The Center's Strategic Direction:
Strategic Plan:
Our Strategic Plan began as a conversation. Ideas exchanged, needs identified, and possibilities imagined. It moved to a whiteboard in an office, where vision became structure, and collaboration shaped direction. Today, it exists as a comprehensive digital action plan designed for measurable impact and sustainable growth. This progression marks the beginning of our community’s accessibility center. An exciting and intentional step forward born from the inclusive, research-informed, and collaborative vision of Idaho State University's, Department of Disability Services.
Mission:
The Center for Accessibility, Leadership, and Innovation creates pathways of opportunity, empowerment, and success for individuals with disabilities and those who support them by advancing accessible, inclusive systems through research, partnership, and leadership.
Vision:
The Center for Accessibility, Leadership, and Innovation envisions advancing opportunity and success for individuals with disabilities and those who support them by building accessible, inclusive systems through research, partnership, and leadership. We empower individuals and organizations to remove barriers, strengthen capacity, and create pathways to thrive in education, work, and life.
From Vision to Action: Six Anchors Guiding One Unified Direction.
Who:
Individuals with disabilities, Families and caregivers, Educators and educational institutions (K–12 and higher education), Employers and workforce systems, Public and Private organizations seeking accessible solutions
What:
Advances accessible, inclusive systems. Creates pathways of opportunity, empowerment, and success, building tools, frameworks, and strategies. All which remove barriers, and support system level change across education, work, and community life.
When:
Continuously and long-term, addressing persistent and emerging accessibility gaps. Proactively, designing systems before barriers occur. Responsively, adapting to evolving needs, policies, and environments.
Where:
Within educational systems (K–12, higher education), Across workforce and employment environments, In community, public, and organizational systems. At local, regional, state, and national levels. Through both in person and digital platforms.
Why:
Access is a fundamental right. Many systems are underdeveloped, siloed, or inefficient in addressing accessibility. Individuals with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers. Additionally, research, leadership, and collaboration are needed to create equitable participation and success.
How:
Conducting and applying research-informed solutions, Building strategic partnerships, across sectors. Providing leadership development and capacity building by designing and implementing accessible, inclusive systems. Offering training, consultation, and technical assistance.
Core Values
Belonging & Dignity
We believe access is a fundamental right. The Center for Accessibility, Leadership, and Innovation advances equity, dignity, and empowerment, fostering belonging and opportunity for individuals with disabilities across personal, educational, and professional pathways.
Education & Lifelong Learning
Aligned with ISU’s educational mission, we advance learning through training, mentorship, and leadership development that equip individuals and institutions with the knowledge to create inclusive, effective systems.
Research Informed Innovation
We ground our work in evidence, applied research, and continuous assessment. Using innovation not for novelty, but to deliver practical, scalable solutions that improve real world outcomes.
Leadership & Shared Responsibility
We cultivate leadership at every level, empowering educators, administrators, employers, and decision-makers to move beyond compliance and actively shape inclusive, high performing environments.
Collaboration & Service
Rooted in ISU’s service mission, we partner across disciplines, institutions, and sectors to expand impact, strengthen communities, and ensure solutions are informed by diverse expertise and lived experience.
Sustainability & Stewardship
We are committed to responsible stewardship of resources, building financially sustainable models that ensure long-term impact, accountability, and continued service to individuals with disabilities.
Core Focus Areas:
At the Center for Accessibility, Leadership, and Innovation, our work is guided by intentional focus. Each core area reflects our commitment to expanding access, empowering leaders, and designing systems that create lasting, sustainable, measurable impact.
Our Leadership and Collaboration Culture:
Leadership is our highest priority at The Center, fostering a positive, mission-driven center culture that guides decision-making, models inclusive practice, and shapes each of our nine focus areas by aligning accessibility systems, innovation, partnerships, programming, research, and community engagement under one unified, values-centered direction.
At the center, actionable strategies are research-informed, implementation-driven initiatives that translate our mission into measurable systems, programs, and partnerships that expand access and cultivate inclusive leadership
Metrics for Implementation and Impact are the measurable indicators, the qualitative and quantitative data which The Center uses to evaluate progress, assess effectiveness, and ensure our accessibility initiatives, programs, and partnerships produce meaningful, sustainable outcomes. Analysis of this data ensures continuous evaluation, identifies needs for improvement, and serves to embed high-yield best practice.
Desired Outcomes are the clearly defined results The Center aims to achieve through its initiatives, advancing equitable access, strengthening inclusive leadership, and creating sustainable systems that expand opportunity for individuals with disabilities and the leaders, educators, and communities that support them.
A clear plan. A unified direction. Measurable progress toward inclusive excellence.
