What is FCIC?

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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, Transition, 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.

What is a UCEDD?

Man in wheelchair. 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, & 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 placements for individuals with developmental disabilities.
To expand the availability and choice of employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
To increase meaningful participation in community activities, services, and supports, for individuals with developmental disabilities.
To improve access and quality of health care for individuals with developmental disabilities.
To increase the number of professionals and practitioners who receive training from FCIC to strengthen the capacity of Florida to achieve the purpose of the DD Act.

Cultural Competence

The achievement of cultural competence within the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities is a goal central to our mission. This goal means we are committed to the reduction of disparity in developmental disabilities and health across all cultures, races, ethnic groups, sexual orientation, and faiths or religions. We promote the worth and dignity of individuals, families, and communities through an ongoing educational process where we continuously update our cultural awareness, knowledge, skills, and abilities as a UCEDD. To this end, we will engage in the continuous process of integrating linguistic and cultural diversity into our research, training, and service through our informal and formal partnerships with individuals, families, organizations/agencies, tribes and communities at large.

Hands piled together represeting a diverse team.

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