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.
Senator Tom Harkin
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News and Articles of Interest
Northern Arizona Disability Resource Fair
- October 5, 2024
- High Country Conference Center, Flagstaff, AZ
Creating a Life Full of Possibilities! Webinar Series
- July 10, 10-11am – Think College AZ: Expanding Opportunities for Inclusive Higher Education
- August 14, 10-11am – Project SEARCH and Work Programs
- September 11, 10-11am – Utilizing Technology for Employment
Dr. Ronda Jenson Appointed as National Science Foundation Program Director
Dr. Ronda Jenson, professor of psychological sciences in the NAU School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and research director at IHD, has accepted an appointment with the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a program director in the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES), Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). Dr. Jenson’s appointment is through an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) appointment to the NSF. Dr. Jenson’s term as a program director began March 25, 2024
Read Full Article about Dr. Ronda Jenson
IHD’s Knowledge Translation Workgroup Makes Research Accessible to the Public
Knowledge translation (KT) is a multi-faceted, multi-stage, non-linear process examining how people and organizations with knowledge can share significant information with target audiences, often with the goal of sustaining behavioral or attitudinal change in those audiences. At IHD, we have a KT workgroup, which is composed of individuals from various teams across our institute who have dedicated time and effort to understanding what KT is, how IHD is doing KT now, and how IHD can do KT better to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of the human experience. Below is a brief summary of what KT is, what our KT workgroup has been discussing, and what goals guide our efforts.
Read Full Knowledge Translation Article
SIP-C Program Graduates
The Supporting Inclusive Practices in Colleges (SIP-C) program would like to congratulate our recent graduates.
SIP-C student Isabelle Smith graduated from NAU with her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Izzy is planning to work as a tutor after graduation to ease into the teaching profession.
Five SIP-C peer mentors also graduated this May:
- Cassandra Huntley graduated from Mohave Community College with an associate’s degree in liberal arts. She plans to pursue a degree in speech language pathology while exploring creative interests in writing and photography.
- Emma Warner graduated from NAU with a degree in public health and minors in psychology and health/wellness coaching. She plans to attend Abilene Christian University to pursue a doctorate in occupational therapy.
- Erin Patterson graduated from NAU with a degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before attending school for occupational therapy.
- Hannah McNamara graduated from NAU with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science. She plans to take a gap year to prepare for dental school.
- Martha Aguilar graduated from Mohave Community College with an associate’s degree in life science and general science. Martha plans to attend Arizona State University in the fall.
Thank You to Our Student Employees
At the Institute for Human Development, we are fortunate to employ an outstanding staff of Northern Arizona University students who take on a wide range of responsibilities. This last school year we had 11 student employees who contributed their efforts to each of our core function areas of community service, research and evaluation, interdisciplinary training and education, and information dissemination. While working at IHD, students gain practical knowledge of the disability field and develop an understanding of how IHD strives to promote full inclusion by advancing attitudes that value persons with disabilities while enhancing access to all aspects of the human experience. We want to thank our students for their hard work and for their contribution to the success of IHD!
In addition, we want to congratulate the six student employees who graduated this spring. We wish you the best in your new endeavors.
Do you have a disability?
Or are you caring for an individual with a disability?
Consider participating in a survey related to COVID-19 experiences. Questions are on COVID-19 beliefs, safety, and COVID-19 vaccination. Click below for more information or the QR code to take the survey.
Click here to see past editions of the Institute for Human Development’s News and Updates
IHD’s 2022-2023 Report to the Community Click to read IHD’s 2021-2022 Report to the Community annual report.
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.
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