The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College has received a $2.7 million grant to continue its work as the Rhode Island University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

“Over the past 25 years, the Sherlock Center has played a significant role in improving the quality of services and supports for Rhode Island children and adults who have a disability,” said Shannon Dowd-Eagle, co-director of the Sherlock Center. “This grant will allow the center to continue our mission of promoting inclusion and productivity in school, work and community.”

The grant, from the Federal Administration for Community Living’s Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), enables the Sherlock Center to partner with national, state and local organizations to provide interdisciplinary pre-service education, community education and technical assistance, services, research and education to promote membership of individuals with disabilities.

The Sherlock Center’s priorities include:

Promoting quality, inclusive educational practices for children who have a disability, including positive behavioral supports.

Serving as a resource center for students who have significant disabilities and who have significant visual impairments.

Increasing self-determination in all students.

Increasing opportunities for community membership for both children and adults.

Promoting high quality transition and adult lives, including employment and post-secondary education.

Providing workforce and leadership development for service systems ranging from early intervention to school and adult supports.

During the past 12 months Sherlock activities have engaged more than 14,000 participants, including 8,000 professionals and paraprofessionals, 1,600 family members and 3,000 children and adults with disabilities. The Sherlock Center was originally established in 1993 and is nationally recognized for its expertise.

The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, founded at Rhode Island College in 1993, is a University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Since 1963, UCEDDs have worked towards a shared vision that individuals with disabilities participate fully in their communities. Independence, productivity, and community inclusion are key components of this vision.

There are 67 UCEDDs with at least one in every US state and territory. The national network of UCEDDs is authorized under Public Law 106-402 (The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 or “DD Act”) and their core funding is administered by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD). Learn more about the Sherlock Center’s resources and supports at www.sherlockcenter.org.