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Empowering Communities for Inclusion
Information about the efforts of cities, towns, communities of faith, and other community organizations to be more inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
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Managed by: Nancy Sullivan of Empowerment Network Unlimited, Inc.
Product Categories
Books, Publications & Reports (printed and/or online) (63 Products)
Electronic Media (48 Products)
Organizations, Programs, and Projects (34 Products)
Online Forums (3 Products)
Other (1 Products)
People Who Can Help (7 Products)
Books, Publications & Reports (printed and/or online)
 | 101 Ways to Make Friends: Ideas and Conversation Starters for People with Disabilities and Their Supporters, 2nd Edition
This manual shows many ways that people with disabilities can make friends. | | A 5 Is Against the Law! Social Boundaries – Straight Up! An Honest Guide for Teens and Young Adults
This book teaches young people ways to keep track of their feelings and behaviors. It may be especially helpful to people who have Asperger's syndrome. | | A Part or Apart? Disability and Inclusion in the Faith Community
This photo essay shows people with disabilities being included in their faith communities. There are also written stories about disability and inclusion, and a discussion guide to help everyone talk about what they see. | | ABCD in Action: When People Care Enough to Act
This book and DVD suggest a step-by-step way to build partnerships. These partnerships help people with disabilities become more involved in their communities. | | Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith, Disability, and Inclusion
This book tells sixty-four stories about how faith communities have become inclusive of people with disabilities. The stories cover many different religious traditions and disability types. | | Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community
A book about including children and adults with autism in faith communities. This guide contains real life stories and short articles written by family members, theologians, pastors, rabbis, people with autism, and professionals. | | Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone
This book challenges some common views about people with Autism. Many of the ideas and examples come directly from people who have autism. | | Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (revised & updated in 2011)
This book helps churches welcome people with Autism Spectrum Disorder into the full life of their congregations.
| | Beyond Accessibility: Toward Full Inclusion of People with Disabilities
This book is about full inclusion of people with disabilities into faith communities. | | Beyond Tokenism: Partnering with People with Diverse Abilities on Consumer Advisory Boards
A guide offering strategies to support people with cognitive disabilities to be full partners in Advisory and other groups. | | Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community's Assets
This guide to "asset-based community development" summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of neighborhoods across the United States. | | Connecting People: The steps to making it happen
A guide about helping people with disabilities to meet and get to know other people in their community. There is also a video on YouTube. | | Contemporary Dual Daignosis MH/MR Service Models: Vol. I: Residential and Day Services
This book describes a variety of day and residential programs serving people with developmental disabilies who have mental health problems. | | Crossing the River: Creating a conceptual revolution in community & disability
This classic book discusses real community integration and belonging for individuals with disabilities. | | Cultural Shifting: Community Leadership and Change
Change and leadership are illusive subjects that have relevance to everyone, especially to those in disbility services. This book looks at change and leadership through the lens of culture and community. | | Explaining Not-in-My-Backyard Responses to Different Social Groups: The Role of Group Characteristics and Emotions
A research article that studied why people have a hard time interacting with others from different social groups. | | Expressing Faith in Jesus Church Membership for People with Intellectual Disabilities
This book guides church leaders on including people with intellectual disabilities in the Christian sacraments. These are things like baptism and confirmation. | | Feeling Comfortable with People Who Have Disabilities
This booklet reviews the facts behind eight disability labels. It also provides tips for inclusion. | | Flourish: People with Disabilities Living Life with Passion
This book has many stories of people with disabilities who have followed their dreams. It also tells the stories of the people who provided support. | | Friendships and Community Connections between People with and without Developmental Disabilities
A book about promoting friendships with community members and full community inclusion | | Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
This toolkit helps communities and local governments make sure emergency plans include the needs of people with disabilities. It was developed by the State of Texas. | | GO FOR THE GOLD: Empowerment for Life
A fun and easy to use six-part training curriculum on personal empowerment | | How To Understand Autism- The Easy Way
This book provides many ideas and examples that help the reader to understand Autism. | | Impact: Feature Issue on Faith Communities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities
A collection of articles that introduce key issues, provide examples of exemplary programs, share personal stories, and provide resources for persons interested in building inclusive fath communities | | Impact: Feature Issue on Social Inclusion Through Recreation for Persons with Disabilities
This issue of the Impact newsletter is about ways to increase the social inclusion of people with disabilities through recreation. | | Impact: Feature Issue on Volunteerism by Persons with Developmental Disabilities
