History

In the late 1970's, Western Michigan University joined a discussion with the mental health community and the Greater Kalamazoo United Way, in an attempt to respond to a state mandate to care for people with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions. Believing that education cannot be divorced from real life, WMU saw the joint sponsorship of a community agency to serve those with disabilities as ideal for integrating education, services and research for the University to be a contributing participant in its own community. Today, WMU's Center for Disability Services provides individuals with many service options that include individual and group skill building through community inclusion activities, community living services, supported living services and senior day services for adults with Alzheimer's or other dementias.