The Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) is a research and development institute supported by the Inclusion Canada (formerly the Canadian Association for Community Living) to help work towards its vision that “people with intellectual disabilities and their families are valued equally and able to participate fully in all aspects of society.” 

Aim
People with an intellectual and other disabilities are safe, included, valued, free, and equal.

Vision
An inclusive society where people with intellectual and other disabilities, in all their diversity, are equally valued, free, safe, and respected for their presence and contribution in the social, political, cultural and economic life of their communities.

Mission
IRIS convenes, informs, and engages to generate and mobilize knowledge to achieve an inclusive society.

IRIS carries out its mission through three main roles: research and policy, social innovation, and supporting capacity building.

Our current strategy responds to four main concerns raised by our networks and communities: 

• The urgent need to address the growing gap between recognized human rights for people with intellectual disabilities, and the reality of their social and economic inequality;  
• The need for a better understanding of and targeted responses to the diverse experiences of marginalization of people with intellectual disabilities and their families – based on gender, Indigenous and racialized status, income class, and LGBTQ2S and other identities;  
• The need to more effectively intervene at the local and grassroots levels to enable transformational change in the justice system, housing markets, health care and other sectors; and,  
• The need to grow constituencies and leadership to lead transformational change.