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Institute for Human Development

Changing the way you experience the world

Access | Attitude | Inclusion

Our Work:

Impacts people at all life stages – individually and socially
Facilitates research and programming to inform change that positively impacts individuals with disabilities

Vision: People with disabilities fully participate in all life experiences.

Mission: Promote full inclusion by advancing attitudes that value persons with disabilities while enhancing access to all aspects of the human experience.

IHD fosters the development of attitudes that promote the increased inclusion of individuals with disabilities in their communities. Attitudes, as barriers to or facilitators of inclusion, go hand-in-hand with access. Access, commonly thought of as access to services and supports, has a much broader meaning: while services are essential for inclusion, access also refers to access to information, education, inclusive physical environments, community participation, friendships, and relationships. Conceptually, access and attitude have reciprocal roles in promoting or inhibiting inclusion.

The toughest barriers faced by people with disabilities are not architectural, they are attitudinal. They are not in the environment, they are in our hearts and in our minds. When people with disabilities are integrated throughout our communities, we are given the opportunity to change our attitudes from ones based on stereotypes, fear, and ignorance, to ones based on admiration, acceptance, and affection… We all gain from the opportunity to experience people with developmental disabilities as friends, as neighbors, as coworkers, as classmates.

Senator Tom Harkin

Explore our degrees

News and Articles of Interest

“Amplifying Voices of Disability”
Virtual Day of Learning
February 27, 2025

Join us on February 27, 2025 for a virtual event featuring disability activists and self-advocates discussing topics that matter to them!

Hosted by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) at Northern Arizona University, Amplifying Voices of Disability is a virtual day of learning focusing on timely, hot-button issues from the point of view of those with lived experience of disability. Topics include parenting with disabilities; assigning value to the unique skills and resilience gained from navigating life with a disability; moving toward disability justice as the ultimate goal of inclusion; improving employment readiness training for individuals with disabilities; and the differences between guide dogs and emotional support animals.

Our New Northern Arizona Disability Resource Fair Was a Huge Success!

The inaugural Northern Arizona Disability Resource Fair took place at the High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff, AZ on Saturday, October 5. Developed in response to community requests, the fair was hosted by the Institute for Human Development and Care 4 the Caregivers in collaboration with High Country Adaptive Sports and United Way of Northern Arizona. The event featured a vibrant event hall with 35 exhibitors representing a wide range of local disability resources and supports, including service providers, non-profit organizations, assistive technology companies, and local, state, and governmental agencies.

Click for more information about the 2024 Resource Fair

SIP-C Inclusive Drone Flight Field Trip

On October 11, an undergraduate student with a disability in IHD’s Supporting Inclusive Practices in Colleges (SIP-C) program went on an inclusive field trip with NAU faculty. Their destination was Hochderffer Hills, a scenic area in the Coconino National Forest outside of Flagstaff, where they conducted a drone flight to view the aspens at their peak fall color. Below are some observations on this field trip by the faculty and graduate student involved.

Click to read more about the field trip

TAPDINTO-STEM Mountain Hub Convening:
Empowering Students with Disabilities in STEM

The first ever gathering of TAPDINTO-STEM Mountain Hub students, faculty, and staff took place on November 7-9 at the NAU campus. It brought together five campus communities and approximately 30 student scientists with disabilities, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) faculty, university staff, and community disability advocates to discuss the rights of people with disabilities in STEM education and the STEM workforce. The event celebrated disability and neurodivergence, professional development, and scientific excellence.

IHD Evidence for Success Disability Conference

June 23-24

Wild Horse Pass Resort, Chandler, AZ

Click for more information about the conference

Institute for Human Development Northern Arizona University Report to the Community 2023-2024

Click to read IHD’s 2023-2024 Report to the Community annual report.

Click here to see past editions of the Institute for Human Development’s News and Updates

Parents, family members, or professionals in the field, do you need information on an AAC Evaluation? Go to the NAU AAC Evaluation Page for program and contact information.