The Institute for Human Development (IHD) at Northern Arizona University is proud to announce the launch of Supporting College Access, Learning, and Employment (SCALE), a newly funded, five-year initiative supported by a $500,000 U.S. Department of Education grant. The program, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, builds on the success of the earlier Supporting Inclusive Practices in Colleges (SIP-C) project and represents a major… Read more
Adi Schaeffer and Kyle W. Beam
The Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University hosted the 26th annual Evidence for Success Disability Conference from June 22–24, 2025, at Gila River Resorts and Casinos – Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona. While rooted in Arizona, the conference drew a diverse group of professionals, educators, advocates, families, and service providers from across the nation.
With record-breaking attendance, this year’s conference brought together over 600 participants… Read more
John McDermott, Jade Metzger-Rifkin, and Kyle W. Beam
Digital threats are a growing reality for Arizonans. According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 55,000 fraud reports were filed in the state last year, resulting in over $1.8 million in losses. At the same time, the Pew Research Center has noted increasing… Read more
John Schaffer and Kyle W. Beam
Support from the Vital Projects Fund has played a pivotal role in expanding the reach and impact of the Minor in Disability Studies (DS) program at Northern Arizona University’s Institute for Human Development (NAU-IHD). Now in its third year, this funding has advanced IHD’s mission to promote full inclusion by reshaping public attitudes toward disability, fostering authentic representation, and providing students with meaningful opportunities for community engagement.
NAU’s DS minor program is one… Read more
Nicole Rambeau and Kyle W. Beam
The Institute for Human Development continues to enhance support for individuals with disabilities through its innovative project, Providing Accessible Training and Home Support (PATHS) for Parents with Intellectual Disabilities. Funded by the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the PATHS Project seeks to increase access to high-quality parenting support for Arizona parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) who are raising children up to five… Read more
Sakénya McDonald and Kyle W. Beam
What happens when students with disabilities gain access to cutting-edge assistive technology?
When “SPV” first received a Livescribe Echo Pen from their campus disability resource office, they were eager to discover how this new tool—which syncs written notes with audio recordings—might support their academic journey. However, outdated firmware, a complex setup process,… Read more