Philosophy

The philosophy of the AIRRTC is based on American Indian concepts, and is composed of the Circle and the Four Directions (East, West, South, North).  Each of these is associated with a cluster of concepts and values that, if taken together, provide a comprehensive and complete approach.

click here to view the Four Directions 

The Center Circle of the Four Directions consists of the mission statements of the IHD, NAU, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). In the East Directions, the budget is developed to provide funding to support the mission statement, which assists the West Direction in supporting qualified researchers and trainers in carrying out project activities. In the South Direction, the principal investigators determine the additional qualified staff needed to accomplish the objectives of the research and training projects. In the West Direction, specified roles and responsibilities of the Center executive director, research director, training coordinator, research and training principal investigators and co-investigators, and support staff are identified.  In-house and external collaboration and networking will be provided to carry out the roles and responsibilities to support the mission statement, East, South, and North directions. In the North Direction, the physical facility where the AIRRTC conducts business is reviewed to ensure that the mission statement is supported. This also includes reviewing current equipment needs, supplies, and general operation of the AIRRTC. The goal is to look at each Direction as: Thinking, Planning, Implementation, and Outcomes.  Certain basic principles represent the philosophy of the AIRRTC and the guidelines by which the AIRRTC will operate of the next  5 years. These are the result of the AIRRTC's long-term involvement with American Indian Rehabilitation and are consistent with the policies of the RSA and the NIDRR, and legislation such as the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.