The mission of the Center on Community Living and Careers is to promote partnerships between people with disabilities, their families, and their communities to build capacity and effect systems change through research, education, and service.

The Center focuses on improving transition and adult services through person-directed approaches, career development, community living and membership.

Center Objectives:

The Center focuses on improving transition and adult services in the areas of:

Career development;

Secondary education and transition services;

Integrated employment;

Community living;

Systems and policy analysis; and

Person-directed planning, services, and funding.

Services are available statewide to schools and organizations that support individuals with disabilities and their families. Specific areas of expertise include secondary transition services, vocational profiles, job development and training, instructional strategies, direct support professional career ladder program, curriculum development for vocational rehabilitation professionals, community access, person-centered planning process and facilitation, program evaluation, social security work incentives, and more.

The Center is guided by the beliefs about people with disabilities, their families, and the services they receive:

Families and individuals must be involved in the  design, operation, monitoring, and funding of services;

All people should have the opportunity to live, work, and enjoy life in typical settings;

People with disabilities should have access to the same services in the same places as persons without disabilities;

Individuals with disabilities should receive the same wages and benefits others receive for the same work; and

Services should foster relationships and interdependence.