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Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) TRIAD pilot works to provide ASD Diagnostic Services in Primary Care Setting
Team members within the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Treatment & Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) are piloting a project to see if embedding a trained behavioral health provider within the traditional primary care setting such as a pediatrician's practice, would improve the likelihood of earlier diagnosis for children who show signs of an autism spectrum disorder and would streamline the intervention process. Read more...
Justice System and People with Disabilities Focus of New MN UCEDD Publication
The newly-released "Impact: Feature Issue on the Justice System and People with Intellectual, Developmental, and Other Disabilities" (ici.umn.edu/products/impact301) from the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) offers justice professionals, disability professionals, people with disabilities, and their families leading-edge articles that help communities work together to support equal access to justice for all. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities can face unique challenges, with potentially serious consequences, when involved with the juvenile or criminal justice systems. Read more...
Va-LEND Launches New Distance Learning Module
 For the past year, Va-LEND has been focusing on ways to expand training opportunities statewide and beyond. Zipporah Levi-Shackleford, former outstanding LEND trainee and current faculty member, has used material from the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (VCL) Moodle and other on-line resources to develop a module on the "Early Identification of Autism". This distance learning opportunity provides entry level professionals, daycare and preschool teachers, and others with the information needed to recognize the early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder in young children. Read more...
Diversity Fellowship Capstone Project (ND UCEDD)
 My name is Bailee Laducer and I have spent the last six months as the diversity fellow at NDCPD. I am an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) and am from the reservation located in Belcourt, North Dakota. As the diversity fellow, I identified one of the biggest needs we have is encouraging young people from my community to get training to work in disability related fields. Read more...
The OHSU UCEDD Hosted Five Youth with Disabilities in Salem for a Leadership Training (OR UCEDD)
 The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) successfully piloted their Empowered Youth Leaders (EYL) Program on June 20 and 21 in Salem, Oregon. Five youth with disabilities and special health needs from around Oregon joined five peer mentors and four staff for a two-day training on leadership, self-advocacy, disability history, and how to get involved in their communities. Read more...
Indiana LEND Awarded Grant to Study Needs and Service Utilization of Children Following Neurodevelopmental Diagnosis
 Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD, HSPP, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, has been awarded a grant to study the needs and service utilization of children following neurodevelopmental diagnosis, as a quality improvement initiative of the Riley Child Development Center, the Indiana LEND's interdisciplinary evaluation clinic. Read more...
Dreams Do Come True
 As we know, employment plays a key role in someone's sense of well-being. Jobs are how most people maintain independence, solidify community inclusion, and create economic security for themselves and their families. Community employment is a primary goal of Iowa's UCEDD Jonny Thomas Emeron is a 19 year old man with Asperger's, high functioning autism, depression, anxiety, a sensory integration disorder and a delightfully wicked sense of humor and a passion for Zelda. He is participating in a transition program through the Iowa City Community School District. Jonny works at Wild Bill's Coffee Shop at the University of Iowa's School of Social Work.
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CT-LEND and UCEDD Celebrate the success of their first Diversity Fellows!
 The University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and LEND program were thrilled with the participation of the Human Services and Family Studies Diversity Fellows from partner Goodwin College this past year. Goodwin participants enthusiastically engaged in weekly seminars, special presentations, observations, and legislative and advocacy events.
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CT UCEDD co-sponsors CPTV Documentary "Building A Great Life"
 Connecticut Pubic Television and the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CCDD) produced a dynamic documentary in support of CT's "2020 Campaign: A Plan to Close Connecticut's Institutions for People with Intellectual Disabilities by 2020". The May 10th premiere began with an opening ceremony of the "The Pennhurst Story - from Tragedy to Disability Rights traveling exhibit" at the Legislative Office Building, organized by UCEDD Training Director, Molly Cole. Later that evening, a well-attended reception and advance screening of the documentary was held at the New England Center for Assistive Technology at Oak Hill School in Hartford. Read more...
Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD)
 Dr. Rosemary Hughes was invited to serve as faculty at the 2017 Montana Victim Advocate Academy. It was the first time in the Academy's history that the topic of victims with disabilities has been a stand-alone session. The 40-hour academy provides training to dozens of law enforcement officers, attorneys and victim advocates from across Montana and neighboring western states. Read more...
OHSU UCEDD Hosted its 4th Annual Transition Fair
 The OHSU UCEDD hosted their 4th annual Transition Fair: Passport to a Healthy Future on May 20th, 2017 at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro. Families and providers from the area came out to learn more about community resources to help navigate the transition from pediatric to adult services. The Transition Fair began 4 years ago with the goal of reaching families and individuals experiencing disability who are working toward a more seamless transition into adult services. Read more...
Georgetown UCEDD Annual Conference a Success!
