Rutgers logo
The Community Living Education Project (CLEP)
Rutgers logo
The Community Living Education Project (CLEP)

The Community Living Education Project

Welcome to CLEP

The Community Living Education Project, usually referred to as CLEP, works with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers to create lives of choice by exploring the possibilities of community living.

Language Matters

When communicating about disability, it is important to acknowledge that some people find identity-first language preferable (for example, autistic), and others prefer person-first language (for example, person with autism). While both forms are completely acceptable, as an office, we choose to communicate using person-first language. 

We acknowledge that identity-first language can be an effective tool for individuals, particularly self advocates, to assert pride in their disability and reclaim it from being seen as a negative dimension of their identity. However, the majority of our staff do not identify as disabled. Many of us are also parents of children with disabilities and for this reason choose person-first language as a way of placing emphasis on the person, not their disability.