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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

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 News and Articles of Interest

Institute for Human Development Northern Arizona University Report to the Community 2023-2024 IHD’s 2023-2024 Report to the Community   Click to read IHD’s 2023-2024 Report to the Community annual report.

2024 IHD Evidence for Success Disability Conference: A Recap

IHD 2024 Evidence for Success Disability Conference logo says logo says Access, Attitude, and Inclusion in a blue arrow surrounding the letters IHD with a face, a gear, and a capital USIHD would like to thank the 540 attendees who joined us for our 25th annual IHD Evidence for Success Disability Conference! Held from June 2-4, 2024 at the Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, AZ, the conference featured keynote talks by self-advocates Mike May and Nina G, as well as 60 educational sessions and an exhibit hall with 50 assistive technology companies, government agencies, and disability organizations.

Read Full IHD Conferance Recap

IHD Featured Project Brief

IHD recently published a featured program news brief, titled “Adaptive Gaming Clinic Helps Individuals With Disabilities Experience the Benefits of Gaming.”Thumbnail image shows a newsletter cover page that says Institute for Human Development News & Updates and shows the cover page of the Featured Project with text and a photo that are too small to distinguish

There is emerging evidence that playing video games can have positive effects on mental health and well-being, especially for individuals with disabilities. However, traditional video game controllers and setups can be difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to use. Adaptive gaming enables individuals with disabilities to customize their gaming experience to meet their needs. Check out our new feature to learn more about the Arizona Technology Access Program’s free Adaptive Gaming Clinic, which helps individuals with disabilities experience the benefits of adaptive gaming by connecting them with appropriate equipment, software, and resources.

Read the featured project brief

IHD is Pleased to Announce Four New Grant Awards!

  1. IHD received a $50,000 award from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC) to launch the ATLAS (Advancing Assistive Technology for Learning and Accessibility in Higher Education for Students with I/DD) Project. ATLAS is a one-year model demonstration project that will significantly contribute to the field of inclusive postsecondary education. Through the use of targeted assistive technology training, assessment, intervention, and support, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) will have access to enhanced learning experiences and increase their independence. For more information, email Dr. Sakénya McDonald (sakenya.mcdonald@nau.edu).
  2. IHD has also received funding from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC) to create and implement statewide Online Privacy and Safety (OPS) trainings. These trainings will teach individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) essential skills to safely navigate the Internet. By collaborating with participants and incorporating their feedback into the training, OPS seeks to empower people with I/DD to (1) safely navigate online environments, (2) connect with their friends, family, and community, and (3) enhance their access to all aspects of the human experience. For more information email Dr. Jade Metzger (Jade.Metzger@nau.edu).
  3. PATHS: Providing Accessible Training and Home Support for Parents with Intellectual Disabilities received a second year of funding from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. With this continued funding, the PATHS team will focus on developing and delivering training to home visiting professionals serving parents of young children throughout the state of Arizona.  The purpose of this training is to educate home visitors about the needs of parents with intellectual disabilities and how to support them. For more information, contact Dr. Sara Clancy (Sara.Clancey@nau.edu).
  4. With funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, collaborators from IHD and the NAU College of Health and Human Services have begun a new research project, Advancing Hózhó in Autism Assessment (AHAA) for Diné Families. The goal of this research is to identify methods of improving the cultural responsiveness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessment practices for Diné families. For more information, contact the research team: Dr. Ronda Jenson (ronda.jenson@nau.edu), Dr. Olivia Lindly (Olivia.Lindly@nau.edu), and Dr. Davis Henderson (Davis.Henderson@nau.edu).

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.

COVID-19 Project

QR code for the survey https://qualtrics.nau.edu/jfe/form/SV_0Di729EOGgTRo6G?Q_CHL=qr

 

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.

A child is navigating an augmentative and alternative speech device as a service provider looks on to give guidance when necessary.
Speech and Language / AAC Assessments and Trainings

 

 

 

 

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AUCD: Growing Leaders, Driving Change

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This website is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $673,700 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.

Institute for Human Development
Location
Room 101 Building 27A
Institute for Human Development
PO Box 5630
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5630
Mailing Address
912 W Riordan Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5630