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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Starkloff Disability Institute

Building inclusion where we live, learn, work, & play through disability-led programs Collaboration and partnership are keys to our success. W.

Founded in 2003 by Max and Colleen Starkloff, the Starkloff Disability Institute works on changing societal attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities through activities that send a positive message about living with disability in order to create a world that welcomes disabled people. The Institute does this through various projects which disseminate a positive message about living w

ith disability:

* The Disability Studies Initiative
* The Disability History Project
* Universal Design Summit
* Direct Action
* The Next Big Step

VISION

When people understand disability, they will join our efforts to make it possible for people with disabilities to enjoy full participation in the communities where they live. GOALS

Our goals include the following:

* Using public dialogue to expose the misconceptions that prevent people with disabilities from taking charge of their own lives.
* Disseminating a positive message about living with disability in the St. Louis region.
* Creating educational programs to inform various segments of the St. Louis community about disability and preparing the next generation to view disability as a normal part of life.
* Developing leadership opportunities for people with disabilities in the St. Louis region.
* Conducting research in areas that will further our mission to prepare ourselves to provide information and advocacy with respect to public policy, community planning, and social justice.
* Working with disabled and non-disabled individuals and organizations - employers, churches, businesses, governments, foundations, politicians, schools, medical professionals, and others - to develop attitudes and actions that will ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity for full participation in society. These goals are grounded in the Values that define the Starkloff Disability Institute. Values and Beliefs

* Attitudes can be changed, just like policies and laws.
* Changing attitudes may well be the single biggest barrier standing between people with disabilities and full participation in society.
* Changing attitudes must be … THE NEXT BIG STEP

The work of the Starkloff Disability Institute is grounded in the following values:

* All people should have equal opportunity to live, work, and participate fully in society.
* People with disabilities should be perceived as equals in society.
* Most people with disabilities and their families should know that they can make the choice to live more independently.
* Public policy impacts the ability of people with disabilities to live independently.
* We have a responsibility to train disabled leaders to advocate effectively for disability rights issues.
* The study of disability history and culture are essential to understanding the role of disability in our society.
* There is individual and systemic discrimination against people with disabilities, which must be acknowledged if we are to understand its impact and work to eliminate it.
* People with disabilities don't want pity; they want acceptance, support, and full engagement with life.
* It is our responsibility to educate corporations and public and private entities on ways to include people with disabilities. History

Max and Colleen Starkloff established the Starkloff Disability Institute in October 2003 to take their work in the field of disability in a new direction. After founding Paraquad, Inc. in 1970, one of the nation's leading independent living centers, the Starkloffs wanted to dedicate the balance of their careers to enhancing opportunities for disabled people to achieve acceptance, independence, and full engagement with life. Many non-profit independent living centers and other disability oriented organizations, in the St. Louis area and the nation, work to improve the lives of people with disabilities through direct service activities that prepare them to live independently, and advocate for services that promote access to housing, transportation, education, personal assistance services, health care and employment. For more about independent living centers, see www.ilru.org. In short, these organizations help people with disabilities get out into the world. How SDI is different from Paraquad and other disability focused organizations.

* Paraquad and other disability focused organizations teach people with disabilities to live independently in society.
* SDI teaches society to accept people with disabilities. Prior to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, President George H. Bush said, "People with disabilities are the poorest, least educated, and largest minority in America." At that time, two thirds of Americans with disabilities between the ages of 16 and 64 were not working at all, although most said that they wanted to work. Seventeen years later, in spite of significant improvements won through ADA, President Bush's description remains accurate. FACTS:

* 18+ percent of America's population is disabled. That's more than 1 out of 5 of our families, friends, and neighbors.
* 69 percent of disabled people, age 16 - 64, are unemployed. Compare that to our current US unemployment "crisis" of 7 percent.
* People with disabilities continue to be the highest unemployed and underemployed of any social category - by far. While 92 of the Fortune 100 companies have workplace diversity policies, disability is not consistently a diversity measure. Only 32 of these policies expressly mention people with disabilities.

06/05/2026

Excited to welcome our newest Dream Big middle schoolers when Career Camp kicks off Monday! The team has been getting ready, training together, and packing the schedule full of activities that explore careers, build confidence, teach Disability Pride and history, and connect kids with disabilities as peers navigating barriers together. Later in June, we'll welcome our high school cohorts and dive deeper into career paths with visits to top St. Louis employers including Bayer U.S. Crop Science, Clayco, Edward Jones, Mackey Mitchell Architects, Metro, MilliporeSigma, Purina, and World Wide Technology!

We are proud to be a United Way of Greater St. Louis agency working to advance economic opportunity for people with disabilities in St. Louis.

06/03/2026

Celebrate Disability Pride Month at Disability Pride Night on Saturday, July 11th! Get your Theme Ticket to see a Redbird winner* and take home an exclusive Cardinals t-shirt featuring the disability pride flag!

