BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Derek Nord, executive director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University, Bloomington, has received the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Sesquicentennial Policy Award, a national honor recognizing individuals whose work has significantly advanced disability policy and practice.
The award was presented during AAIDD's 150th Annual Meeting in Chicago as part of the organization's sesquicentennial celebration. Recipients were selected for their contributions to advancing the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities through research, service, policy, practice, advocacy and leadership.
For more than a decade, Nord has led the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, advancing research, partnerships and public policy that improve opportunities and outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and the systems that support them.
Dr. Nord’s leadership has helped strengthen collaborations across education, healthcare, employment and community services while translating research into meaningful systems change throughout Indiana and beyond. His commitment to improving systems and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities exemplifies the mission of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.
AAIDD is the nation's oldest interdisciplinary organization dedicated to promoting progressive policies, sound research, effective practices and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University Bloomington is one of the nation's federally designated University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Through research, education and service, the Institute works to promote the independence, productivity and inclusion of individuals with disabilities across the lifespan.
Media Contact:
Nora Loechel
812-855-4167
nloechel@iu.edu