This issue of the Impact newsletter is about ways to include people with disabilities in volunteerism. | | In Community- Practical lessons in supporting isolated people to be part of community
This book explains how to help people with disabilities who are left out to become active members of their communities. It has stories and ideas from all over the world. | | Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations
A book with guides to help people with developmental disabilities to be part of the faith community of their choice. It helps congregations be more welcoming and creative. It teaches support staff how to pay attention to people's spiritual needs. | | Inclusion Handbook: Everybody Belongs, Everybody Serves
This booklet helps church leaders in welcoming people with disabilities to worship. | | Inclusion Press
This group has many books and DVDs to help people learn about topics like person-centered planning and social inclusion. | | Inclusion Works For All
A fact sheet advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all areas of community life. You can download it as a PDF file. | | Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities: Global Report on Article 19: The Right to Live and Be Included in the Community
A report on how well people with intellectual disabilities and their families are being included in the community. It is based on ideas from countries around the world. | | Inclusive Ministries and Congregational Supports
A project bringing together faith groups, service providers, and persons with disabilities. | | Inclusive Programming for High School Students with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome: Making Inclusion Work for Everyone!
This book is about making inclusion work for high school-aged students. It is written to school staff and parents. | | Inclusive Teaching: The Journey Towards Effective Schools for All Learners, 2nd edition
This is a special education textbook. | | Jewish Community Guide to the Inclusion of People with Disabilities
A guide for Jewish and any other faith community organizations interested in providing a supportive and inclusive environment for people with disaiblities. | | Leisure, Integration and Community
This book is for recreation and leisure therapists and other professionals about supporting community change for people with disabilities to have full leisure lifestyles and be participating members of their communities. | | Members of Each Other: Building Community in Company with People with Developmental Disabilities
A book with a strong values-based foundation for providing supports for individuals with disabilities. It is a strong resource about person-centered planning and self-directed supports.
| | Next Chapter Book Club: A Model Community Literacy Program for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The book is about forming a book club for people with disabilities. | | On the Road to Congregational Inclusion: Dimensions of Faith and Congregational Ministries with Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
This guide has many resources helpful to clergy, laypersons, families and service providers. | | One Candle Power: Building Bridges into Community Life for People with Disabilities
A detailed description of the One Candle Power circles concept and implementation. The framework represents the best of what the Communitas team learned about supporting personal, community and organisational change in Connecticut. | | Path: 2nd Edition: Planning Positive Possible Futures
A guide to exciting, creative, colorful futures planning for families, organizations and schools to build caring "including" places to live, work and learn. | | People First Language Manual
A pamphlet about the use of "people first" language relating to persons with disabilities | | Providing Practical Support for People with Autism Disorder
This book explains the needs of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders and the best ways to provide support. | | Real Choice for Real Opportunity: Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Families Speak Out
A report about the best ways to help people with disabilities find jobs that match their interests and talents, and lead to careers. It summarizes the ideas of 144 stakeholders who gathered to talk supporting people to find "real jobs." | | Receiving the Gift of Friendship: Profound Disability, Theological Anthropology, and Ethics
A book that challenges the way people think in order to promote community inclusion and belonging for people with disabilities. | | Religion Division Quarterly
A quarterly newsletter about spirituality and persons with developmental disabilities. | | Sharing Community: Strategies, Tips and Lessons Learned From Experiences of Community Building at Options
Through photos and stories, this handbook has twenty tips and lessons for helping people with developmental disabilities to have community membership | | Social Skills for Teenagers and Adults with Asperger Syndrome A Practical Guide to Day-to-Day Life
This book is about helping people with Asperger's Syndrome learn social skills and make friends. It has tools for youth to work through to practice the skills. The entire book is available to read online. | | Spirituality and Hospitality: What the Church Can Learn by Welcoming Persons with Disabilities
This paper talks about what the Reformed Church of America would gain by welcoming people with disabilities. | | Students with Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel
This book helps staff at colleges support students who have Asperger Syndrome. | | Supporting Co-Workers with Diverse Abilities to Employment Success
A guide on ways to create natural, co-worker supports for employees with significant disaiblities | | The Careless Society: Community and Its Counterfeits
A book about full community inclusion | | The Common Thread
A collection of stories about friendship and community building | | The Community Place
A book about the experiences developing The Community Place in
Manchester, Connecticut -- a community gathering place that became much more.
| | The Complexities of Community Building
Report on a national conference on community-building | | The Disability Factor: Five Simple Tools to Better Serve and Counsel People With Disabilities
This is a book for business owners and store clerks about assisting people with disabilities as customers. This book is helpful for any community member interested in better serving people with disabilties. | | The Essence of Interdependence: Building community for everyone
This book explores how typical people come to know people with disabilities living in the community. It a manual for promoting inclusive communities. | | The PATH & MAPS HANDBOOK: Person-Centered Ways to Build Community
This handbook strengthens the foundation for PATH and MAPS by connecting it to the work of community building. It suggests some ways that facilitators can improve their practice. It suggests new ways to frame the questions in both PATH and MAPS. | | The Safeguards Letter
This occasional newsletter has many articles that help readers think about what it's like to be part of the community when you have a disability and receive services.
| | Waddie Welcome and the Beloved Community
This is the story of a remarkable man and the people who surrounded him to make their whole community stronger. It is a life lesson in community building from people who became masterful by doing it.
| | When People Care Enough to Act
A book and DVD that explains "Asset Based Community Development" (ABCD) organizing principles. These also show best practices in using ABCD to build supports for people with disabilities.
| | Who Cares? Rediscovering Community
This is an inspiring book by David Schwartz, an original thinker about fully caring and inclusive communities. This book talks about both formal and informal ways to rediscover a sense of lost community. |
Electronic Media (Videos, CDs, T.V., Radio, Websites, etc.)
| "Voices Beyond the Mirror"
These are ten short videos showing people with disabilities. | | 7 EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR SECONDARY INCLUSION
A video that offers practical solutions to successful inclusion, presented by secondary education students and teachers.
| | A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities
This film is about making faith communities accessible to persons with disabilities. | | ABCD in Action: When People Care Enough to Act
This book and DVD suggest a step-by-step way to build partnerships. These partnerships help people with disabilities become more involved in their communities. | | AutismVision
AutismVision is a video presentation to educate the classmates of children with autism. DVD and resource book were specifically developed for increasing social inclusion of children with autism, ages 8 to 11, in general education classrooms.
