About
The Reinventing Quality Conference started in 1991, sponsored by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) and the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration (ICI). The first few conferences were held in Chicago, and then the meeting started to circulate around the country. In the fall of 1999, NASDDDS was awarded a three-year grant by the federal Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to gather and disseminate "best practice" information on individualized, person-centered supports and related quality management activities. This "Reinventing Quality" project was carried out in collaboration with ICI and the Human Services Research Institute , a policy research firm specializing in mental health and developmental disabilities issues.
Among the activities supported by this grant was the sponsorship of nationwide conferences to showcase best practices in person-centered supports from across the nation: the Reinventing Quality Conference. Although the project's funding ended in the fall of 2003, biennial conferences traditionally held in Baltimore, MD have continued under the direction of the original project collaborators. Additional national partners include the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), TASH , the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), and the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities .
Moving Mountains Award
Through a partnership of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI) and the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), the Moving Mountains Award recognizes organizations using leading practices in direct support workforce development that result in improved outcomes for people with disabilities. Organizations that apply are required to illustrate how their direct support workforce practices and philosophy align with the principles of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.
The programs and initiatives that are nominated can range from a single program) to state- or nationwide in scope. Organizations that have applied previously, but were not selected, are invited and encouraged to re-submit a nomination for this year’s competition. Recipients of this award must exemplify practices that support community living for people with disabilities and lived experiences. The Institute on Community Integration, the NADSP, and ANCOR are looking for unique and creative initiatives that support community living and contribute to improving workforce outcomes for direct support professionals and their employers. We welcome applications from statewide/regional initiatives, local organizations, and individuals. Up to two awards may be presented each year. The actual location and format of the award presentation will be based on our ability to gather and celebrate. Winners will be notified in advance.
To learn more about the awards, visit the Moving Mountains Award page on the NADSP website .