In 2023, NCCDD awarded seven Community Living Mini-Grants initiatives to organizations that proposed doing activities to advance NCCDD’s Community Living goal and support systems change activities or build capacity to enable individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live full and meaningful lives in the community. These seven initiatives started around January 1, 2024 and will continue until September 30, 2024. The list of initiatives and contractors includes:
Autism Grown Up
The purpose of this initiative is to create three courses to establish the Life Course Library through which individuals with I/DD, and particularly autistic individuals across life stage, will have access to more tools in transition and lifespan planning.
Best Buddies International, Inc.
The purpose of this initiative is to provide opportunities for training, experiential learning, and corporate mentorships to transition-aged youth with I/DD to build their capacity to live more successfully in the community.
Bloom Fitness Corporation
The purpose of this initiative is to increase personal health and wellness for adults with I/DD in the building of a highly accessible fitness app specifically designed for and by adults with I/DD.
Chapters Ahead Inc.
The purpose of this initiative is to develop a systematic approach for establishing Next Chapter Book Clubs in North Carolina to provide opportunities for people with I/DD to read together in a community setting and develop peer support/friendships.
East Carolina University
The purpose of this initiative is to create a checklist to address the transportation needs of individuals with I/DD to support and increase successful community living in the community of their choice. The checklist will be used by people with I/DD, occupational therapists, other healthcare providers, family members of people with I/DD, and others who can use the tool to identify skills, abilities, and challenges that are enhancers or barriers to effective community mobility.
The National Leadership Consortium, an Affiliate of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership
The purpose of this initiative is to conduct a review of organizations fully or predominantly providing community living services in order to understand the strategies, structures, and practices that advance community living opportunities for people with I/DD, with the overarching goal of increasing community living for people with I/DD through enhancing access to essential elements of community living, including community housing, transportation, and healthcare, and by building the knowledge of professionals, people with I/DD, and families about the characteristics and strategies of organizations that provide fully inclusive supports.
ZABS Place
The purpose of this initiative is to enhance the development and implementation of ZABS Place’s Dream Link Skill Development Tracker and Job Placement Portal to help more individuals with I/ DD participate in transition and lifespan planning by offering them the training and resources to gain and improve transferrable employment skills, connect with inclusive employers, and increase the likelihood of them being hired and retained for a job that fits with their career goals.
Who can I contact for questions?
NCCDD: Philip Woodward, Systems Change Manager, [email protected]
Additional Resources
Download a PDF of the list of Community Living Mini-Grants
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