AUCD 360 - May 2017

AUCD 2017: Lift Your Voice

November 5-8, 2017, Washington, DC

The power of our collective voices working together to sustain vital supports and services for people with disabilities and their families cannot be denied. The AUCD Conference brings us together to discuss the strategies, innovations, and systems that will allow us to continue to move the needle forward. Join us at the 2017 AUCD Conference as we celebrate successes, learn from past efforts, seek opportunities in the present, and innovate for the future. Read more... 

Submit a Proposal for AUCD 2017 Today

Deadline:  June 1, 2017

The AUCD Conference is one of the nation's premier places to highlight your work. Over 200 different presentations will be accepted to the conference in several different types of sessions, formatted for maximum visibility and interaction with attendees. Proposals are encouraged from students, self-advocates, family leaders, clinicians, and researchers in over 25 topics. Don't miss your chance: submit a proposal today! Read more... 

Nominate a Colleague for an AUCD Award

Deadline: June 30, 2017

The annual AUCD Awards gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made outstanding contributions. We honor their advocacy, research, policy, and practice that further diversifies and creates more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families. Comprised of 11 categories, the AUCD awards represent the 'best of the best' within our network, and local, state, and federal partners. Read more... 

John Tschida Receives the NARRTC Special Contribution Award

At the recent annual conference of the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (NARRTC), John Tschida, Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy at AUCD, received the Special Contribution Award. Given for leadership activities and major accomplishments on behalf of NARRTC as an organization, "Special Contribution Awards recognize diligence, service, commitment, and leadership in the context of organizational affairs or related spheres of activity," said NARRTC President Marianne Farkas. Read more... 

AUCD Welcomes Jessica Drennan as Senior Program Manager

Jessica Drennan is a Senior Program Manager at AUCD, primarily focusing on work with the UCEDDs. Prior to coming to AUCD, Jessica was the Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs Director for South Carolina. As the Title V Director, she served on several legislative and interagency coordinating committees and worked to increase access and coordinated care for children with complex medical needs and their families. She was successful in beginning an initiative around sickle cell disease surveillance and care coordination, the creation of multidisciplinary craniofacial clinics within major hospital systems, and using Block Grant funds to increase health insurance coverage for those with rare diseases. Read more... 

Position Opening: Virtual Trainee

As a part of AUCD's initiative to increase trainee involvement across the network and build future leaders, AUCD is seeing the next Virtual Trainee for the 2017-2018 academic year! This is a paid leadership opportunity with AUCD. The Virtual Trainee (VT) is an enthusiastic and passionate individual who works remotely from their home Program or Center to build and enhance a network among trainees across all our AUCD member sites (LENDs and UCEDDs). The VT serves as the connection point between the national network and each Program/Center by ensuring trainees receive relevant information and opportunities related to leadership, research, grants, fellowships and more. Read more... 

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Va-LEND Welcomes Second Generation Director

This past March, Jennifer Accardo, MD, officially stepped into her role as the new Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Va-LEND) Director, a job previously held by her father, Pasquale Accardo, MD. Dr. Accardo is a pediatrician board certified in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. She graduated from medical school at St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and did her general pediatrics training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Read more...

Dr. Jesse Suter Named Interim Director of CDCI (VT UCEDD)

We are proud to announce that Dr. Jesse Suter has accepted the position of Interim Director at the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion. He will be stepping into the role currently held by Dr. Susan Ryan, who is retiring after an impressive career spanning more than 30 years in Special Education and Inclusion. Dr. Suter holds his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UVM and has been with the Center for 11 years. In this time, he has proven himself an influential researcher and scholar, securing more than $4 million in external funding and publishing 18 refereed articles and five book chapters. 
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Texas Center for Disability Studies Welcomes Nina Zuna! (TX UCEDD)

The Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin is pleased to welcome Dr. Nina Zuna as the Associate Director. Dr. Zuna comes to TCDS after working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at UT-Austin. Dr. Zuna has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families in a variety of roles including, professor, researcher, certified special education teacher, and in-home/in-school behavioral skills trainer. Read more...

Linda Labas, Early Childhood Coordinator, Recognized for 25 Years of Service (ME UCEDD)

Linda Labas, M.Ed., Early Childhood Coordinator for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD), was recently recognized for 25 years of service to the University of Maine. From 1992 to early 1995, Linda served as the assistant director/child care admissions coordinator at UMaine's Children's Center. In February 1995, she joined the Center for Community Inclusion (UAP) as a research associate in early childhood and was promoted to early childhood coordinator in 1998. Read more...