| | Beginning and Strengthening Inclusive Ministries and Congregations
This step-by-step guide is about helping people with disabilities get involved in faith communities. | | Beyond Disability
This is a video put together by a group of empowered young women with disabilities to discover the difference between how they see themselves and how others see them. | | Building Inclusive and Sustainable Communities: Citizenship for all (NING Social Website)
An online community with discussion about how to make communities more inclusive for people with disabilities. | | Citizen-Centered Leadership Development
This is a training program about helping people with disabilities become full citizens of the communities where they live. | | Closing The Gap
Assistive technology resources for children and adults with special needs. | | Coming Together Newsletter
A newsletter with news stories and other information to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. | | Connecting People: The steps to making it happen
A guide about helping people with disabilities to meet and get to know other people in their community. There is also a video on YouTube. | | Conversations about inclusive & sustainable communities: Six practices for creative engagemen
This booklet is about helping communities to work together. It is written by people who are experts on Person-Centered planning. | | Creating Room In God's House
In this film people talk about people with disabilities being welcomed in faith communities. | | Disabilities and Faith.org
This website offers many ideas to help houses of faith become more accessible and inclusive. | | Ending Disability Segregation
This is an online presentation. It shares reasons why people with disabilities should be included in community life. | | Faith Communities and Disabilities
In July 2009, PBS aired a short segment about the full inclusion of people with disabilities in religious communities. You can watch it online and leave comments. | | Flourish: People with Disabilities Living Life with Passion
This book has many stories of people with disabilities who have followed their dreams. It also tells the stories of the people who provided support. | | Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
This toolkit helps communities and local governments make sure emergency plans include the needs of people with disabilities. It was developed by the State of Texas. | | Getting It Right
Training DVD teaches staff how to interact and relate to people with disabilities. Participants walk away with a changed attitude and new learned behavior. | | HIRED FOR MY ABILITY
This employment video is fast-moving and is designed to encourage employers and inspire people with disabilities. In 8 minutes you go to the jobs of 6 men and women while viewers watch them work as each talk about their jobs. | | How do I feel about that?
A video about Seth Ehrlich, a person with developmental disabilities, who gives a commentary on a community’s efforts to deny a group home from opening. | | How to Make Presentations Accessible to All
A webpage that gives information about how to make presentations accessible to people with disabilities and others. | | Impact: Feature Issue on Social Inclusion Through Recreation for Persons with Disabilities
This issue of the Impact newsletter is about ways to increase the social inclusion of people with disabilities through recreation. | | Impact: Feature Issue on Volunteerism by Persons with Developmental Disabilities
This issue of the Impact newsletter is about ways to include people with disabilities in volunteerism. | | Inclusion Network: Workshops, Training Events And Resources For Inclusion
A website with a lot of information about community inclusion and people with disabilities. | | Inclusion Press
This group has many books and DVDs to help people learn about topics like person-centered planning and social inclusion. | | Inclusion Revolution
A television show that interviews experts and presents the latest news on topics related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities. | | Intellectual Disability DVD
This short DVD explains the basics, such as what intellectual disability is and is not. | | Key Resources for Creating and Building Partnerships between Provider Agencies and Religious Organizations/Congregations to Address Spiritual Supports for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their Families.
This list has books, reports, websites, videos and more. All support the inclusion of people with disabilities in faith communities. | | Living Proof: The Right to Live in the Community
"Living Proof: The Right to Live in the Community" is a 30-minute film that documents individuals with disabilities in Zagreb, Croatia who have moved out of institutions and now lead lives in the community. Subtitles in English. | | National Catholic Partnership on Disability
This agency works for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the church and in society. | | On the Road to Congregational Inclusion: Dimensions of Faith and Congregational Ministries with Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
This guide has many resources helpful to clergy, laypersons, families and service providers. | | Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Products
A foundation producing videos, resource guides, and many other products explaining how to include persons with disabilities in faith communities | | Philia.ca website
A web-site committed to full citizenship and community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. | | PLAN Institute
PLAN Institute provides training, consultation, research and publications on the values, concepts and actions of caring citizens, particularly as they relate to persons with disabilities.
| | Policy approaches to framing social inclusion and social exclusion: An overview
This report explains the need, and pushes for better social inclusion policy. | | Removing Barriers: Planning Meetings That Are Accessible To All Participants
A guide that helps organizations make their meetings accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities. | | See it! Say it! Sign it!