Find more details including available seating at https://starkloff.org/st-louis-cardinals-2026-disability-pride-theme-night/
*Win cannot be guaranteed, but a big crowd of cheering fans definitely helps. Get your ticket and be part of the action!

05/29/2026

We are a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Chief Program Officer to lead the vision, impact, and growth of SDI’s program portfolio serving youth and adults with disabilities. Find all the details about joining our team including how to apply on our website: starkloff.org/hiring

Photos from Starkloff Disability Institute's post

05/19/2026

Ready to build your Disability Confidence? Join Starkloff at one of our upcoming events!

Young professionals based in St. Louis are invited to join the Starkloff Network for a workshop on building a personal brand and conversation with influencer and disabled entrepreneur behind Stacked, Drew Davis, plus a social hour with free professional headshots available.

Everyone in the St. Louis community is invited to Roll Through St. Louis on Sunday, May 31 to improve their urban transit skills. Build your confidence in navigating car-free travel from buses to bike lanes and our expanding greenway system. Come out to meet your neighbors and enjoy music, food, and activities all FREE!

Our upcoming Universal Design webinar is free for everyone featuring a presentation and lively panel discussion about the barriers we create when groups are left out of the design process.

Find more details and registration for each of these free events at starkloff.org/events

Opinion: How autonomous vehicles could transform our lives in Missouri

05/14/2026

"I’ve experienced firsthand how access to dependable transportation improves lives and expands what’s possible."

Starkloff CEO Lori Becker illustrates—through data and a lifetime of experience as a nondriver—how autonomous vehicles in Missouri benefit all and transform the lives of people with disabilities: https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/column/article_0b8ab412-8409-4656-b762-ea782d9ed8d8.html (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 13, 2026)

Opinion: How autonomous vehicles could transform our lives in Missouri You might be surprised to learn that more than 1.5 million adults in Missouri live with a disability. For many of them, something most people take for granted — simply

Groups Left Behind in Design - Starkloff Disability Institute

05/13/2026

Who gets left behind when we design? Join us on Wednesday, June 17, 1–2:30 CT, as we dig into this topic with guest experts: Aja Black, Allison Brewer, Kevin Symons, and Jia Wilson. Register at https://starkloff.org/universal-design-webinar-2026-groups-left-behind-in-design/

Entire groups of people are routinely left out of the design process—and most designers don’t even realize it’s happening. This free 90-minute webinar is changing that conversation.

Join us and dig into why Universal Design isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a necessity. We’re talking real talk about real barriers, and what it actually takes to build a more inclusive world.

Ready to design for everyone? Register at https://starkloff.org/universal-design-webinar-2026-groups-left-behind-in-design/

Groups Left Behind in Design - Starkloff Disability Institute Who gets left behind when we design? Disabled communities. People of different races, religions, and genders. Entire groups of people are routinely left out of the design process—and most designers don't even realize it's happening. This free 90-minute webinar is changing that conversation. Guest ...

05/07/2026

We are filled with gratitude for our community's support and generosity during our Growing Together: Cultivating Career Success campaign! This we want to thank you for helping St. Louis be a leader in disability inclusion. Together we are building a city where disabled people thrive!
(And if you missed it, you've got another chance: https://www.givestlday.org/organization/starkloff)

05/06/2026

The Starkloff Network is hosting a workshop for young professionals (18-40) all about building your personal brand for professional success. Plus, Q&A with special guest Drew Davis, founder of multi-million dollar hot sauce company Drew's Stacked Sauce, influencer, entrepreneur, and thriving young professional with a disability!

Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical skills and expert insights, plus professional headshots and a social hour with to connect with other young professionals. Join us on Thursday, May 21 at Spark Coworking - St. Louis (in Ballpark Village) from 6-8pm for this FREE event. Registration required: https://starkloff.org/personal-brand-starkloff-network-may-2026/

Remembering Ray Hartmann - Starkloff Disability Institute

04/24/2026

Ray Hartmann was an early believer in the mission of the Starkloff Disability Institute, a longtime friend of Max and Colleen Starkloff, and an advocate and ally for disability rights in our community. His impact on our organization—and on St. Louis—will be felt for years to come. His loss is sudden and deeply felt. It leaves a space that cannot be filled in quite the same way:

Remembering Ray Hartmann - Starkloff Disability Institute Ray Hartmann never did anything halfway. He showed up fully: curious, principled, sharp-witted, and deeply committed to the people and causes he believed in. For those of us at the Starkloff Disability Institute, Ray was not just a board member or

04/22/2026

Thank you! With your dedicated support and incredible generosity, we hit our goal of $100,000 to fund programs that cultivate career success and transform lives!

We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to and helped spread the word about this campaign.

Because of you, we are able to thrive and grow together, creating a world where each of us has the opportunity to cultivate career success. THANK YOU! 🪴💚

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Telephone

+13145887090

Website

http://www.starkloff.org/

Address

PO Box 775670
St. Louis, MO
63177

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm