June 2023 Grantmaking: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

June, 2023

In this past funding cycle, Coleman supported The Arc of Illinois, an organization that educates, advocates, and connects people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and community service providers to enable them to have the lives of their choosing. One of The Arc of Illinois’ primary advocacy programs is the Going Home Coalition, which is comprised of self-advocates with IDD, families, community service providers, and allies. The overarching goals of the Coalition are to: (1) create a pathway towards closure of Illinois’ seven remaining state-operated developmental centers (SODCs) and (2) increase system-wide change in IDD support structures (e.g., day programs, inclusive employment opportunities) to transition those with IDD from SODCs into the larger community. This grant informs Coleman’s learning agenda for IDD by highlighting system-wide solutions that focus on raising awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with IDD and their families, improving the quality of person-centered services, and promoting individual choice and community integration.