NAAD: An Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Needs

http://thenadd.org/about-nadd/

NADD is a not-for-profit membership association established for professionals, care providers and families to promote understanding of and services for individuals who have developmental disabilities and mental health needs. The mission of NADD is to advance mental wellness for persons with developmental disabilities through the promotion of excellence in mental health care.

NADD is recognized as the world’s leading organization in providing educational services, training materials and conferences. NADD has been influential in the development of appropriate community based policies, programs and opportunities in addressing the mental health needs of persons with ID/D.

NADD’s Mission

“To advance mental wellness for persons with developmental disabilities through the promotion of excellence in mental health care.”

NADD is committed to a seven-fold strategy:

• We encourage the dissemination and exchange of pertinent information.
• We promote educational and training programs.
• We foster the development of appropriate resources and services.
• We advocate for appropriate governmental policies.
• We support research focused on identification, diagnosis and treatment.
• We seek to stimulate public and professional interest.
• We seek to establish a vision of mental wellness

Moreover, we urge a sustained effort by the professional community to meet the mental health needs of persons who have ID/D. There must be a new appreciation of the person’s ability to learn and develop, as well as a focus on his/her inner life, needs, strengths and motivation. These, we submit, are the cornerstones of the only equitable response to persons who have too long been underserved.

History of NADD

NADD, also known as The National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, was founded in 1983 as a not-for-profit Association. The catalyst for the founding of NADD arose from the need for an open forum to promote and exchange of ideas, principals & concepts concerning individuals who have the co-existence of  ID/D and mental illness.

NADD has been growing at a steady pace since its inception. We are now recognized as the leading organization providing conferences, educational services and training materials to many thousands of people in the United States and world-wide. Through the dissemination of cutting edge knowledge, we have been influential in the development of appropriate community based policies, programs, and opportunities in addressing the mental health needs of persons who have ID/D.

NADD has been successful in promoting services that bridge the gap between the mental health and developmental disabilities structures. The division of responsibility between the mental health and ID/D service systems has resulted all too often in a denial of comprehensive care and treatment for individuals who have ID/D concurrent with a serious mental health problem. NADD is a national leading force advocating on behalf of individuals who have mental illness and ID/D.

NADD has grown rapidly since its founding in 1983 and is now represented in every state in the United States and in Canada, Australia, Japan as well as in Europe.

The Founder of NADD
Dr. Robert J. Fletcher is founder and executive director of NADD. His vision and leadership has steered NADD to international prominence as a leading force on behalf of individuals who have ID/D and mental illness.