The Link Center improves access to coordinated, effective supports for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other cognitive disabilities who also have mental health conditions.
Funded by ACL, The Link Center bridges disability and mental health systems by supporting state agencies with policy development, service design, and service coordination, and by sharing resources with individuals, families, and other stakeholders. Its work emphasizes person-centered, trauma-informed, and community-responsive approaches.
The Link Center advances its mission by:
- Maintaining a curated library of resources, models, and promising practices
- Providing training and technical assistance to support effective policies and services
- Offering training for individuals with lived experience, family members, direct support professionals, clinicians, and other supporters
- Promoting collaboration across disability and mental health service systems
The Link Center is led by a steering committee of people who have I/DD, other cognitive disabilities, or brain injuries and co-occurring mental health conditions. The committee advises on priorities and provides perspectives on the center’s work.
The Link Center is operated through a partnership among national disability and mental health organizations, working closely with self-advocacy organizations, university-based disability centers, and other partners.