An Overview
ACIDD, the acronym for American Center for Intellectual and Diverse Disorders, is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)3 status in the US. ACIDD advocates for people with mental illness and individuals with a dual diagnosis of Intellectual or developmental disabilities and mental illness. Our mission is to embrace, empower and help promote mental health and well being of all people with severe and persistent mental illness all over the world. At the national level, ACIDD provides education, training and workshops on various mental health issues to people. It conducts research, publishes literature that highlights mental health issues of people with co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental disorders (“the other dually diagnosed”). ACIDD advocates for the rights of people who have ‘the other dual diagnosis’.
ACIDD Maryland provides behavioral health services-Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP), Mental Health Vocational Program (MHVP), Psychotherapy and Holistic psychiatry to people with severe mental illness. It also provides Intellectual Disability services-community residential services, day services and non-site based day habilitation services to individuals with Intellectual disability and co-occurring mental Illness. CARF International would accredit all programs and services in January 2018. ACIDD for Counseling coordinates psychotherapy to ACIDD clients at our therapy center in Laurel, Maryland. All programs uphold protection of rights, independence, and empowerment of people with mental illness.
In 2017, ACIDD Florida has been formed to provide support services to individuals with Intellectual Disability and mental health issues. It is licensed to operate various programs in Florida. Some of the programs include community based Supported Employment, Supported Living, community housing and community integration services. It currently serves adults in Tampa region only.
ACIDD Africa and ACIDD India are the two international endeavors to support people with mental illness in Sirra Leone and India respectively. People with mental illness are historically neglected in Africa and severely underserved in India despite its growing economy. ACIDD’s efforts to bring change in their lives is a dream come true one day!
Founded in 2013 by Joseph Mathew, Ph.D, ACIDD is the beginning of the dream for recovery of mental health of millions of Americans who have serious and persistent mental illness. It particularly focusses on the 35% of people who have Intellectual Disability and co-occurring Mental Disorders in the US. For 20 years, Dr. Mathew managed another non-profit organization for individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Maryland. He had founded and headed Center for Social Change (CSC) since 1993 until he launched ACIDD in 2013 for people with co-occurring Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Mental Disorders. ACIDD is another dream. To Provide mental health services to individuals that have the “other dual diagnosis” of Intellectual Disability and Mental Illness is his passionate vision. ACIDD invites volunteers from the community to be part of this vision.
ACIDD has an experienced, voluntary Board of Directors that have previous experience of working with individuals with diverse disorders. It is a tax-exempt organization with a 501(c)3 status in the US. ACIDD organizes educational seminars, conferences, workshops and trainings to bring awareness among people about mental health issues.
ACIDD embraces all minds, and empowers people with mental illness.