When Community Inclusion was started, the goal wasn't just to build another waiver services agency in Kentucky. It was to completely flip the script on how care is delivered.
From the very beginning, Toni and Nikki sat down with a singular, driving focus. Their conversations didn't center around standard business metrics; instead, they constantly asked themselves: How can we support more people, and how do we give them the exact personalized care they actually need? How do we advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves? How do we empower people to succeed, while making sure they feel genuinely important, seen, and accepted no matter what?
Too often in human services, people get reduced to what's written on paper — a checklist of diagnoses, medical histories, or past behavioral incidents. Toni Mullins and Nikki Dalton-Powell saw a desperate need for something better. They wanted to build a truly person-centered agency where we look past the charts, see the actual human being, and provide a team that will always meet them exactly where they are.
Whether that means stepping in with temporary support during a tough season or providing a permanent foundation of care for the long haul, our focus is entirely on person-first empowerment.
The "WHY" Behind What We Do: Diagnosis to Death
At the core of Community Inclusion is a phrase Toni and Nikki live by: "Diagnosis to Death."
"This philosophy isn't just a slogan; it is our promise to Kentucky families that we are here for the entire journey."
Anyone navigating disabilities and waiver services knows how stressful it is when supports suddenly vanish — like when a child transitions into adulthood. We built this agency to break that cycle.
When we say "Diagnosis to Death," it means we are dedicated to working through every single milestone with our participants and helping them reach new ones on their own terms. From that very first diagnosis, through every stage of adulthood, and through senior care — we aren't going anywhere. You will always have a team in your corner helping you grow.
Meet the Founders
We are incredibly proud to be led by owners who don't just run things from an office; they are advocates active in daily operations and state-level policy discussions. Toni and Nikki bring a massive amount of real-world expertise and genuine heart to our mission.
Toni Mullins
Owner & CEOAs a nurse with deep roots in human services management, Toni integrates medical wellness right into our daily care model. Her background means that while we are always pushing the boundaries for independence, we never compromise on safety, compliance, and top-tier support for our participants.
Nikki Dalton-Powell
Owner & COOAs a former Behavior Support Specialist, Nikki brings years of hands-on, face-to-face experience to our leadership team. She guides our agency with an empathy-first perspective that champions true autonomy, ensuring everything we do honors the self-determination and choices of the individual.
Our Service Philosophy: Inclusive, Compassionate & Innovative
Driven by Toni and Nikki's vision, our daily mission is to provide inclusive, compassionate, and comprehensive services that empower individuals with disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their own communities. We don't believe in institutional, one-size-fits-all care. Instead, we lean on three core principles:
- Invisible Support Structures: We provide the behind-the-scenes support that allows individuals to stand independently on their own two feet rather than relying on institutional care.
- Empowerment: We don't measure our success by a checklist of tasks we completed, but by the milestones our participants reach on their own terms.
- Innovation: We use modern, trauma-informed models like IPS (Individual Placement and Support) to help our participants secure real jobs for real pay.
By keeping our leadership accessible, keeping an open-door policy, and holding ourselves to a strict culture of integrity, we protect our participants, support our staff, and ensure this mission stays strong for years to come.
You are unique, you are important, and we are here for the long haul. We're here for you.Back to Blog