Since 1967, ICI has worked to make sure that all people with disabilities have the same opportunity as others to dream big, and to make their dreams real. Our goal is to create a world where all people with disabilities are welcome and fully included in important roles wherever they go, whether a school, workplace, volunteer group, or any other part of the community. All of ICI's efforts come from one core value: that people with disabilities are experts about their own living experiences. Therefore, people with disabilities should have the same rights as anybody else. They should be able to lead empowered and healthy lives based on their individual opinions, choices, and personal goals. ICI was established in 1967 at Children's Hospital in Boston, MA by Dr. Allen Crocker. This was one of the first such centers in the country, part of a network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities established by President John F. Kennedy started this network to meet the national need for better support and training for citizens with intellectual disabilities. Through the years, ICI has expanded its scope. Today, our services focus on the entire lifespan of people with all types of disabilities. "For over 40 years, our focus has been to figure out ways people with disabilities can participate in everyday activities and all aspects of the community," explains Bill Kiernan, director of ICI. "There is still the perception out there that people with disabilities cannot work, cannot move on to higher education, and in general are limited in their activities." ICI is now based within SGISD at the University of Massachusetts Boston and also maintains its connection with Boston Children's Hospital. Our work includes training, research, consultation, community outreach, clinical services, and consulting services.
