About
From Reinventing to Reimagining
Since 1991, Reinventing Quality has convened leaders, practitioners, and self-advocates to share practical strategies for advancing the best in individualized, person-centered supports. Across more than 15 national conferences and 360 presentations, our gathering has built a reputation for translating research and innovation into real-world applications accessible far beyond academia.
But as our field evolves, so must our language. The word reinventing once signaled urgency and innovation; today, it risks suggesting that we are constantly starting over or struggling to find our footing. While we have made undeniable progress, services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are still not where they need to be. The work ahead requires more than just refining existing models. It demands imagination.
Reimagining Quality captures this critical shift. It isn't about discarding what already works; it’s about expanding what is possible. It challenges us to question our assumptions, learn from our missteps, and envision bold new approaches. We could spend our time improving the wheel, or we could step back and ask whether what we truly need are wings.
Ultimately, this change is more than semantic. It signals a renewed commitment to staying forward-looking and relevant, all while remaining deeply anchored in the practical knowledge-sharing that has always defined this conference. Reimagining Quality is an open invitation to think differently, act boldly, and shape support systems that truly honor the dignity, aspirations, and potential of the people they serve.
Our Origins
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 (now Reimagining Quality) Conference. Although the project's funding ended in the fall of 2003, biennial conferences traditionally held in Baltimore, Maryland, 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 .