AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

AAIDD’s goals are to:
1. Enhance the capacity of professionals who work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2. Promote the development of a society that fully includes individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
3. Enhance the effective integration of research, practice, and policy.
4. Sustain an effective, responsive, and responsibly-governed organization.

1. Advance progressive policies, sound research, and effective practices that result in social justice and universal human rights with and through collaborations with other organizations.
a. Engage in strategic alliances with other organizations to influence policy, promote public awareness, shape public attitudes, and expand the participation and access of people with intellectual disability in all aspects of life.
b. Increase awareness among policy makers and the general public on issues and policies that are important to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families and within the context of their various intersectional identities.
c. Provide information and expertise on intellectual and developmental disabilities to jurists and others in the criminal justice system.
d. Generate review, revise, and disseminate essential position statements.
e. Lead efforts to expand and improve research, policy, and practice to improve the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2. Disseminate information on progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights.
a. Advance the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and promote AAIDD’s core values by publishing cutting-edge journals, books, webinars, and other products.
b. Increase access of providers, policy makers, and others—nationally and internationally—to evidence-based information and resources that promote effective practices.

3. Develop and support a diverse membership.
a. Engage students and early career professionals in the Association’s activities.
b. Provide educational opportunities that support members’ professional development.
c. Engage Fellows and other members in leadership activities.
d. Provide and promote leadership opportunities within the Association.
e. Engage prospective members from diverse communities.
f. Create a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive professional home for members.

4. Maintain the organization’s robust operations.
a. Develop and utilize effective communication, dissemination, and marketing strategies and platforms, including electronic platforms, for Association activities.
b. Provide a highly-valued package of member benefits.
c. Ensure appropriate resources to achieve organizational goals.
d. Review and improve organizational structures to support the Association’s membership and mission.
e. Develop and implement processes to support active communities within the Association that engage members in the goals of AAIDD.

Founded in 1876, AAIDD is the oldest and largest professional society concerned with intellectual and developmental disabilities. AAIDD is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected by its membership. The work of the Association is performed by both paid staff and volunteers.

For its educational programs, volunteers serve on planning committees and present at in-person and online events. AAIDD's staff manage and support the logistics of conferences, webinars,

Volunteer roles include editing the Associations three pee

AAIDD's educational programming is highly regarded among professionals in the field, its journals are highly ranked, its books and assessment tools are in demand, and the diversity of its membership is increasing.