Our
Mission
The Coalition of Institutionalized Aged
and Disabled (CIAD) is a non-profit, consumer-led
advocacy organization of adult home and nursing home
residents and residents’ councils. CIAD was established
in 1973 to bring pride, purpose and self-determination
to residents. Our mission is to provide residents with
the information and skills they need to advocate for
themselves, to protect and promote the rights of
residents, and to improve the quality of their lives and
their care. CIAD organizes residents into resident
councils, training and nurturing resident leaders,
educating residents about their rights, and promoting
their participation in the affairs of their own
residences as well as broader public policy issues.
CIAD was born out of residents’ sense of
disenfranchisement and isolation. Institutional policies
and regimens were slowly eroding their personal autonomy
and robbing them of their independence, individuality
and decision-making power. They were dependent upon a
system that neither met their needs nor consulted them
on how their needs could best be met. Our social justice
vision is one that seeks to protect people’s rights,
improve the quality of their life and care, and
transform institutions into real community settings.
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