A guide to exploring social inclusion with adults with developmental & intellectual disabilities by Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams, M.A.

The Bloomington Inclusion Collaborative formed in 2015 with the financial support of the Indiana State Department of Health Rape Prevention and Education grant to collaboratively develop community-wide solutions to increase inclusion based upon unique barriers found in Bloomington, Indiana. Adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities along with eleven cross-sector partners engaged in participatory social mapping to assess barriers to inclusion in neighborhoods, public spaces and businesses.

In 2016, the data about barriers to inclusion specific to Bloomington were prioritized for solutions-advocacy and implementation. By sharing the tools developed over the course of the project along with the lessons learned, the Bloomington Inclusion Collaborative encourages others to engage with people with disabilities to examine factors that reduce sexual violence risks specific to their communities and implement practice-based solutions to increase inclusion, which is protective across all aspects of human life.