As the ethnic and racial diversity of the population in the United States (U.S.) has increased, so has the number of individuals with disabilities.

By 2050, there will be no ethnic majority in the U. S. and to ensure that the unprecedented growth of diverse communities, including people with disabilities,

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yields future prosperity, an inclusive training, staffing and technical assistance agenda that truly reflects our nation’s rich diversity is essential.

Achieving cultural and linguistic competence and enhancing diversity requires strong and informed leadership to spur the necessary changes within systems, organizations, policies, and practice.

Without committed and effective leadership, these efforts typically stall.

There is a need for leaders with the energy, knowledge, and skills to guide the difficult work of advancing and sustaining cultural and linguistic competence within programs concerned with developmental disabilities.

The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) plans to award funding for one organization to design a Diversity Leadership Institute to respond to this need and offer interactive forums and multiple modalities (face-to-face and web-based) to explore the unique role of those who currently lead or are interested in leading cultural and linguistic competence and diversity efforts within their setting.