Person-Centered Information on the Internet
From the March 2002 Disabilities newsletter.
Searching for information and research on person-centered programs and services? Check out QualityMall.org. A joint project between the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota, the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, and the Human Services Research Institute, this web site aims to showcase high-quality services and resources that enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
QualityMall.org, which is funded through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities of the US Department of Health and Human Services, has been online since October of 2000. Since then, according to its program coordinator John Smith, traffic has steadily increased. This past January, the site had over 3000 visitors looking at its listings, which number about 500.
The site is organized into 20 “stores,” with several “departments” within each store. Each department features links to books, CD-ROMs, fact sheets, training curricula, and programs serving people with disabilities. (We particularly like the Quality Cinema, where visitors can view free video clips, slide shows, and multimedia presentations, and the Coffee Shop, where visitors can share thoughts on message boards or partake in online chats.)
Mr. Smith explains that although the site does not sell products directly (links are provided to the seller, if applicable), the mall metaphor is used because the site is not only a resource for materials but also a gathering place for people wanting to share ideas and information on serving people with disabilities, somewhat akin to a town square.
Any visitors to the site can nominate products they think would be a good fit with the site’s person-centered principles. Mr. Smith notes that each department’s content is supervised and approved by an expert in that field. “We have a lot of people making sure that we only have good material,” he says.
