By: Nadine Crespo

For three decades, Individual Advocacy Group (IAG) has stood as a force for transformation not just an organization, but a movement redefining what empowerment and inclusion look like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since its founding in the mid-1990s, IAG has grown from a small, determined team into a multi-program agency recognized nationally for its creativity, compassion, and results-driven advocacy.

At the foundation of this journey is Dr. Charlene Bennett, whose vision and leadership helped shape IAG’s identity and mission. While Dr. Bennett’s influence is unmistakable, the heart of the story is IAG itself which is a community of advocates, professionals, and self-advocates united around one simple but radical belief: that every person deserves the right to live a full, self-directed life.

Photo Courtesy: Individual Advocacy Group

When IAG began, the disability services field was dominated by institutional models and rigid systems. IAG challenged that status quo by prioritizing people over processes. The organization’s person-centered philosophy focused on dignity, choice, and individuality rather than on checklists and compliance. This values-driven shift became the cornerstone of IAG’s model, influencing how services are delivered and how people are viewed across the system.

Over the years, IAG’s commitment to listening, relationship-building, and innovation produced groundbreaking programs that are now considered models for best practice. Its person-centered planning, individualized supports, and community-based opportunities enable people to live, work, and contribute in ways that are meaningful to them. Whether through employment, volunteering, or artistic expression, IAG ensures that every individual is seen not as a client, but as a community member with something valuable to offer.

The Stabilization-First Model: Advocacy in Action

Photo Courtesy: Individual Advocacy Group

One of IAG’s most impactful innovations has been its Stabilization-First approach: a model that prioritizes safety, trust, and stability before anything else. Rather than relying on institutional placements or crisis-driven interventions, IAG’s approach focuses on rebuilding lives through relationships, routines, and community integration.

This model recognizes that meaningful progress begins when people feel safe and supported. By helping individuals stabilize their environment, manage challenges, and regain a sense of control, IAG sets the foundation for long-term growth. The results speak for themselves: fewer unnecessary hospitalizations, stronger community ties, and measurable improvements in quality of life.

The Stabilization Program has become one of IAG’s signature successes.  This is a tangible example of what happens when advocacy meets action. As IAG looks toward the future, expanding this program remains a key priority. The goal is clear: to bring stability, safety, and opportunity to even more individuals and families.

Building Pathways to Independence

IAG’s impact extends far beyond stabilization. The organization offers a wide portfolio of programs that empower individuals to live, work, and express themselves fully.

• The Transitional Living Program works with DCFS to help youth move from unstable environments into homes where they are fully supported and guided to have autonomy to make their own decisions.
• Community Day Services offer opportunities for creativity and skill-building through art, cooking, and vocational training.  This far surpasses programs to help pass the time but offers opportunities for individuals to learn skills that generalize in their communities, workplaces and relationships. 
• Entrepreneurship and media initiatives give individuals the tools to launch podcasts, businesses, and creative projects that amplify their voices and redefine independence.

Every IAG program is built on the same foundation: person-centered support that fosters self-reliance, confidence, and connection.

A Culture of Collaboration and Inclusion

What sets IAG apart is its belief that advocacy must be inclusive. Families, professionals, and the people supported by IAG all play an active role in shaping the organization’s services and direction. This collaborative spirit has not only strengthened IAG’s programs but also influenced policy conversations and public understanding of disability rights nationwide.

Our employees are all a part of our mission.  Their investment in IAG’s vision and heart help create and expand programs and services to different areas.  The level of commitment that IAG employees have surpasses our organization.  Through working here they have learned and embodied true advocacy that has furthered our reach on a ground level. 

By opening its doors to legislators, media, and community partners, IAG demonstrates that community-based living is not only more humane it’s also sustainable, cost-effective, and transformative.

Looking Ahead: Expansion and Impact

As IAG celebrates three decades of advocacy, its focus is firmly on the future. The agency is exploring ways to expand the Stabilization Program and extend its reach to more communities that lack adequate support systems. This next phase of growth will include new partnerships, housing opportunities, and professional development initiatives that ensure IAG’s high standards of care remain consistent across every region.

IAG’s continued evolution is powered by the people who believe in its mission – the staff, advocates, families, and individuals who remind the world that change begins with compassion and commitment.

A Living Legacy

While IAG’s roots are tied to visionary leaders who saw what was possible when dignity meets determination, its strength lies in the collective. Thirty years later, IAG stands as a testament to what can happen when advocacy becomes everyday practice — when stabilization leads to empowerment, and when inclusion becomes the norm rather than the goal.

The future of IAG is about more than growth — it’s about deepening impact. Through expansion, innovation, and steadfast advocacy, IAG continues to prove that when people are given the tools and respect to lead their own lives, entire communities thrive. Join the e-mail list to stay up to date on all things IAG at www.iagcares.org.