Linda Alsop receives 2017 Exemplary Advocate Award (UT UCEDD)

Linda Alsop received the Exemplary Advocate Award for 2017 at from the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Visual Impairment and Deafblindness at their annual convention held in April. Alsop is a project director at the Ski*Hi Institute, operating in the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. She has over 20 years of experience directing federal projects in deafblindness and has worked with the Utah State Deafblind Technical Assistance Project and Baby Watch Early Intervention providing services, training and resource materials.Read more...

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In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (MN UCEDD)

The report, based on RTC/CL's National Residential Information Systems Project (RISP), presents national and state-level data on publicly-funded residential service setting types, setting sizes, funding authorities, and expenditures for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States. In addition to the national report, data are available in brief state profiles that highlight specific findings. Infographics are contained in the executive summary of the report that present summary data from FY2014. Read more...

Linking Refugees with Disabilities to Employment in Illinois (IL UCEDD)

Transnational refugees with disabilities are left out of many social service provisions typically provided to refugees. The Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) at the University of Illinois at Chicago has received a three year grant funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to address the support needs of refugees with disabilities.  Read more...

New Online Training Platform Enhances Living Well with a Disability Program (MT UCEDD/LEND)

RTC:Rural is thrilled to announce an exciting update to the Living Well with a Disability Program with a new online Facilitator Training. The new program updates make it easier for organizations to train staff and peers, prepare workshop materials, and receive technical support from both RTC:Rural and fellow Living Well with a Disability Program Providers. Read more...

Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center (AT) visited South Africa (IA UCEDD)

Tracy Keninger, Director of the Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center (AT) visited South Africa in March to provide consultation relating to implementation of new legislation that is similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act. During her week long stay, she visited several child care centers, residential facilities, and rehabilitation facilities for individuals with disabilities. She also spoke with many organizations, families, and individuals with disabilities regarding current challenges and needs.  Read more...

Mailman Center Receives Grant for Women and their
Babies (FL UCEDD/LEND)

The Mailman Center was awarded a one year grant in the amount of $223,000 from The Children's Trust. Julieta Hernandez, PhD, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor and Director of Social Work Programs and Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, Occupational Therapist & LEND Fieldwork Program Coordinator, will be leading this new project, The Wellness Outreach for Mothers and Babies (WOMB). This program will implement and evaluate an evidence-based intervention to address the social-emotional well-being of infants and mothers in high need Miami-Dade County communities.
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Individual Healthcare Plans: Developing and Implementing Effective Schoolwide Practices (SD UCEDD)

Individual Healthcare Plans (IHP) are written plans used in the school setting to communicate students' health conditions and their care/accommodation needs. They are written for a variety of health conditions and make it easier for school teams to determine appropriate healthcare interventions. The Heartland Genetic Services Collaborative conducted a focus group in which many parents, school nurses, healthcare professionals, school administrators and advocates recognized that a consistent, standardized practice was not in place for healthcare plan development or implementation.  Read more...

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) CAC Chair at the Disability Policy Seminar

My name is John Shouse. I am the chair of the Community Advisory Council for the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND). I count myself very fortunate to have been able to attend the annual Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C., again this year, March 20-22, and to make visits to our Tennessee Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill. As we chanted at the Seminar: "This is what democracy looks like." Read more...

Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of
Disability (WY UCEDD)

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) is pleased to announce the recent publication of Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disability, published in February 2017 by Temple University Press. WIND is Wyoming's UCEDD, and the Disability Studies Minor is a key component of our pre-service education core function. Edited by UW Disability Studies faculty members, Michelle Jarman, Leila Monaghan, and Alison Quaggin Harkin, Barriers and Belonging incorporates a collection of 37 personal narratives about the nature of disability, asking larger questions about disability, societal rights, and perceptions of self. Read more...

IN LEND Collaborates on Project to Develop Training for
Family Leaders

The Riley Child Development Center is excited to share this free training that was guided by MCH leadership competencies. Indiana families now have access to a new web-based training which will help them build knowledge and skills in the area of family leadership! Building Family Leaders will give families access to the tools they need to be empowered to lead, advocate and engage as partners in the systems that serve their children. The idea for the Building Family Leaders modules was born during a statewide meeting of the Family Leadership Council. Read more...

IN LEND and LEAH Programs Host Trainee Poster Session

The Riley Child Development Center (IN LEND) hosted the 7th annual MCH Poster session and professional networking reception on Friday, April 21, 2017. Trainees from both the IN LEND and LEAH programs shared their research and leadership projects. The posters were well received, with good discussions and future connections made! Read more...