This short video shows how three churches are learning to use American Sign Language as part of their worship. | | The Arc PSA - Respect
A TV commercial that talks about and shows the importance of dignity and respect for people with intellectual disabilities. There is a link to watch it on YouTube. | | The NIMBY Report
The NIMBY Report is authored by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and supports inclusive communities by sharing news of the NIMBY syndrome ("Not in My Backyard") and efforts to overcome it. | | The Real Communities Initiative
The purpose of the Real Communities Initiative is to connect people with intellectual disabilities to others so they can work together on community issues. | | Values of Inclusion
In this online video, a person explains what it means to be a truly inclusive community. | | Ways to Connect with People with Disabilities
This guide encourages the religious in Knoxville, TN to become more involved with people who have disabilities. | | Weaving the Ties that Bind
This inspiring, practical on-line course teaches how to build and facilitate social networks for people who are socially isolated. It will help develop your confidence as the facilitator and will introduce you to Tyze, an online social networking site. | | Web Calendar of Disability Related Events
Web Calendar of Disability Related Events: Online Events, International Events, National Events and Events in Illinois. Free publishing for any event that is relevant to a disabled community and disabled community research. | | Who cares about Kelsey?
A film about how students with emotional and behavioral challenges can be fully included in their classrooms at school. | | Why They Gotta Do Me Like That? (The Empowered Fe Fes Take On Bullying)
In this documentary film, young women with disabilites explore the issue of school based bullying. |
Organizations, Programs, and Projects
| A Small Group
A volunteer group in Cincinnati. Its purpose is to offer a network and set of tools to create a new conversation and sense of relatedness, that has the power to produce an alternative future for the city.
| | ABCD Training Group
The Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Training Group offers practical training on using ABCD principles from John McKnight and Jody Kretzmann's many publications such as "Building Communities From The Inside Out". | | Alliance for Full Participation
A formal partnership of leading organizations serving the developmental disabilities field that share a common vision. Its intention is to help create a better and more fulfilling quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. | | Asset Based Community Development Institute (ABCD Institute)
The Asset-Based Community Development Institute is built upon decades of community development research by John Kretzmann and John L. McKnight. Practical resources and tools for community builders to identify, nurture, and mobilize neighborhood assets. | | Closing The Gap
Assistive technology resources for children and adults with special needs. | | CommunityWorks: PATH and Creative Facilitation Training
An organization that teaches people the best ways to do person-centered planning. They are especially interested in community-building. | | Empowerment Network Unlimited, Inc.
Empowerment Network Unlimited, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation that value-based information, training, grant writing, and other services to help people with disabilities and those supporting them to pursue inclusive lifestyles. | | EXPAND (Exciting Programs Adventures and New Dimensions) Program
This program makes leisure opportunities happen for persons with disabilities. It is part of Boulder, Colorado's city Parks and Recreation Department | | Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
An organization that provides many person centered resources and supports for community living. It is located in the United Kingdom. | | Inclusive Ministries and Congregational Supports
A project bringing together faith groups, service providers, and persons with disabilities. | | Involving All Neighbors
Project supporting Seattle neighborhoods to involve citizens with developmental disabilities in local projects.
| | Judith Snow
A long-time advocate who promotes the inclusion of all people and values the differences each person brings to a community. Judith is a trainer, consultant, and also an artist. | | Minnesota Survey of Attitudes 1962/2007
In 1964, Minnesota completed a survey of the public on community attitudes about people with developmental disabilities. In 2007, the same survey was repeated. This report tells how community attitudes changed, and how they stayed the same over 43 years. | | Monadnock Developmental Services
A pioneering agency in supporting self-determination | | National Catholic Partnership on Disability
This agency works for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the church and in society. | | National Disability Employment Awareness Month Website
This website has many ideas to observe this very important event. | | National Institute on Recreation Inclusion (NIRI)
NIRI (National Institute on Recreation Inclusion) was developed to provide recreation specialists with the tools to design, implement, and evaluate their recreation programs to include all patrons, with and without disabilities. | | National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP)
A project that provides training, technical assistance and products for service programs which include people with disabilities. | | Neighbours Inc. Consulting and Training Services
Neighbours Inc. is an innovative non-profit organization created specifically to support people with disabilities and their families in choosing and designing a life for themselves within their local towns and neighborhoods. | | New York State Inclusive Recreation Resource Center
A university center working to make recreation inclusive of all people. It helps people with disabilities find leisure activities, and agencies to make their programs accessible to everyone. It is located and works mostly in the state of New York. | | On the Road to Congregational Inclusion: Dimensions of Faith and Congregational Ministries with Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
This guide has many resources helpful to clergy, laypersons, families and service providers. | | Pathways to Independence Natural Supports project
A program that finds and shares natural ways that youth with disabilities can be fully included in school, work and community life. | | Peaceful Living
Peaceful Living is a faith-based advocacy service for children and adults to help them build life-long friendships within their faith communities. It is located in Pennsylvania. | | PLAN Institute
PLAN Institute provides training, consultation, research and publications on the values, concepts and actions of caring citizens, particularly as they relate to persons with disabilities.
