UIC's Department of Disability and Human Development fosters strong community connections through its model demonstration programs, academic programs, and research centers. The Institute on Disability and Human Development partners with over a hundred community, national, and international groups to achieve our mission of breaking down barriers for disabled persons in society. Initiatives include the following:

• training and technical assistance programs for community agencies
• participation by community leaders in the Institute's consumer advisory board
• collaborative student internships with local service providers
• assisting community agencies in leveraging grant monies
• evaluation of local disability programs

Programs and Services
Advocacy and Empowerment (A&E) for Minorities with Disabilities examines the growing needs of African Americans and Latinos with disabilities. A&E houses the new Center for Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities Research (CCBMDR) which develops services to assist people from different cultures. The Center also examines the impact disability services have on minorities.
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/empower/

Assistive Technology Unit (ATU) designs special technology to help people with disabilities be more independent. The ATU can work with a person at their home or worksite to make the space better for that person to live and work in. Technologies include augmentative communication devices, computers, and wheelchairs.
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/idhd/atu.htm

The Community Support Program focuses on ways to improve the community for people with disabilities. This program provides support to meet the needs of the disability community throughout Illinois.
www.uic.edu/orgs/idhd/communitysupport.htm

DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center provides information, materials, technical assistance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Topics addressed includes non-discrimination requirements in employment - obligations of state and local governments and business to ensure that programs, services, and activities are readily accessible to and useable by people with disabilities. This includes access to information technology used by these entities such as web sites, software, and kiosks.
http://www.adagreatlakes.org/

The Family Clinic serves children and adults with disabilities. The program identifies developmental delays and refers families to early intervention services. The clinic works with many Hispanic families and have staff who speak Spanish. Services include hearing evaluations, medical evaluations, OT, PT, and psychological evaluations, and speech/language evaluations. The clinic also offers social skills groups, individual and group therapy, and art therapy.
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/idhd/familyclinic.htm

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) is an information center on physical activity and disability. NCPAD promotes the positive health benefits that everybody can get from exercise. The NCPAD web site provides a wealth of information on a variety of sports and activities - including downloadable instructional videos - for persons with disabilities.
http://www.ncpad.org/