Partners was established in 1988 as the University Affiliated Program of Arkansas (UAP) with a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). It was initially a cooperative program between the University of Arkansas (U of A), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA-Little Rock) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The first full-time Director, Dr. Mark Swanson, was hired in 1990. To streamline administrative processes, the decision was made during that same year to position the UAP administratively within the UAMS Department of Pediatrics.
The initial focus of the UAP was interdisciplinary training at all academic levels—undergraduate, graduate, postmasters, and postdoctoral. The goal of the interdisciplinary training was to enable participants to become effective leaders and practitioners in their own disciplines; to competently apply knowledge and skills to support persons with developmental disabilities and their families; to effectively participate in an interdisciplinary process of designing, evaluating, and implementing programs; and to effectively work in an interdisciplinary setting. To improve alignment with the lifespan focus, the UAP found a few different administrative homes at UAMS over the years.
When the University Affiliated Programs were changed to University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDDs), the UAP of Arkansas adopted a new name, Partners for Inclusive Communities (Partners).
Upon Dr. Mark Swanson’s retirement, David Deere became Partners’ Director. Karan Burnette became the Associate Director, and later Co-Director.
In 2012, with support from Tom E.C. Smith, Dean of the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions, Partners was moved there administratively.
David Deere retired in 2020 and Karan Burnette became the Executive Director.
Over the years, while the overall organizational mission has remained focused on improving communityinclusion for people with developmental disabilities, the scope of the projects has expanded from interdisciplinary training to provision of many types of training, consultation, services and research, with projects varying across the lifespan and geographic areas of the state.
Through contracts and grants, Partners continues to grow and expand our reach to achieve our vision of “Inclusion of people with disabilities in community life.”