Center on Aging and Community

Vision

The Center on Aging and Community envisions a society for all ages and abilities.

Mission

The mission of the Center on Aging and Community is to provide leadership that enables older persons to lead self-determined lives within their communities. The Center promotes practices that ensure access to opportunities for meaningful, productive, and healthy lifestyles, through:

• An emphasis on community membership and community building;
  
• Promoting the voices of older persons and adults with disabilities; and
  
• Conducting research, training, technical assistance and policy development.

Target Populations

The Center on Aging and Community was established in 1986 in recognition of the growing number of older adults with disabilities. Many adults with developmental disabilities begin to experience age-related changes as early as the third decade.

Current Projects

• Managing national demonstration project for statewide planning in Indiana to  create life span communities.
• Technical assistance and training with the Self-Advocates of Indiana, provider organizations, families, and other persons with disabilities;
• Research and policy analysis on home modification and supportive housing;
• Curriculum development for leadership training with persons with disabilities;
• Arts and humanities projects to promote expression and build awareness of the community contributions of older adults and persons with disabilities;
• Website development for careers in the arts for people with disabilities;
• Stories of Muscatatuck Oral History Project/Museum of the Person;
• Leadership Series for Self-Advocates in partnership with Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services and Governor's Planning Council for People with Disabilities
• Consulting/training throughout the U.S. with elder-friendly community initiatives.
• Research and program/policy development on family supports for aging caregivers and adult children with developmental disabilities