchers need to hear directly from individuals with intellectual disabilities to better understand their experiences and perspectives. However, much inclusive research uses intervie…
This issue of Rethinking What Works opens with MTI offering free technical assistance to Minnesota providers who support people with disabilities in working in competitive integrated employment. …
This issue of Momentum opens with the recent killings and attempted killings of Minnesota legislators and their families. The Student Profile is Alec Willard, who is starting college. The News …
Katrina is joined by Matt McClean who talks about identity and the intersectionality of living as a disabled transgender man. We talk a little bit about the fears that trans people must contend …
Host Katrina Simons is joined by Brian Begin for a conversation about Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act—a provision that allows employers to pay subminimum wages to workers with …
This book puts evidence into action to address the critical issues affecting both providers supporting community living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the direct …
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who want to live and work in their communities need committed direct support professionals, but this workforce is chronically underpaid…
The work of direct support includes many people. Direct support professionals (DSPs) work on teams with the people they support, other DSPs, supervisors, family members or friends of the people …
The Institute's monthly staff newsletter highlights news of recent activities, accomplishments, and resources. The first story is about Boldly Challenging Ableism , a new AM950 radio show and …
In recent decades, the number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in IDD institutions has dropped noticeably. Meanwhile, the number of people with IDD living in …
Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) director Mary Hauff and Lead State Advisor on Systems Change Dupree Edwards talk about MIHEC and the importance of being a lifelong learner— …
"I was hollow..." That's how Ann describes the loneliness she felt when her brother moved away for a new job. In this episode, Ann and some of the rest of the Shervheim family share how they deal …
Lonely? You're not alone. Loneliness has plenty of company these days, and it hits people with and without disabilities in alarming numbers. Just having a disability, particularly an intellectual …
Background: Challenging behaviours such as self-injury and aggression are prevalent among individuals with intellectual disability (ID), significantly impacting quality of life. Cardiofaciocutaneou…
Direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLSs) play a crucial role in the delivery of home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabili…
This issue of Rethinking What Works spotlights resources that help disability professionals feel more confident when discussing work and government benefits with their jobseeker clients who rely …
Pervasive social isolation and loneliness threatens all of us, and just having a disability, particularly an intellectual and/or developmental disability, is a critical risk factor. Our new issue …
In this newsletter we highlight five key NCEO resources that explore various topics around the Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS). Three of these are …
In this episode, host Katrina Simon speaks with graduating student Joe Carr, who shares his “etiquette rules.” Carr talks about his advocacy work and his plans moving forward as he finishes his …
In this episode, Jeff Gentry from JVS Boston shares a story of how an inclusive group work experience turned into a permanent job for a transition student.
In this episode, Brenda Albright from Lifeworks shares a story about supporting a person who had to leave a long-term, stable job to start an entirely new career after a mental health event.
In this episode, Dominique Berg, an employment services consultant, shares a story about overcoming concerns from a person's support team and supporting a jobseeker to find a job at a nursing home …
Addressing concerns about work and benefits can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. A disability service professional doesn’t need to be a certified benefits counselor to discuss work …
This study explores the perceptions of teacher educators at a public higher education institution in Alicante, Spain, regarding the implementation of gender mainstreaming (GM) in university …
Boldly Challenging Ableism exposes ableism and dismantles myths that marginalize people with disabilities. Host Katrina Simons uses her lifelong disability and her experiences in advocacy at the …
In our debut episode, host Katrina Simon is joined by Jillian Nelson as they discuss her experiences and work at the Minnesota Legislature for the Autism Society of Minnesota. Boldly Challenging …
The Institute's monthly staff newsletter highlights news of recent activities, accomplishments, and resources. This month's feature stories concern research, disability voices, and advocacy. The …
Rapid advancement is paving the way to identify children who would likely benefit from early intervention during the first years of life, prior to the onset of significant delays in development. …
The lack of adequate support services and the direct support workforce crisis means family members are providing more support for their loved ones with intellectual or developmental disabilities ( …
Published: April 2025
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