The Southwest Center
The Southwest Center, founded in 1982, is a private non-profit organization located in southwest Louisville, Kentucky.
The Southwest Center was founded in response to the growing need for programs and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. Since that time, we have grown to provide a wide variety of community based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each service is geared towards helping each person to live, work, and enjoy life in his or her community.
As we strive to help people reach their goals and dreams, the Southwest Center works in creative ways to support people intellectual and developmental be happy in their community.
Mission
Our mission is to affirm the gifts that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have and assist them in using those gifts as they live happily in their community.
Core Values
Encouragement – Encourage people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have personal growth towards autonomy, personal responsibility, healthier life, and personal fulfillment of their goals, dreams, and desires.
Friendship – Affirm the gifts that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have and assist them in making meaningful
contributions to society and being a part of the community.
Support – Support people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in their homes and with their family or housemates
Goals
Through the Mission and Values, our goals are to:
1. Enhance the public image of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2. Provide assistance, as needed, for the people we support and their families
3. Identify and help grow the unique abilities of each individual we support
4. Help each person we support to live a healthy life in the community
DEAI Statement
As an organization that affirms the gifts of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Southwest Center’s commitment to inclusion across ability, race, gender, age, religion, identity and experiences, informs our daily work. SWC strengthens our organization by welcoming people with differences and by fostering a culture of respect, trust, and mutual understanding through equity, diversity, access and inclusivity. SWC offers an inclusive, diverse culture where all employees feel appreciated, involved, heard, understood, connected, supported, and embraced for our differences.