Community Inclusion

Being part of campus life, taking classes, and learning to navigate a world of high expectations develops the skills needed for successful adult life. This brief presents: definitions of "postsecondary education" and "intellectual disability"; an overview of education options; research findings on education options and outcomes; recommendations for improving access; and a bibliography with a list of websites.

The presenters lead a discussion on the importance of local strategies for building affordable, accessible housing. They touch on how to identify key partners and opportunities, create a transition support network, and advocate for prioritizing housing in local programs. Examples of Money Follows the Person grantee activities are given, with a focus on Maryland’s experiences. Resources for conducting a local housing market assessment are also given.

The Chartbook documents trends in enrollment, earnings, employment, medical expenditures, and consumer experiences and satisfaction since Kansas began its Buy-In program. Summarized are survey and administrative data that document increased earnings and taxes paid over time by participants, decreased medical expenditures for those continuously enrolled, and improved quality of life and financial status.

The brief make the case that supportive housing should be the primary housing option available though mental disability service systems. The point is based on data showing that stable, independent housing is what people with mental disabilities want and is a necessary condition for the success of other services, such as case management and addiction treatments. Further, the Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that services be provided in the most integrated setting possible.

Use the resources on this site for evaluating and making housing policies and strategies. It contains examples of proven solutions, easily accessible information on state and local policy tools, and guidance on how to put them together to form a comprehensive, effective housing strategy. The site is run by the Center for Housing Policy.

Here are resources used to educate consumers about MN’s Consumer Directed Community Supports, Personal Care Assistance, and Road to Independence programs. The first handbook gives guidance on the processes and protections of consumer direction and also provides sample care plans and assessments. The handbook on personal care assistance is available in English, Somali and Vietnamese and reviews eligibility, management, and use of services. The last guide assists in moving out of an institution.

One-Stop Career Centers serve a diverse range of customers. These include individuals with a variety of educational and work backgrounds, as well as individuals with a wide range of disabilities and support needs. An effective way to serve this broad customer pool is to provide One-Stop services according to the principles of what is known as “universal design,” using common strategies that benefit many groups. This brief discusses the benefits of One-Stop services in detail.

Young people and their families are in the best position to make choices about working when they have good information about the impact of work on benefits. The Social Security and Medicaid/MassHealth programs have work incentives that can help young people give work a try, and provide a “safety net” in case the job does not work out. The purpose of this booklet is to give families and professionals working with young people some practical, hands-on information about work incentives.

As part of these demonstrations, six successful interventions that overcome barriers to independent living and employment for young adults are studied in-depth. The first document gives detailed information on the design of the study's evaluation. The second summarizes the core components, services, and strategies of each demonstration project.

Three key issues affecting the understanding of low rates of successful employment outcomes for people with mental illness are explored. These are: lack of a common definition of successful employment; lack of clear, objective, standardized data; and differences among states and programs in measuring client characteristics. Peer critiques to the data and analysis are provided along with tables comparing employment outcomes by state.