ABOUT

Our Story of Love and a Journey of Discovery

Founded in 2015, Inclusive Environments is a 501(c)(3) collaborative non-profit dedicated to breaking down barriers for adults with disabilities. We build partnerships with organizations to promote the inclusion and integration of special needs adults into their communities, allowing them to live the purpose-filled lives they deserve.

Inclusive Environments is a journey born out of compassion and empathy for Ray, an adult with autism, and his mother, Colette, who suffered his emotional pain alongside him. Growing up, Ray wanted to have a fun social life like anyone else. Though he was able to make a handful of friends, many of these connections fell apart once he graduated from school and reached what’s known as the “Cliff of Adulthood” within the special needs community.

The Cliff of Adulthood is a pivotal period adults with disabilities reach where support and services stop abruptly, leaving these individuals and their families without the practical and emotional essentials they require. “Falling off” the cliff is lonely and isolating, and Colette and Ray’s father worked tirelessly to help Ray overcome challenges to find success and peace.

During this journey, they met many parents and their adult children suffering in the same way. Ray’s mother began to realize that the barriers preventing Ray and the other adults like him from living the lives they deserved were systemic in our society. It would take the work of families, communities, and the government to remove barriers and fill the gaps that created the Cliff of Adulthood disability.

Mission Statement

A Vision of Compassion

We want adults with disabilities to live the happy, purpose-filled lives they deserve. Our hope their communities embrace them as equals.

Our Intent and Mission

To remove the Cliff of Adulthood and foster the full integration of adults with disabilities into their communities as equals. We remove barriers and offer special needs programs, services, and activities that promote inclusion and create new opportunities.

Inclusive Environments Our Values

OUR VALUES

  • Compassion is our guiding principle. It makes us aware of our inter-connectivity with all humankind and compels us to treat others with respect and kindness, particularly those with special needs and others who are vulnerable.
  • Collaboration with other established nonprofits, community organizations and government offices is the means through which we achieve success.
  • Sustainability is essential to achieving longevity. We keep this in mind as we design programs with inclusive environments.
  • Integrity represents the highest values of honesty, honor, accountability, stewardship, and commitment to our purpose as we practice total transparency in all business areas.
  • Ingenuity is the principle tool we use to solve issues preventing inclusion of special needs adults and to successfully fund our inclusion projects.
  • Peace is the footprint of our programs. Peace brings communities together and motivates each individual to work towards the greater good of their community.

OUR FOCUS

  • Inclusive Activities: Increase the number and diversity of activities that have both individuals with special needs and the general population. We enhance these activities with social support and techniques that increase the probability of reciprocating friendships forming between the participants.
  • Jobs and Entrepreneurship: Increase the employment rate through entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises. The “incubator concept” will be utilized to increase success.
  • Protection: Grow “Friends of CIT” community law enforcement program to teach individuals with disabilities how to interact with police and how to protect themselves from harm and exploitation. These interactive events will allow officers to build one-on-one relationships with special needs adults in their areas.
  • Family Support: We provide a comprehensive source of resources to aid families with difficulties they experience in taking care of their individual with special needs.
  • Transportation: Safe transportation is a major obstacle for those with special needs. We work with government and community organizations to increase access to transportation.
Inclusive Environments Our Focus

Inclusive Environments

Inclusive Environments is a 501(c)(3) collaborative non-profit dedicated to breaking down barriers for adults with disabilities. 

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