ICI Director William Kiernan Speaks before the U.S. Senate

William Kiernan, director of the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, spoke on a panel before the U.S. Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on March 2.

The topic was "Improving Employment Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities," and focused on ways to overcome barriers to employment, successful strategies for working in integrated settings, and policy recommendations.

Kiernan is the author of six books and more than 125 articles and reports, emphasizing employment and public policy development in adult disability services, and is considered a national expert on the subject. He has worked extensively with the public and private employment and training systems at the state and national levels, served as an international consultant in seven countries, and provided training and technical assistance in more than 45 states.

To view the entire panel discussion, visit the U.S. Senate website.

About the Institute for Community Inclusion
For over 40 years, the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) has worked to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunity to dream big, and make their dreams a fully included, integrated, and welcomed reality. As a leader not only in Massachusetts, but also nationally and internationally, ICI strives to create a world where all people with disabilities are welcome and fully included in valued roles wherever they go, whether a school, workplace, volunteer group, home, or any other part of the community. All of ICI's efforts stem from one core value: that people with disabilities are more of an expert than anyone else. Therefore, people with disabilities should have the same rights and controls and maintain lives based on their individual preferences, choices, and dreams.