About NDCPD

About NDCPD: The ND Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) is a University Center for Excellence in teaching, research and service located at Minot State University.

NDCPD is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ - Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). NDCPD partners with MSU faculty and groups in ND and other states to write additional grants.

NDCPD uses technology to develop solutions to challenges faced by persons with disabilities living in rural ND.

NDCPD Mission: The mission is . . . .

“to provide leadership and innovation that advances the state-of-the-art, and empowers people with disabilities to challenge expectations, achieve personal goals and be included in all aspects of community life.”

To carry out its mission, NDCPD staff work with community providers, advocacy groups, state agencies, educators, families, physicians, employers and other interested parties to address common barriers that impact people with disabilities and their families.

What We Do: NDCPD uses its expertise to help community partners obtain the needed resources & solutions to overcome problems & barriers. NDCPD faculty and staff work with partners to help:

• identify goals and objectives,
• obtain data that clearly shows the scope & nature of a problem,
• define measurable goals, objectives and outcomes
• identify potential Federal state & local funding sources
• design and test or replicate best practice models or solutions
• disseminate results on a statewide & national level

A portion of each grant is used to pay graduate students or assistants cover some faculty duties so that they can implement grant activities. Students at MSU benefit from involvement in on-going research, teaching and service activities. NDCPD has brought over ten million dollars in Federal grants into ND.

Who NDCPD Supports: NDCPD supports people with disabilities in ND and their families. NDCPD provides some direct service (i.e. infant development, speech therapy) but usually works with agencies that teach, employ, or provide support to persons with disabilities. Some grants focus on the needs of persons with developmental disabilities (DD) while other grants focus on the needs of any person with a disability.

What NDCPD Has Accomplished So Far: Outcomes include . . .

• Teachers in rural schools learned to improve classroom management strategies
• Adult service providers are trained in all aspects of supporting people with DD.
• Indian and Deaf students taught one another about their respective cultures.
• Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) have access to computers and the Internet
• Students & adults with ID disabilities have access to data entry jobs.
• Rural schools serving students with disabilities are connected to the Internet.
• Teachers of students with severe disabilities have access to on-line instruction.
• People who support seniors with ID have information about healthy choices, understanding death and dying, and lifelong planning.
• Parents are able to have their children’s hearing tested at birth.
• Providers and persons with DD have access to national training.
• Partners have a video which shows how to position, turn & transfer people
• Partners have a video which shows how to transition to higher education
• People with disabilities in ND have the opportunity to buy into Medicaid.
• Rural schools can provide speech therapy over the Internet.
• Families have access to information about family support services.
• Family support providers have information on how to individualize supports for culturally diverse families.
• Law enforcement agencies have access to information about the needs of persons with DD in the criminal justice system.