About Us
Welcome
We welcome you to the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities where our purpose and passion is promoting the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities. Our mission is to provide training, technical assistance, research, systems change, and dissemination activities focused on supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to make informed choices and decisions about their lives, receive support and services that are based on individual goals and outcomes and achieve full inclusion and participate in society, in an individualized manner, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of each individual.
We hope that our website gives you a clear picture of who we are and helps you access the information you need. The content is organized by program areas so that it is accessible and useful. Selecting any program area will provide an overview of each area of emphasis and a description of each program or activity along with their web link and point of contact. Examples of materials and resources for download, related web links, and program related webinars are also easily accessible.
Please contact us directly if you cannot find the resources you are searching for or need any assistance.
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Heather George-Peshak, PhD Director, FCIC |
What is FCIC?
What is FCIC?
The Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC) was established in October 2005 through a University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service grant award from the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Through leadership in research and evaluation, capacity building, training, and practice the FCIC is committed to developing a range of supports and services in the areas of Community Supports, Early Childhood, Education, Employment, Health, and Interdisciplinary Training.
FCIC is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). AUCD is a national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice through research, education, leadership and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families and communities. See how AUCD is 'Growing Leaders, Driving Change' nationwide.
What is a UCEDD?
UCEDDs were created in 1963 with the enactment of Public Law 88-164 to serve people with intellectual disabilities. Currently authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (PL 106-402), UCEDDs are now a resource for Americans with a wide range of disabilities. The UCEDDs receive their core funding from the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) within the US Department of Health and Human Services. (Download UCEDD Brochure)
As a UCEDD, FCIC is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). AUCD is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. The members of AUCD represent every U.S. state and territory and include 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). (Download AUCD Brochure)
Vision, Mission and Goals
Vision
All individuals with developmental disabilities will have the freedom, responsibility, authority, and support to live self-determined lives.
Mission
The mission of the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities is to provide training, technical assistance, research, systems change, and dissemination activities focused on supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to:
- Make informed choices and decisions about their lives.
- Receive support and services that are based on individual goals and outcomes.
- Achieve full inclusion and participate in society, in an individualized manner, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of each individual.
Goals
- To improve access to effective educational supports within inclusive school environments for students with IDD
- To improve access to effective early intervention and early education supports within inclusive settings for young children at risk for and with DD and their families
- To increase the number of people with developmental disabilities who are competitively employed in community settings
- To build the capacity of individuals and organizations to promote and support full community participation by people with developmental disabilities
- To enhance the health of people with DD through increased provider knowledge and community health education, and effective interactions within the healthcare system
- To increase the diversity, knowledge and skills of pre-service students/trainees, and professionals/practitioners participating in a program of study, mentored by FCIC Faculty and/or completing a core curriculum training module.
FCIC Partners
FCIC partners with the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Florida, and the Mailman Center UCEDD at the University of Miami; this is referred to as the DD Network. The DD Network partners receive funding through the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. This federal legislation requires "meaningful examples of how the Councils, Protection and Advocacy systems, and University Centers for Excellence' have taken coordinated activities" that have brought about "advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities" (Section 105).
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.
The primary mission of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is to promote innovative programs and practices designed to prevent developmental disabilities and improve the quality of life of individuals with such disabilities and their families.
Disability Rights Florida promotes, expands, protects, and seeks to assure the human and legal rights of people through the provision of information and advocacy. The Center will carry out its mission with the involvement of individuals with disabilities. The Center is committed to assuring community inclusion with adequate supports for all individuals with disabilities and will be at the forefront of protecting this right.
Mailman Center for Child Development
The Mailman Center at the University of Miami is a UCEDD that addresses concerns of individuals with developmental disabilities and children with special health care needs through research, clinical service, training for professionals and community members, and advocacy
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