 The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities along with their partners the DC Developmental Disabilities Council, University Legal Services Protection and Advocacy Services of DC, the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program, the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and the DC Developmental Disabilities Administration Health Initiative held their annual GUCEDD conference on transition through the life span. Opening for the program was Shileta Gorham of the Independent Center for Living and our 2015 Geraldine P Waldorf Making A Difference Award winner talking about her lived experience and support for others. Read more...
GU Certificate in Early Intervention Celebrates 5th Successful Year! (Georgetown UCEDD)
 The GU Certificate in Early Intervention program honored the students who completed the 2016-2017 s program with a gala luncheon on June 16, 2017. The event was part of a day-long conference hosted by the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Participants included alumni, faculty, and service providers from the DC area. The day-long conference and celebration is the culminating activity for the Certificate Program. Read more...
Kickoff of the PEERS for Young Adults Certified Training Seminars (CA UCEDD)
 Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, director of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic, recently held the first 3-day PEERS® for Young Adults Certified Training Seminar at the University of Maryland on June 14th - 16th, 2017. Over 65 mental health professionals and educators attended the training seminar sponsored by The University of Maryland Autism Research Consortium (UMARC) and the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences.
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The Power of Partnership: Project HEAL and RE/MAX Preferred (MD UCEDD)
 RE/MAX Preferred hosted its third annual fundraiser to benefit Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Project HEAL attorneys provide advocacy and legal services to Kennedy Krieger patients and their families, primarily in special education matters. RE/MAX Preferred hosted The Power of Partnership event at their waterfront office in Fells Point, MD.
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Boston LEND Graduation (MA LEND)
 The Boston LEND Faculty and Fellows celebrated the 2016-2017 LEND Fellows' Graduation with convocation speaker Valerie Bradley, President Emerita and co-founder of the Human Services Research Institute (HRSI). Also in attendance was the new ICI Director, Tom Sannicandro. The Fellows presented on 5 major elements of the program: family visits, Title V program visits, their clinical and research summaries, and their work with community-based organizations, with a final review of their trip to Washington DC for the Disability Policy Seminar. Read more...
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On July 1, Julie Christensen, MSW, PhD, assumed the leadership of Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) at University of Iowa Health Care. For the past year, she has served as Associate Director of the Iowa UCEDD, working under the mentorship of Bob Bacon, who directed the Iowa UCEDD since 1998 and is set to retire on July 17." 
Belinda Hardy, LCSW, MPA, has been appointed the associate director of the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Ms. Hardy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been employed at the Boling Center as the Chief of Social Work since 1996. "Belinda brings a wealth of supervisory, program development, and clinical skills to this leadership position. She was instrumental in developing several long-standing programs at our center, including the state's largest relative caregiver program and a multi-county support program for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities," said Bruce Keisling, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Boling Center. 
Susanna Miller-Raines, with the Center for Leadership in Disability was presented with the prestigious 2017 Tools for Life Assistive Technology Innovation Award on June 9, 2017. Susanna won the hotly contested prize over other nominees throughout Georgia. The Tools for Life Assistive Technology Awards Ceremony has been a tradition within Georgia for the last 21 years. The Assistive Technology Innovation Award recognizes innovation, creativity and/or unique integration of AT in the lives of individuals with disabilities. This award was created by Tools for Life, Georgia's AT Act to promote creativity and encourage AT and universal design principles for equal access of all people. 
The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) is very proud to announce that Jessica Gallegos, Matthew O'Brien, PhD, BCBA-D and Caitlin Owens, MSW are the 2017 recipients of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities. The purpose of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities is to nurture in recipients a life-long commitment to leadership in developmental disabilities that will carry on Dr. Healy's legacy for future generations. 
Angela Tomlin, PhD, Director of the Riley Child Development Center (Indiana LEND) has been promoted to Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. Lynne Sturm, PhD, a psychologist at RCDC, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics. Please join us in congratulating them on their well-deserved promotions! 
The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs just released an updated version of the National Standards for Systems of Care that strive to serve the nation's 11 million children and youth with special health care needs. Version 2.0 of the National Standards for Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, produced in partnership with the National Academy for State Health Policy with support from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, sets the core components for the structure and process of effective systems of care while streamlining content for easier use by states and stakeholders. 
Melissa Ortiz was appointed by President Trump to serve as Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities on June 12, 2017. Melissa describes herself as a compassionate conservative who is enthusiastic about working with both sides of the aisle on behalf of Americans with disabilities. Throughout her life, she has been an active advocate for people with disabilities, working to ensure people with disabilities have the opportunity to fully participate in society. She is particularly passionate about improving employment opportunities and eliminating barriers – such as a lack of accessible public transportation – that can prevent people with disabilities from being able to work. 
The latest issue of the Review of Disability Studies is out! Dive into this issues' topics ranging for Disability Studies in Physical Recreation, Social Participation of Children, Immigrants in Australia, Anxiety as a Tool for Critical Disability Studies, Film Genre and Mental Illness and much more. 
