POLICY
2/9/2021
AUCD Policy Fellowship 2021
The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide significant experiences in national level activities related to policy and legislative development, advocacy, program development, technical assistance, and AUCD administration. The Fellowship in Disability Policy is envisioned as a mutually beneficial arrangement between the Fellow, the Fellows community, and the AUCD central office.
1/11/2021
Lived Experience and Leadership: Self Advocates and Family Members in the Disability Rights Movement
Each fall, the NH-ME LEND Program conducts a leadership intensive on the history of disability. This year, the session was reworked to cover the history of the disability movement. Trainees were asked to watch the 2020 documentary, Crip Camp, and to reflect upon how this innovative inclusive summer camp for teenagers with disabilities during the 1970's helped to mobilize a generation of disability rights activists and energize the independent living movement.
1/8/2021
Disability and the Democratic Process
Co-authored by Maureen van Stone, Director, Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities
This election season highlighted the double disparity the disability community faces to engage in the democratic process, as this group is simultaneously fighting for both the right to vote and access to voting. These barriers to voting persist in large part because of the pervasive negative views of disability that challenge societal inclusion.
12/16/2020
MN-LEND Fellows Climb a Virtual Hill
Better pay for direct support professionals, more post-secondary educational opportunities for young adults with disabilities, and continuing funding for interdisciplinary programs that promote the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were among issues on the table as a group of fellows from the Institute on Community Integration met this month with members of Minnesota's congressional delegation.
12/14/2020
Medicaid Waiver Expert Joins Va-LEND Faculty
Va-LEND continues to add to our skilled team of faculty. Deanna Parker, MPA, has worked in the field of public policy for over 25 years and joins the LEND faculty in the discipline of Public Health. Ms. Parker is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. She helps develop, advance, and monitor regulatory and policy issues for Virginia's Developmental Disability (DD) Medicaid Waiver programs.
5/7/2020
South Dakota LEND Participates in Legislative Session
On February 9th and 10th twelve SD LEND Trainees traveled to South Dakota's state capitol Pierre to observe policy in action. Dr. Marni Johnson Martin, SD LEND Training Director, states, "I am thrilled we are able to offer this opportunity to our LEND trainees as it gives them real-world experience with the legislative process. I feel they came away from the experience much more vested in the process and understand how truly important their voices are. I hope someday I will have the honor and privilege of voting for one of our trainees when they run for office."
3/11/2020
AUCD Policy Forum and Disability Policy Seminar Canceled
We have made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the AUCD Policy Forum and Disability Policy Seminar. We will not be hosting any in-person activities at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. If you have not already cancelled your travel arrangements, please do so unless you are intending to be in DC for other reasons.
2/24/2020
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Member Arie Nettles Reappointed as Chair of Statewide Planning and Policy Council
Arie Nettles, Ph.D., NCSP, HSP, associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) member, has been reappointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to serve a new two-year term as chair of the Planning and Policy Council for the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD).
2/18/2020
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Hosts 2020 Educate to Advocate Public Policy Workshop
The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) recently hosted its 2020 Educate to Advocate public policy workshop in preparation for Feb. 4's Tennessee Disability Day on the Hill, during which disability organizations, family members and caregivers, self-advocates, and more schedule appointments with their elected officials to discuss disability issues and upcoming legislation.
2/15/2020
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Works to Create Advocacy Education Opportunities for Community
The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) has been creating multiple ways in which the greater Vanderbilt and Nashville community can gain skills in advocacy. With a LEND group project geared towards developing an "Advocacy Toolkit" and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's recent 2020 Educate to Advocate public policy workshop, Vanderbilt students, staff, and faculty work to make advocacy skills both attainable and accessible.
1/24/2020
AUCD Policy Fellowship 2020
The Policy Fellowship is an opportunity for an advanced network member to live and work in Washington, DC for one year, learning about AUCD, current legislation affecting people with disabilities and their families, and exercising leadership skills. The Fellow's responsibilities will be developed based on the needs of the Association and the interest and experience of the Fellow. Deadline: March 31; start date: September 2014.
1/17/2020
AUCD Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
As we begin 2020, we as a nation, including the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark civil rights legislation impacts the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and protects against discrimination and ensures and improves access to opportunities afforded to all.
12/23/2019
ICI Senior Researcher John Butterworth Provides Testimony (MA UCEDD/LEND)
On November 15th, ICI senior researcher John Butterworth provided testimony on data regarding subminimum wages at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights public briefing on the civil rights impact of subminimum wage on people with disabilities.
12/10/2019
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation 2020 Public Policy Fellowship Program
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is seeking exemplary professionals, and/or persons experiencing disability and/or family members of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are currently working or volunteering in the field of inclusive services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
12/6/2019
Call for Abstracts! The Mountain State Conference on Disabilities
The two day conference will provide cutting edge, best practice and evidence-based sessions for professionals while offering applied skill-based workshops for individuals on how to navigate through educational, medical, and other journeys they may experience. How are you helping individuals with disabilities on their "Journey to the Top"? Share your expertise with individuals, families, health care professionals, social workers, teachers, policy makers and others by submitting an abstract to present at the first annual Mountain State Conference on Disabilities from April 14-15, 2020 in Canaan Valley.