Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities

ASD News

AUCD Celebrates April as Autism Awareness Month

25 Act Early Ambassadors Selected for 2013

Ambassadors will work as community champions with programs that serve young children and their parents to improve early identification of developmental delay and collaborate with state agencies and campaign partners to improve policy and programs for early identification.

HRSA & CDC Announce New Autism Data

'Changes in Prevalence of Parent-Reported Autism Spectrum Disorder in School-Aged Children: 2007 to 2011-2012'

Findings: (1) The prevalence of parent-reported ASD among children aged 6-17 years was 2 percent in 2011-2012 compared to 1.2 percent in 2007. (2) The change in prevalence estimates was greatest for boys and for adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. (3) Much of the increase in the prevalence estimates from 2007 to 2011-2012 for school-aged children was the result of diagnoses of children with previously unrecognized ASD.

Developmental Disabilities News

Key Position Announcement: AUCD Seeks Next Executive Director

Applications currently being accepted through June 30

Due to the announced retirement of the current Executive Director, George Jesien, PhD, later this year, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a national not-for-profit organization located in Silver Spring, MD, seeks an executive director to lead and guide activities that fulfill its mission to advance policies and practices that improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being of people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and their communities. The Association supports its member university-based centers and programs in interdisciplinary research, education, health, and service activities. The next Executive Director will inherit an organization that is respected by peers, is financially sound, has a highly motivated and engaged staff, and has a solid governing Board.

HHS Releases Blueprint to Advance Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care

The enhanced National CLAS standards are a blueprint to help organizations improve health care quality in serving our nation's diverse communities. They are grounded in a broad definition of culture, in which health is recognized as being influenced by factors ranging from race and ethnicity to language, spirituality, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and geography.

AUCD Trainees Chart Their Passion

2012-2013 AUCD Trainees were asked, "What are you most passionate about?" The responses were wide-ranging and truly reflect the enthusiasm of Trainees to make a difference in not only their disciplines or areas of interest, but in many issues that impact the disability community as a whole. Ambition, dedication, and passion shine through these disability leaders of tomorrow.