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Mission
Mission
Create a world that welcomes people with disabilities.
Programs
The Starkloff Career Academy
The Career Academy facilitates the hiring of qualified people with disabilities into mainstream jobs by training candidates to become competitive job seekers and by educating employers on how to welcome them into their workforce.
MORENext Big Step: Corporate Consulting
Starkloff Business Consulting helps businesses of all size how to tap into the talent of the disability community. Companies can learn best practices in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring people with disabilities.
MOREDisability Studies
The Disability Studies Initiative is a course of study that prepares college students, especially those with disabilities, for careers in the Field of Disability. This unique curriculum includes six classes that range from disability history to independent living and are taught in collaboration with Maryville University.
MOREDream Big
DREAM BIG is a program that aims to inspire high school students with disabilities or IEP’s to DREAM BIG about their careers. The goal is to broaden the horizons of college and career-bound students by introducing them to a wide variety of jobs and professionals in growing industries.
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Colleen Talks Disability
Colleen Starkloff is available for speaking engagements, lecture series or workshops on the topics of disability rights, Universal Design, employment of people with disabilities and the emancipation of all people with disability.
MOREUniversal Design Summit
North America’s only conference focused on housing and communities usable by AIA. The Universal Design Summit is a unique educational experience showcasing best practices in universal design in housing, sustainable design, community design and affordability
MOREThe Max Starkloff Speaker Series
The Max Starkloff Speaker Series honors the legacy of Max Starkloff (1937-2010) by raising public awareness through presentations that spur conversation about disability. Notable speakers from the disability community share insights on a variety of topics related to living with a disability.
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Latest News
About SDI
The Starkloff Disability Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities – participate fully and equally in all aspects of society.
Founded in 2003 by Max & Colleen Starkloff and David Newburger, the Starkloff Disability Institute works on changing societal attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities through activities that send a positive message about living with disability in order to create a world that welcomes disabled people.
The Starkloff Disabilities Institute, through its Next Big Step Program is focusing primarily on helping people with disabilities overcome the institutional obstacles that exist in our workplaces. SDI works with employers to help them evolve into accessible workplace environments; and, works with potential employees with disabilities to help connect them with employers.
Max Starkloff
moreAbout SDI
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MORESDI Staff
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Colleen Starkloff Talks Disability
Colleen Starkloff is a career advocate for people with disabilities.
She is an expert on issues related to independent living; Universal Design, the history of disability issues, disability employment and public policy related to the disability community.
As a Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Starkloff Disability Institute, she works to promote and foster full employment for people with disabilities. She consults with employers on training issues related to employment of people with disabilities in mainstream, competitive jobs.
Ms. Starkloff is often invited to speak on a variety of subjects related to disability rights, Universal Design, employment of people with disabilities and the emancipation of all people with disability.
Click here to find out more about Colleen or book her for a speaking engagement.
VISION
VISION
When people understand disability, they will join our efforts to make it possible for people with disabilities to enjoy full participation in the communities where they live.
Events
Join the Starkloff Disability Institute and discover how you can be a part of increasing the world of accessibility.
Contribute
Your Generosity Today Helps us Build the Promise of Tomorrow.
The Starkloff Disability Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities – participate fully and equally in all aspects of society. All programs and operations are funded solely by the generous contributions from private donors.
Make a secure contribution online today!
Key Partners
ROLE MODEL COMPANIES
UNIVERSITY PARTNERS
To contact SDI please fill out the form below:
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Starkloff Disability Institute
133 S. 11th Street, Suite 500
Saint Louis, MO 63102
T: (314) 588-7090
F: (314) 588-7056