Today, there are more than 1 billion individuals living with disabilities throughout the world, each of whom faces extraordinary, even if unintentionally designed, barriers to inclusion in society.
For over ten years, Niagara University supported Disability Awareness Training of national, state and local agencies.
In forming an Institute focused on Disability Awareness Training at Niagara University, the University offers education, access to academic leaders in the field, and administrative resources to reach a variety of audiences. Our focus is educating the general public as well as sector specific industries such as First Responders (Fire, Police, EMS, 9-1-1), Security, Governmental Agencies, Corporate Entities (HR), Hospitality, Healthcare, Education, and other related professions.
The Institute’s Value Statement can best be summarized as “Breaking down barriers through knowledge.” In this statement, the Institute envisions something different than merely compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a legal requirement. Rather, it desires a leadership role to educate and provide knowledge to proactively create a more inclusive and equitable society.
