Founded in 2003 by Max and Colleen Starkloff and David Newburger, the Starkloff Disability Institute focuses on influencing societal attitudes and perceptions toward people with disabilities through activities that send positive messages in order to create a world that welcomes all people with disabilities.

Our Mission:
Empower people with disabilities, influence the non-disabled, and serve as liaisons between them, in order to achieve full participation of the disabled through economic independence achieved through practical and collaborative means.

Our Future Vision:
We envision a society where the disabled are seen by themselves and others as equally gifted.  SDI is the preeminent national expert on understanding, valuing, including, hiring, accommodating, working with, and living with those with disabilities.  SDI will have changed the vocabulary around disability and driven higher employment and participation of the disabled.

Our Core Values:
•	We are open, honest, candid, and caring about our teammates
•	We embrace continuous improvement
•	We challenge thinking internally and externally
•	We embrace collaboration internally and externally
•	We are a team of leaders developing future leaders
•	We embrace life-long learning
•	We collaborate; we are empowered; we recognize our teammates'​ gifts

Programming:
•	Employment - The Next Big Step 

Ongoing Key Initiatives: 
•	Disability Studies 
•	Universal Design 
•	Direct Action

Starkloff Disability Institute

Lori Becker

Colleen Starkloff

Colleen Kelly Starkloff

Brian W. Chao

Bettina "Tina" Vinson

The Community and Outreach Team at Starkloff Disability Institute is dedicated to fostering engagement and awareness within the community to support the institute's mission of empowering individuals with disabilities. This team works on building relationships with external stakeholders, advocating for inclusive practices, and creating programs that promote positive societal attitudes toward people with disabilities. By organizing events, collaborations, and outreach activities, they strive to achieve full participation and economic independence for individuals with disabilities through practical and collaborative means.

Community and Outreach Team

About

Team members

Other teams at Starkloff Disability Institute

Leadership Team