| | Rejoicing Spirits Ministry
An organization that helps churches become more inclusive of people with disabilities. | | Religion and Spirituality Division of the AAIDD
A group for religous and spiritual leaders that journey with persons who have developmental disabilities and their family members. | | Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability Component and Community Inclusion Initiative of Canada
This Canadian initiative supports full inclusion of people with disabilities. In 2005 over 7.2 million dollars was legislated for this effort. | | Tennessee Microboard Association
A statewide (Tennessee) initiative developing Microboards and conducting related person-centered planning, training and consultation. | | The "Start with Hi" campaign
This program encourages everyone to "Start With Hi" when meeting a person with disabilities. It is meant to help everyone feel safe and included in communities. The program's website invites anyone to share a success story using YouTube or Twitter. | | The Center for Person Centered Practices
This agency helps organizations become more "Person-centered." It works in the Commonwealth of Virginia. | | The Inclusion Network Toronto Summer Institute
An annual conference in Toronto. It provides classes, seminars and activities about topics related to inclusion. | | The Real Communities Initiative
The purpose of the Real Communities Initiative is to connect people with intellectual disabilities to others so they can work together on community issues. | | Together We Play: Creating inclusion for kids with disabilities
An initiative in the Cedar Valley region of Iowa that encourages and supports community recreation programs in including children and youth with disabilities in all recreation programs. | | Yachad, National Jewish Council for Disabilities
This program believes in full inclusion of Jewish people with disabilities in community life. It provides services to people of all ages. |
Online Forums
Other
| Angela Novak Amado
Dr. Angela Amado provides training and consultation in the areas of community membership, friendships between people with and without disabilities, person centered planning and person-centered agency and systems design. |
People Who Can Help
| Al Etmanski
Al Etmanski is the President of A Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network, committed to meaningful and good lives for people with disabilities. He assists individuals and families in life-long planning including estate planning, guardianship alternatives,... | | Angela Amado
Angela Amado has conducted training throughout the U.S., Canada, and also in the Netherlands and Israel on person-centered planning, friendships between people with and without developmental disabilities, community building, self-determination, and per... | | Deborah Reidy
Deborah Reidy is President of Reidy Associates, a consulting service which helps to create organizations that contribute to the social good. Reidy Associates specializes in developing leaders, planning and implementing desired futures, and building te... | | George Ducharme
I am a retired professor from Manchester Community College. My gift to give is the ability to facilitate diverse groups, drawing out the very best from each person.
Topics such as Circles of Support,Person Centered Planning, Community Building, Active... | | Mike Green
Mike works from a citizen-centered perspective with local people at the center. The focus is on two organizing questions: organizing local citizens and their allies to mobilize their local resources to work together to solve problems, and how agencies ... | | Ric Crowley
MACROW provides consultation in system change technical asistance and training based on the principles of self-determination at the local, conty and state levels.Quality assurance and individual outcomes are priority areas. | | Shri Rao
Dr. Rao is currently a faculty member at the Department of Special Education, Language and Literacy at The College of New Jersey. Her areas of interest are inclusive education, positive behavioral supports and working with culturally diverse families.... |
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