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The Catalyst Lab

The next big ideas are already out there. The Catalyst Lab brings leaders together to turn bold ideas into reality, faster and more effectively than any one of us could alone.

The Catalyst Lab offers NLCDD’s signature mix of self-insight, groupwork, and actionable planning, in a 2.5 day in-person interactive, think-lab environment that is facilitated by our field’s top experts. Designed to bring leaders across the field together to move from ideas to action, the Catalyst Lab focuses on solving some of the most critical challenges facing our field. Throughout the in-person Catalyst Lab and targeted follow-up support, leaders collaborate, learn, and plan together to move beyond stagnant ‘how we’ve always done it’ solutions and to enact coordinated innovations and scalable efforts to improve the IDD system and, ultimately, the lives of people with disabilities.

Each Catalyst Lab is unique, focused on a specific and significant topic, challenge, or opportunity impacting the IDD service sector.

Upcoming Catalyst Lab Events:

    There are no Catalyst Lab events scheduled at this time. Please subscribe to our newsletter to get updated when new events are announced.

    Why the Catalyst Lab?

    The IDD field boasts some of the most passionate, dedicated, and human rights-driven leaders on the planet. Leaders who have built a service system that is continually evolving to be responsive to the needs, interests, and most importantly, rights, of people with disabilities. The IDD field also faces considerable challenges that require complex, collaborative solutions. Uncertainty can cause us to get stuck in our past, our silos, and our very real struggles to sustain.

    There has never been enough money, resources, time, or societal support for meaningfully advancing services for people with disabilities; yet leaders have been collaborating to make our service system better since its foundation.

    The Catalyst Lab was created to accelerate the collaborative efforts of the current and next generation of changemakers around specific challenges and opportunities in the IDD field. We know that joined efforts are more efficient and effective. We know that today’s field leaders have the ideas and commitment for change. The layout and structure of the Catalyst Lab provide space, guidance, and support for leaders to learn what’s possible, think together, and make a coordinated plan to initiate and sustain real and meaningful, needed change in the IDD field.

    Catalyst Means More Impact with Less Time and Wasted Energy & Resources

    A catalyst is something that helps a change happen more quickly or easily without using up all available energy in the process. It doesn’t do the work for you; it simply creates the conditions that make progress faster, smoother, or more powerful.

    The Catalyst Lab is designed the same way. It doesn’t do the work for you, but creates the space, time, and conditions you need to make critical changes with leaders at all levels who are as passionate and dedicated to building a better system as you. When you participate in the Catalyst Lab:

    • You develop lasting partnerships with field leaders so that you continue to work together to turn your collective ideas into action long after the Catalyst Lab ends
    • You learn from and with field experts who offer a deep understanding of the issues, possibilities, and change needed to solve each Catalyst Lab focus
    • You develop an actionable plan to address challenges within your organization and system and across the IDD field to become (or further your role as) an industry leader and changemaker. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Dedicated leaders working in a range of field roles and organizations who are committed to making change. The Catalyst Lab is better when it includes a mix of leaders working in state and federal systems, provider organizations, and state or national advocacy, research, and other field organizations. We encourage you to sign up with up to 3 coworkers so that you can develop coordinated plans for change. We also give priority to Leadership Institute graduates and their colleagues.

    Catalyst Labs include 2.5 days of intensive in-person programming with additional virtual follow-up support for up to six months. Prior to the Catalyst Lab, there will be about 1.5 hours of ‘pre-work’ that includes reading a few articles, taking one or more assessments, and an exercise to help you get in the innovation mindset.

    During the 2.5 days, we ask that participants dedicate their whole time to the Catalyst Lab. We’ll start around 8:30 each morning, and have meals and networking opportunities after the session ends for the day. Of course, there will be breaks and time for rest, and we’re happy to work with participants’ schedules when additional time is needed, for any reason.

    After the Catalyst Lab, we will provide six months of virtual support, including regular work sessions, direct technical support, and additional learning to help participants make progress toward their innovation plans.

    The cost to attend the Catalyst Lab is $1,750 if one person from your organization attends, or $1,500 per person if multiple people attend. Each investment includes Catalyst Lab participation, materials, most meals, and lifetime access to our alumni network and resources. Scholarships may be available in the future and will be advertised with each Catalyst Lab.

    We understand that things come up! Payment is due upon registration. We will accept cancellations up to six weeks before the start of the Catalyst Lab (we require written notice), and fees will be refunded minus a $250 processing fee. Alternatively, we encourage you to defer your attendance to a later date or to have an appropriate colleague attend in your place to waive the processing fee.

    Refunds for cancellations will not be not accepted within six weeks of the Catalyst Lab; however, we understand that emergencies will happen, so we will work with you to defer, or you are welcome to find a colleague to come in your place. No-shows will still be charged the full cost of attendance.

    Absolutely! In fact, we hope you do! When multiple people from your organization participate, they develop common goals and a shared plan of action.

    Leadership isn’t about your title—it’s about your ability to create change. We welcome anyone in the IDD field who is ready to increase their impact, regardless of their current role.

    Find the registration link for each Catalyst Lab on the event page. Find links for upcoming Catalyst Lab events here.

    Yes! Sponsors include foundations, developmental disability councils, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies. Contact us to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits, and become a sponsor.