Our work and workplace culture are guided by our overall mission, vision of the future, and shared values.
Mission
Accelerating disability inclusion through education, research, and collaboration.
Vision
A vibrant world where equity, diversity, autonomy, and full participation of people with disabilities are everyday realities.
Values
We believe in...
- Inclusion, belonging, and choice for everyone, everywhere.
- Holistic well-being, which includes happiness, health, social connections, and support.
- Diversity and the value of people’s differences in creating a stronger and richer community.
- A fair and equitable world where everyone has the same opportunities.
- Collaborative problem solving with communities as the best way to find solutions for complex issues.
- Improving systems to address inequalities.
- Recognizing the unique contributions of our employees, who make our work possible.
Population note: The IOD’s work historically focused on services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over the years the IOD’s portfolio has grown, and today the projects, programs, and services of the IOD benefit multiple populations including disabled people, older adults, their family members, and other marginalized communities impacted by disability including those who experience substance use disorder and or a mental health condition.
Language use note: We continually strive to ensure the work we do as a network reflects our underlying values including positive engagement, community building, inclusion and belonging. The IOD’s public facing values statements use person first language. This puts the recognition of the person first before disability. We recognize a growing number of disabled people and self-advocates are using identity first language to describe themselves and their experiences in an ableist world. It is important to ask an individual what language they prefer in personal interactions. You can learn more about identity-first versus person-first language here. Language continues to evolve and new words will emerge that replace existing terms.
