Institute on Community Integration

“I’ve been a direct support professional for a long time, but I didn’t start out thinking of myself as an advocate,” DSP Nick Smith writes in Frontline Initiative (jointly published by ICI and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals - NADSP).

Thirtieth Anniversary Issue on Progress and Priorities in Direct Support | Volume 22, Number 1 | Advocacy Matters Thirtieth Anniversary Issue on Progress and Priorities in Direct Support Advocacy MattersAuthorsNick Smith, DSP-II, NADD-DSP , is a direct support professional at SPIN in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nick can be reached at [email protected] Lutts , M.Ed., is the Division Director of Workforc...

Impact explores inclusive sports. MNLEND fellows celebrate their accomplishments. National self-direction conference highlights a growing movement. A MNLEND fellow helps connect children to early interventions. Get the latest from ICI in the new FYI newsletter. https://z.umn.edu/FYI-June-2026

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Help shape the future of direct support training. For more than 20 years, ICI’s College of Direct Support (CDS) has provided competency-based training to help direct support professionals support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in living full, inclusive lives. Grounded in real experience and community input, CDS is now updating this training and invites community members to co-create new content throughout 2026–27. For details, contact [email protected]

Eileen Klemm recently retired as director of ICI’s Check & Connect Student Engagement Intervention. She started at ICI in 2012, and under her leadership, the student engagement program has grown to serve educators and students throughout the United States and internationally. Michelle Austin is the new director of Check & Connect. https://z.umn.edu/bbh9

Tomorrow, join us virtually for the 2nd Annual Great Minnesota Regional Positive Support Get-Together! We have a full-day program planned, with breakout sessions on systems, practice, and some advanced topics. The conference is free, but registration is required at https://z.umn.edu/bcq8