Community Inclusion: Steven Eidelman

All Things Disability

Steven Eidelman says that we've undersold what people with intellectual disabilities are capable of doing. In this conversation he explains how we achieve the goal of making sure people with disabilities are fully included in our communities.

Steven is the H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership at the University of Delaware. In this role, he focuses on community based and inclusive supports to people with intellectual disabilities and their families, development of leadership in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field, and research on international policy and practice, particularly in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Prior to joining the University of Delaware, Steven served as executive director of the Arc of the United States. He is past president of the American Association on intellectual and developmental disabilities, and has twice been honored with the organization's Leadership Award. Steve is also executive director of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.

About Northeast Arc

Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps.

Learn more at ne-arc.org.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc

About Northeast Arc

Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps.

Learn more at ne-arc.org.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc