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AUCDigest

January 23, 2007 • Volume 7, Number 1


NEWS FROM AUCD NATIONAL OFFICE

Second Round of Pediatric Medical Units (PMU) Announced.  AUCD plans to work with up to 16 selected member University Centers over a five-year period under a contract with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to develop, test and operate prototypes of Pediatric Medical Units.  The PMUs will assist SSA in the disability determination process of children by providing additional medical and clinical expertise.   AUCD is pleased to announce the next four PMUs (8 in total) that will work on the state and regional level with SSA and state/federal adjudicators to improve the childhood disability determination process ensuring that the best decisions are made as early as possible for childhood disability adjudications: 

AUCD hopes to circulate a request for Statements of Interest for Year 3 in fall 2007.  Pending budget authorization, we will add locations on an annual basis with up to 16 Centers/Programs participating by 2010.  For more information, contact Rhoda Schulzinger, Director of the Children's Disability Determination Initiative.

February 8:  Deadline Registration for 2007 Disability Policy Seminar.  The Disability Policy Seminar is March 4-6, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill. AUCD, The Arc, UCP, AAIDD, and NACDD are reminding participants to register online at the Registration Website.  The seminar theme is New Congress, New Opportunities.  The registration fees for the 2007 Seminar are $275 per person ($200 for self-advocates, full-time students, or trainees).  Registration fees cannot be invoiced and must be paid for with a credit card online or by calling AAIDD at 202-387-1968.  Credit card information also can be faxed to AAIDD at 202-387-2193 (include purchase order # if applicable).  Once the online seminar registration is completed, registrants are advised to make hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill as soon as possible.  Reservations MUST be made directly with the hotel.  Call 800-233-1234 and indicate the reservation is for the "Disability Policy Seminar" to receive the Seminar hotel rate of $239 per night.  Important Registration Dates:

  • February 8, 2007 - Deadline for the Disability Policy Seminar and the hotel registration.  A $50 late fee will be imposed after this date.
  • February 18, 2007 - This is the last date to cancel registration and request a refund.  All cancellations will be subject to a 25 percent penalty and refund requests must be sent in writing.  Requests received after close of business on this date cannot be honored.

For questions about the Seminar registration, please contact AAIDD at 202-387-1968.  For questions about the Seminar program, please contact Kim Musheno, AUCD Director of Legislative Affairs, at 301-588-8252.   

AUCD Welcomes Back a Familiar Face.  AUCD's Legislative Affairs team is pleased to welcome back Joseph Caldwell, PhD in the position of Policy Analyst.  He was previously AUCD's 2005-2006 Policy Fellow.  Dr. Caldwell brings more than seven years experience from within the AUCD network as a student, fellow, teacher, and researcher.  He is the recipient of a number of student awards from UIC (Page-El scholarship award), the College of Applied Health Sciences (outstanding masters thesis for the 2002 graduating class), AUCD (Anne Rudiger award), the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability (IASSID Stevens Shapiro award), and most recently, an AAMR student award.  He has been published in the Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Mental Retardation, and Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews.  He begins his new position on February 5, 2007.

Request for Organizational Charts of Individual UCEDDs:  Dr. Maggie Nygren, Technical Assistance Director, is asking UCEDD Directors to submit current organizational charts of their University Centers to be compiled into a resource packet and disseminated at the Director's Meeting in the upcoming months.  Thank you very much for your assistance.

Thoughts from the 2006-2007 AUCD Virtual Trainee Rene Jamison of the Developmental Disabilities Center (KS LEND).  This year has flown by with many opportunities for learning and leadership through the virtual trainee position, AUCD network, and my LEND traineeship. I hope that other trainees have taken advantage of the incredible opportunities we are afforded through our experiences as trainees in this network. It was great to meet fellow trainees while attending the AUCD Annual Meeting and Conference in Washington DC and I look forward to seeing more trainees at the Disability Policy Seminar in March. As the virtual trainee, my goal is to increase trainee involvement in the network and links across sites. Here's a brief summary of my plans for upcoming opportunities for trainee involvement.

  • Trainee Liaison between the VT and your site:
    • Encourage active involvement in the AUCD network at your UCEDD or LEND        
    • Trainee linkage opportunities
    • Enhance leadership skills
  • 2007 Disability Policy Seminar: New Congress, New Opportunities 
    • March 4-6, 2007 in Washington DC
    • Create connections among trainees present
  • Trainee Research Forum
    • Share your research or projects with other trainees
    • Generate ideas for projects

Look for my emails regarding these upcoming opportunities for involvement and professional development, Rene Jamison.

 

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