About NLCDD

Leading with Purpose: Our Leadership Framework

At NLCDD, we believe leadership isn’t about your title—it’s about your capacity to create change.

We define a leader as anyone who can effect meaningful change for their three spheres of influence: themselves, their organization, and the systems around them.

You Grow → Your Organization Transforms → Systems Change

When you build confidence and effectiveness in your role, meaningful changes take root in your organization. As leaders across multiple organizations collaborate and share what works, entire systems advance toward more individualized, person-directed supports.

People with disabilities deserve to live with full human rights and make their own life choices. Together, we’re creating a world where leaders at every professional level have the knowledge, skills, connections, and resources to ensure that everyone has full agency over their lives. 

How We Develop Leaders

NLCDD cultivates transformational leadership through three interconnected programmatic areas:

Group Programs

Our leadership training programs bring together professionals from across the IDD field to build practical skills and join a nationwide network of changemakers.

From intensive multi-day institutes to focused skill-building sessions, our research-based programs are designed for both immediate application in your current role and to give you the skills and confidence for future positions.

Join Our Programs

Customized Support

We provide tailored organizational consulting, individual coaching, and targeted training designed to address your specific leadership challenges. Whether you’re developing succession plans, improving staff retention, or strengthening your organizational culture, we partner with you to create sustainable change.

Get the Support You Need

Research and Evaluation

Our research tracks leadership development outcomes over 20 years, providing evidence-based insights that inform both our programs and the broader IDD field. We also conduct field-wide research on critical topics—from organizational culture to intersecting identities—ensuring leaders have access to the data they need to drive meaningful change.

Explore Our Research Portfolio

What Sets Us Apart

Leadership is our sole focus. We concentrate exclusively on developing transformational leaders at all professional levels, fostering partnerships between leaders from across the IDD ecosystem—including service providers, advocacy and resource groups, funding organizations, and government systems—to create greater change together.

We’re values-driven. We take a strong stance on human rights and social justice, both for people with IDD and for those involved with our programs. Our values are clear in every interaction, attracting mission-aligned participants who share our commitment.

We have a proven network. As pioneers in IDD leadership development, we’ve built an integrated alumni network of thousands of professionals who return to lead our programs, mentor new leaders, and maintain collaborative relationships. This creates a powerful community of changemakers supporting each other’s ongoing success.

Our research backs it up. Our research is designed to be immediately implementable—giving leaders tools and strategies rather than academic theory. The data shows that investing in leadership development creates measurable improvements in the lives of people with disabilities.

Explore More About NLCDD

Mission, Vision & Values

Discover the principles that guide our work and the future we’re building together.

Our History

Learn how we evolved from focusing on executive leadership to welcoming current and emerging leaders at all organizational levels.

Who We Are

Meet our team of dedicated professionals committed to building leadership capacity to advance human rights for people with IDD.

Annual Reports

See our latest impact data, financial information, and stories about our impact.