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OUR MISSION
OUR MISSION
We help communities create inclusive, meaningful programs for adults with disabilities by designing accessible frameworks, practical tools, and staff training that organizations implement locally.
We envision a world where communities are strengthened through shared creativity, reuse, and connection.
Adults with disabilities have consistent access to creative, engaging, and dignity-centered opportunities
Programs are designed around people, not the other way around
Sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion reinforce one another
OUR CORE VALUES
OUR CORE VALUES
Accessibility & Inclusion
Accessibility & Inclusion
Access is not an add-on — it’s the starting point.
We design with diverse communication styles, sensory needs, and abilities in mind so more people can participate fully.
Dignity & Choice
Dignity & Choice
People are not problems to be solved.
We center autonomy, agency, and meaningful choice in how programs are designed and experienced.
Creativity & Joy
Creativity & Joy
Creative work isn’t about output — it’s about expression, engagement, and connection.
We value joy, curiosity, and process as much as outcomes.
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Materials matter.
Creative reuse and sustainability are woven into our work as a way to care for communities and the planet at the same time.
Community Connection
Community Connection
Programs don’t exist in isolation.
We design models that strengthen relationships between organizations, participants, educators, donors, and neighbors.
Integrity & Accountability
Integrity & Accountability
We are thoughtful about what we claim, how we measure impact, and how we grow.
Learning, reflection, and improvement are built into everything we do.
WHERE WE STARTED
WHERE WE STARTED
DDI did not begin as a creative program. It began as a capacity problem.
DDI was shaped by lived experience inside nonprofit and educational settings serving individuals with disabilities — where the desire to build thoughtful, inclusive programs often ran up against very real constraints. Time was limited. Staff were stretched thin. Budgets were tight. Even when the values were clear, the conditions needed to design strong, accessible programs were not always there.
Activities happened, but they were often one-off projects rather than connected programs. There wasn’t space to slow down, plan intentionally, or evaluate what was working. What could have become meaningful, dignity-centered programs often fell flat — not because people didn’t care, but because the structure and support to do the work well simply didn’t exist.
DDI was created to respond to that reality.
Rather than focusing on single sites or short-term initiatives, DDI focuses on building shared infrastructure: adaptable program frameworks, clear visual tools, accessibility and safety guidance, staff training, and learning-focused evaluation tools. These resources are designed to integrate into local communities — supporting programs where individuals with disabilities can participate fully in the places they already live, work, and connect.
DDI’s frameworks are intentionally flexible. There is no one-size-fits-all approach in the disability space. Every individual brings unique strengths, interests, and support needs, and every organization operates within a different community context. DDI’s frameworks are strengths-based by design, offering multiple ways for individuals and organizations to participate, adapt, and grow — without forcing conformity or uniform outcomes.
DDI’s frameworks are designed to be usable by both new and established organizations, supporting long-term access, dignity, and participation across communities.
A Note From the Founder
A Note From the Founder
I didn’t set out to start an institute. I set out to solve a problem I kept running into.
As a program manager and educator working in the disability space, I cared deeply about creating meaningful, inclusive opportunities — especially programs that supported creativity, skill-building, purpose, and relational wellbeing. But like many nonprofit leaders, I was stretched thin. Time, funding, and capacity were always limited, and the pressure to “do more” often meant moving faster than felt thoughtful.
Many of the activities I introduced were disconnected or short-lived. They didn’t build on each other, and there wasn’t time to design programs that were fully accessible, evidence-informed, or reflective. Sometimes funding ran out. Sometimes staff capacity shifted. Often, what I imagined a program could be never had the chance to fully take shape.
That experience stayed with me.
After moving across the country to help care for my aging father-in-law, I was given something I hadn’t had in a long time: space to think. I used that time to reflect on the tools, frameworks, and supports I wish I’d had — and to begin building them.
One thing became clear as I did this work: there is no universal program model that works for everyone. Disability is not a monolith. Every person brings different strengths, preferences, and support needs, and every organization serves a unique community. I designed DDI’s program frameworks to be strengths-based and flexible, with multiple pathways for participation — so individuals can engage meaningfully, and organizations can adapt programs to fit their communities rather than reshape people to fit a program.
My background is rooted in disability and transition services, education, employment and job skills, and inclusive practice. Across all of that work, one belief has remained constant: everyone deserves a dignified, accessible, inclusive, and purposeful life.
DDI exists to support the people doing this work every day — nonprofit leaders, educators, civic organizations, and community partners who care deeply, but cannot do everything alone. By focusing on thoughtful design, shared learning, and dignity-centered systems, I hope DDI can play a small part in helping communities build programs that reflect their values and serve people well.
— Founder, Dignity & Design Institute
WHY DIGNITY AND ACCESSIBILITY MATTER
WHY DIGNITY AND ACCESSIBILITY MATTER
When programs are designed without accessibility in mind, people are forced to adapt — or left out entirely.
When dignity is overlooked, participation becomes about compliance or productivity instead of meaning.
DDI believes that good design changes this.
When environments, tools, and workflows are designed thoughtfully:
Participation becomes easier and more consistent
Staff gain clarity and confidence
Programs last longer and adapt better over time
Communities benefit from inclusion that is real, not symbolic
HOW WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES
HOW WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES
DDI doesn’t run programs directly.
Instead, we partner with organizations who know their communities best.
We provide:
Adaptable program frameworks
Visual tools and accessibility systems
Training and coaching for staff
Evaluation tools that support learning and growth
Partner organizations bring these tools to life — shaping them to fit their spaces, people, and local needs.
LOOKING AHEAD
LOOKING AHEAD
As DDI grows, our work continues to be guided by the same commitments:
Design before scale
Learning before claims
Relationships before transactions
We’re building something meant to last — and to grow alongside the communities who use it.
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