Inclusion Research Institute

Inclusion Research Institute (IRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia. The primary mission of IRI is to research, develop and disseminate innovations that enable persons of all ages, including individuals with disabilities or other disadvantages, to be independent, productive and included in schools, communities, and places of employment. In pursuit of this mission, IRI engages in these core activities:

Working with people with disabilities to support and foster independence, productivity, and inclusion by drawing upon resources in the community. An emphasis is placed on education, training, work and community life.
Working to empower people with disabilities through training so they can assume responsibility for their well-being.
Identifying community resources for people with disabilities.
Educating agencies and organizations to be better able to assist people with disabilities.
Educating and training professionals, consumers, and family members about innovative approaches that enable persons with disabilities or other disadvantages to be fully included in their communities.
Disseminating information on the results of research and development of policies and programs by IRI in any area.

Inclusion Research Institute (IRI) has national credentials for identifying, recruiting and preparing people with disabilities and their advocates to participate effectively in policy-making. In addition, IRI also has a history of preparing agencies and organizations to include people with disabilities in the workplace and in the development of policies and procedures. For example, IRI recently completed a three-year Project of National Significance for the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in The Department of Health and Human Services that focused on the preparation of people with significant disabilities and their families to become advocates for disability policy with the federal government.