Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD for short, in the United States. Each state now has at least one UCEDD; all UCEDDs are affiliated with universities and receive funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services. UCEDDs share the common university goals of teaching, research, and service, but have a specific interest in persons with disabilities, particularly developmental disabilities and broaden teaching research and service goals beyond the campus to the community at large.

Wyoming was the last state to be granted funding to develop a UCEDD. Although efforts were made as early as 1986, planning for WIND as it exists today started in 1993 with a Feasibility Study. The initial application for funds for a Wyoming University Affiliated Program, as UCEDDs were called at the time, was submitted in early 1994. WIND officially became a University Affiliated Program in October 1994. By January 1995, the administrative staff was hired and WIND began the programs, supports and training that, to this day, extend well beyond the University of Wyoming campus.

As are all UCEDDs, WIND is committed to assisting individuals with developmental and other disabilities and their families to achieve their desired quality of life.

To assure that WIND holds to this course, it is guided in its actions by the following Mission Statement:

"The mission of the Wyoming UCEDD is to assist individuals with developmental and other disabilities and their families to achieve their desired quality of life by promoting and supporting full community inclusion, community membership, independence, productivity and social participation."

Values guiding the development and operation of WIND are embodied in the following statements:

Concerning Citizens with Developmental Disabilities:

Citizens with disabilities should have the opportunity to live independently with needed supports in their own communities, to work productively for fair compensation in integrated workplaces, and to participate socially in community activities with friends and neighbors of their own choosing.

The individual's preferences and choices should take precedence over those of service providers.

Services and supports should be accessible to all citizens needing them regardless of geographic location.

All citizens with developmental disabilities:

• Should be treated with dignity and respect
• Should be empowered to achieve maximum individual growth and development
• Should be afforded the opportunity to participate in all aspects of life as they choose
• Should guide all aspects of their services and supports
• Should be encouraged and supported to make their own life decisions and personal choices
• Should have the opportunity to experience living in a family which receives family-centered supports necessary to meet its needs

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WIND has a primary obligation to be responsive to individuals with disabilities and their families and to be community-focused in supporting programs which promote full inclusion.

The overarching goal is to help communities develop their capacities to provide appropriate services and supports which lead to consumer choice and satisfaction, meaningful employment opportunities and independent living in community settings.

WIND has an affirmative obligation to be consumer-driven in:

• Developing programs and disseminating information that encourage and support the UCEDD's underlying values;
• Incorporating the UCEDD's stated values into all aspects of its training, community activities, technical assistance and dissemination efforts;
• Encouraging public acceptance of these values;
• Fostering the realization of these values in the lives of all citizens with developmental disabilities;
• Making sure its services, information products, programs, training and sites are physically and culturally accessible to all citizens;
• Full inclusion shall be promoted by seeking system-level change at policy and decision-making levels.

Concerning the University of Wyoming:

WIND enhances the University of Wyoming's mission by reflecting:

• The University's commitment to extend the campus to the entire state;
• The University's desire to expand the quality and richness of undergraduate, graduate and professional instruction;
• The University's efforts to enhance the quality of service and outreach efforts;
• The University's goal to increase the quality of faculty and student participation in research and creative activities;
• The University's commitment to maximize the quality and variety of interdisciplinary teaching, service and research efforts.

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