New Tool Available to Access Disability Data (MT UCEDD)

Finding big data about rural America is challenging. Finding big data about disability in rural America can seem impossible. Meanwhile, access to current information about disability in rural areas is important as these areas consistently experience higher disability rates than their urban counterparts. The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) recently re-launched the Disability Counts Data Finder, an online tool that allows users to easily access disability data for every county in the United States and Puerto Rico. Read more...

Northeast Regional LEND Programs Co-sponsor
Annual Spring Conference

The NH-ME LEND Program at Dartmouth College,"Geisel School of Medicine; The Child Psychiatry Autism Program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in partnership with The Maine LEND at the" University of New England; The LEND Program at Boston Children's Hospital" and Eunice Kennedy Shriver LEND Program at University of Massachusetts Medical School will host a conference at the Southeastern Regional Education Center in Bedford, NH on May 15, 2017. Read more...

Bronx NY UCEDD Co-Director Writes and Marches for Science

In support of inclusive evidence-based science and funds to support it, Dr. Karen Bonuck published an article in Huffington Post (see link below). The article appeared days before the nation's historic Marches for Science. Karen marched in Washington DC with thousands of others, just after the UCEDD Director's meeting. Read more...

RFK UCEDD Supports Local DD Council NYS and NYC Local Legislative Education Efforts

On Friday, March 3, 2017 over 350 family members, government officials, legislators and community agencies participated in the Bronx Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council's Annual Legislative Education Breakfast under the leadership of Joanne Siegel, Associate Director of the Rose F Kennedy Center University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (RFK UCEDD) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center who currently serves as the President of the Council. Read more...

SC LEND Year End Meeting

On April 27, the SC LEND trainees presented their research/ leadership projects to faculty and staff. Project topics included the effects on exercise on children with ADHD, screening for anemia in children with Down Syndrome, and working with families on how to provide language rich environments for their children. All in attendance were very impressed with the projects. Read more...

New Bachelor of Science Degree in Disability and Human Development at IL UCEDD

The NEW Bachelor of Science in Disability and Human Development offers an innovative interdisciplinary program designed to train students on the complex social, cultural, political, historical, and economic factors that shape the lives of people with disabilities locally, nationally, and internationally. Read more...

2017 Coleman Conference Call for Proposals

The 17th Annual Coleman Institute Conference on Cognitive Disabilities & Technology, will be held on November 2, 2017 in Broomfield, CO. The call for proposals is now open. This call for proposals includes submissions for breakout sessions and poster presentations. We are seeking proposals that reflect areas pertinent to Applied Cognitive Technologies, including; research, development, and practice. For more information about the proposal and /or to submit a proposal for consideration, please visit: 2017 Coleman Conference.

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Pathways to Employment for Transition Aged Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thursday, May 18, 2017, 3:00 p.m. ET  - 4:00 p.m. ET

One of the most difficult times for youth and young adults with ASD is the transition from school to adulthood. In fact, young adults with ASD typically experience low rates of employment, independent living, and connection to community. This session will review the research regarding employment outcomes for youth with ASD as well as review 3 important pathways to employment. These pathways are internships, supported employment and customized employment. Read more...

2017 Summer Institute on Theology and Disability

June 5-8, 2017, Azusa, CA

The 2017 Summer Institute on Theology and Disability will be held in Azusa, California, June 5-8, 2017 at Azusa Pacific University. The Institute brings together academics, theologians and others to explore the inclusive intersections of faith and disabilities. Read more...

2017 AAIDD Conference

June 26-29, 2017, Hartford, CT

The AAIDD Annual Meeting is two full days of educational sessions, exhibits, poster presentations, and networking events. There are also optional half-day pre and post conference sessions. Our Annual Meeting provides researchers, clinicians, practitioners, educators, policymakers, local, state and federal agencies, and advocates with cutting edge research, effective practices, and valuable information on important policy initiatives. Read more...

Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity

October 9-11, 2017, Honolulu, HI

The Pacific Rim International Conference, considered one of the most 'diverse gatherings' in the world, encourages and respects voices from "diverse" perspective across numerous areas, including: voices from persons representing all disability areas; experiences of family members and supporters across all disability and diversity areas; responsiveness to diverse cultural and language differences; evidence of researchers and academics studying diversity and disability; stories of persons providing powerful lessons; examples of program providers, and; action plans to meet human and social needs in a globalized world.
Read more...

2017 Ruderman Inclusion Summit

November 19-20, 2017, Boston, MA

The Summit will bring together 1,000 people from a variety of sectors including: tech, policy, human services, fashion, education, social justice, business, housing, advocacy and more to network and share best practices. Our goal is to inspire, motivate, and arm attendees with the know how to keep up the work of advancing full inclusion of people with disabilities in every aspect of life. These two days will be packed with over 15 panels and plenaries! Read more...

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