2009 Invitation

April 16, 2009

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Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of the AUCD Board and the Conference Planning Committee, we are pleased to issue this Call for Participation for the 2009 AUCD Annual Meeting and Conference. The Annual Meeting will be held November 8-11, 2009, at the Renaissance Washington Hotel, Washington, DC. The theme of this year's Annual Meeting and Conference is:

Coming Together to Address the
Challenges and Opportunities for Change
in Disability Research, Education, Service, and Policy

In this very challenging year we need to understand the rapidly changing environment and seize the opportunity to develop new strategies and resources.  Centers that thrive in the future will be those that plan proactively around change by being open to new ways of doing business. This involves being informed about public policies, available funding resources, and best practices in the disability field. In addition, networking with others can increase opportunities to develop needed collaborations and problem-solving strategies.

The 2009 AUCD Annual Meeting will provide you an exciting venue for obtaining the latest information in disability research, education, service, and policy. With its growing membership of UCEDDs, LENDs, and IDDRCs along with its international affiliates, training grant programs and grantee networks, AUCD has become a key disability organization. This annual meeting offers you a chance to interact with policymakers, researchers, administrators, families, students, and advocates across these types of organizations and across disciplines. Learn about the latest in policies and funding sources from distinguished policymakers who will be discussing their latest disability programs. Find out about emerging technologies to market your programs and disseminate your work. Enjoy new media productions in our media room.

This year's theme is about meeting challenges and successfully coping with rapid changes. It is about not only surviving in these economically challenging times, but also about developing new skills and planning for change while maintaining our vision of  increasing the community participation, health, self-determination, employment and quality of life of individuals with disabilities and their families. 

Join your colleagues in this year's meeting in helping to shape the directions of the disability field.  We welcome the submission of important work in any area of disability research, service, education, and advocacy. As you consider possible submissions, we are especially interested in presentations and topics that:

• Explore new strategies for addressing challenges
• Capitalize on new technologies and trends
• Develop collaborations across networks, countries, and cultures
• Demonstrate best practices in services and supports
• Offer strategies for translation of research to practice
• Cultivate leadership development of administrators, faculty, student trainees, families, and advocates
• Demonstrate system change efforts and outcomes
• Involve communities in disability awareness activities
• Increase cultural competence and diversity

We welcome proposals from the entire AUCD network and its partners, including individuals with disabilities and their family members, faculty, researchers, program directors and staff, students, policymakers, administrators, and advocates. Please pay special attention to the accessibility guidelines and related resources on the AUCD website to ensure full participation of all attendees.

The 2009 AUCD Annual Meeting and conference promises to provide you with the opportunity to share your knowledge and learn from others in the AUCD network and our partners. On behalf of the AUCD Board of Directors and the Conference Planning Committee, we look forward to your submissions and participation in the upcoming Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

Tamar Heller, PhD
Chair, 2009 AUCD Conference Planning Committee
President-Elect, AUCD Board of Directors