New at ICI

We are kicking of the month by exploring Black History in Boston. Take some time this month to learn about The William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture at UMass Boston, established in 1984 to address the concerns of Black…

With funding from the US Department of State, the Institute for Community Inclusion (CI) at UMass Boston is partnering with Humanity & Inclusion to announce a new professional program for the next generation of African disability leaders committed to…

The ICI’s Transition Leadership Program (TLP) prepares current and prospective special educators, guidance counselors, school social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and other professionals to help students with disabilities focus on employment…

The Institute for Community Inclusion has been working with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to expand the workforce of community-based home care workers in Massachusetts. This year, we launched the online Personal and Home Care Aide State…

ICI’s Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer-of-Rights (GATOR) project has published four new resources on alternatives to guardianship for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Guardianship takes away a person’s legal right…

This year’s annual Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Conference in Richmond, VA featured speakers and sessions about innovative technology, workforce development, communication strategies, funding, and regulations for community…

Next month, staff from the Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer of Rights (GATOR) project, in partnership with Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) and the Self Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS), will be launching a new…

Founded in 2020, Mirai Work is a small business located in Hiroshima, Japan that specializes in programming for individuals with disabilities. The Japanese word “mirai” means future and embodies the organization’s mission, which is “to realize a…

In 1992, the United Nations declared December 3 International Day of Disabled Persons to raise awareness of the rights, well-being, and political, social, cultural, and economic struggles of persons with disabilities around the world. This year’s…

Employment First Missouri believes that everyone has the right to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing, based on their unique talents, gifts, skills, and interests. Employment First promotes integrated employment as the primary goal for…

The Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE) is a new, 5-year collaborative youth transition project between the ICI, Lawrence Public Schools, Massachusetts state agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, youth with…

Kids Bouquet is a general incorporated association that specializes in flower bouquets and arrangements for sporting events in Tokyo. Kids Bouquet also provides opportunities for children of all ages and abilities to participate in sports and…

Collable is a non-profit organization based in Tokyo, Japan. Collable plans and hosts inclusive design workshops and promotes inclusive design in their work. In 2020, Collable started a study program for students with diverse disabilities to learn…

Congratulations to Think College program director, Cate Weir! Cate has received the George Jesien National Leadership Award, which honors dedicated individuals “who reflect significant work either at the federal level or across state lines, in terms…

Congratulations to ICI’s Think College and partners for accepting a $5.9 million three-year award from the US Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education to expand their remarkable work of translating and disseminating research and best…

Employment is more than just work. For many people with and without disabilities, employment is about dignity, respect, independence, and inclusion. The ICI advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities into the mainstream workforce…

Last week, ICI’s State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) hosted their virtual annual policy meeting with 24 member states and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Experts and advocates from…

The Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership Training (TRLT) is a training program for current and aspiring leaders in vocational rehabilitation (VR). The goal of the TRLT is leadership enhancement that results in inclusive, career-oriented…

Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is employment that pays employees at or above minimum wage and is performed in integrated settings, among people with and without disabilities. It is still legal in many states for employers to pay people with…

In partnership with the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI), the ICI is proud to announce the Transformational Rehabilitation Leader Training…