A Future of Flourishing: A New Name for Baylor’s Center on Disability

Baylor University has announced that the former Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities will now be known as the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing. The new name reflects the Center’s deep commitment to promote the flourishing of people with disabilities, their families, and communities.

Featured as a key initiative in Baylor in Deeds, the University’s strategic plan, the Center is building on a decade of impact to become a national leader in interdisciplinary research and training. The Center already brings together faculty and students from numerous schools and colleges across Baylor, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Music, Social Work, Truett Seminary, and many more. Likewise, it is deeply engaged in research and community projects focused on supporting families, schools, churches, community programs, and service systems. This breadth of work positions Baylor as a place where rigorous scholarship can lead directly to real-world impact. 

Disability touches every community. According to national estimates, one in four U.S. adults, one in six children, and one in three families experience disability. The pressing need is for schools, workplaces, congregations, and communities to learn to embrace and support the presence and contributions of these indispensable members.

Through its work, the Center is advancing four bold impact areas:

• Research and Scholarship — Leading interdisciplinary studies, developing evidence-based practices, and building national collaboratives.
• Faith and Disability — Equipping congregations and faith-based schools with resources, training, and vision to widen their welcome.
• Transformative Education — Preparing Baylor students to be advocates for disability inclusion and accessibility within their chosen professions and communities.
• Building Belonging— Modeling accessible practices at Baylor’s campus and developing innovative programs for students with intellectual disability.

The Center was founded in 2014 to serve children and families in the Waco area by uniting three clinics that provide vital services, student training, and applied research, while also hosting workshops and community programs across Central Texas. In its second decade, the Center is embracing its expanding role as a leader in interdisciplinary research and training focused on the flourishing of people with and without disabilities. “From the very beginning, our vision has been to meet pressing needs locally while building a foundation for transformational work—work that now reaches far beyond Central Texas communities,” said Director Kristen Padilla, who has been part of the Center since its inception.

Planned initiatives include a first-of-its-kind Collaborative on Faith and Disability, developing new academic programs, launching a college pathway for students with intellectual disabilities, expanding its community clinics, and pursuing innovative projects that address critical issues in the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

“Our new name better reflects our commitment to creating communities where people with and without disabilities can live, learn, work, and worship together,” said Erik Carter, Ph.D., executive director. “With the partnership of visionary supporters, Baylor has the opportunity to help transform the landscape for people with disabilities on a national and global scale.”

In the months ahead, the Center’s new name will be reflected in updated digital platforms and materials that showcase its mission and future direction.

To learn more, collaborate with the Center, or explore giving opportunities, contact erik_carter@baylor.edu | 254-710-3438.