AUCD Central Office News

AUCD Welcomes Evita Almassi, Summer Intern

Evita Almassi joined the AUCD staff as a Project Intern in June of 2012. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in political science in 2010, and went on to complete a Master's in Social Work also from the University of Washington, from which she graduated in June of 2012. Read more...

AUCD Partnership with Exceptional Parent

This past fall, AUCD celebrated its 40th anniversary-a time to reflect on the accomplishments of the last four decades, face the challenges of today, and imagine the future. Throughout this milestone year, Exceptional Parent has highlighted and celebrated the great strengths and capacity of our AUCD Network and shared strategies in research, education, and service that advance the journey towards equity and excellence. If you would like to further your information dissemination to parents and families, you are invited to contribute an article to be highlighted in an upcoming issues of EP Magazine. Read more...

Network News - Awards

Kathy Roberson (NJ UCEDD) Honored with Elizabeth Boggs Family Advocate Award

Kathy Roberson was recently honored with the Elizabeth Boggs Family Member Advocate Award by the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities. The award honors a family member of an individual with a developmental disability who has shown outstanding advocacy efforts in the area of developmental disabilities. Kathy is Policy and Information Coordinator at The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Read more...

Melissa Berrios Honored by National Homeless Network (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA LEND)

LEND graduate and clinical faculty Melissa Berrios, MSW of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Health Initiative (CHOP/HHI) was chosen as the Outstanding Service Award Winner by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. She received the award during the Plenary at the National Health Care for the Homeless Conference in Kansas City, MO. Read more...

Faculty Member at the Center on Disability Studies (HI UCEDD) wins International Award

Associate Director Jean Johnson of the College of Education Center on Disability Studies (CDS) won best poster presentation at the First International Congress on Family-Centered Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Her presentation focused on the challenges in serving children with hearing loss on rural or remote Pacific Islands. Held in Bad Ischl, Austria, the congress hosted over 400 participants from 37 different countries. Read more...

Janet May (CCIDS: ME UCEDD) Honored for Grassroots Leadership by Maine Foundation

Janet May, CCIDS' Coordinator of Transition and Adults, was one of four grassroots leaders honored with a Maine Initiatives 2012 Watering Can Award during a celebration at the Morgan Hill Event Center in Hermon on Thursday, June 14th. Maine Initiatives, a grantmaking foundation, funds and assists groups working for economic, social and environmental justice. Reva Eiferman, Development Director, noted, "The host committee wanted to recognize Janet's persistent and thoughtful work behind the scenes to ensure equality and quality of life for all." Read more...

Network News - People on the Move

Former Trainee Alicia Curran Joins MoLEND as the Family Faculty

Alicia Curran, BS Elementary Education, was recently added as the family faculty for the MoLEND. Alicia initially connected with the program when her family volunteered to have a trainee shadow them. The trainee matched with the Curran family "recruited" Alicia to apply as a family trainee; she was ultimately selected and finished the program in May 2012, when she began her employment with MoLEND. Read more...

Network News - Activities & Resources

Faculty from the LEND of Pittsburgh Start an Innovative Pilot Project Focusing on Improving the Peer Relationships of Children Surviving Brain Tumors

Faculty from the LEND of Pittsburgh have recently received a grant from the St. Baldrick foundation to support an innovative pilot project focusing on improving the peer relationships of children surviving brain tumors. Having friends is an essential element of normal child development. Several studies have shown that children surviving brain tumors are described by peers as isolated, victimized, friendless, and not well liked. Children who are described this way by their peers are at risk for being bullied; dropping out of school; becoming anxious or depressed; and a wide range of interpersonal and professional problems as adults. Read more...

TN UCEDD Offers Free Disability Materials With Customizable Local Resources

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD) has developed a variety of disability-related materials for individuals with disabilities, families, and professionals. These products are available for distribution by other agencies and can be customized with resources relevant for the agencies' constituents. A variety of topics and formats are available, including Tips and Resources fact sheets, manuals, and booklets. Read more...

Engaging Veterans with Disabilities and Wounded Warriors in National and Community Service - A Project of the National Service Inclusion Project at the MA ICI UCEDD/LEND

CNCS is conducting the Engaging Veterans with Disabilities in National and Community Service Initiative through its National Service Inclusion Project, housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston (MA UCEDD/LEND). The purpose of the initiative is to identify promising practices, products and delivery strategies that can be used to guide the practice, policies and procedures of service programs as they recruit and support veterans with disabilities. Read more...

Carol Page, PhD, SC UCEDD AT Program Director, Interviewed About iPad Apps for Children with Autism

This 9 minute clip from WISTV features Carol Page, PhD, of the South Carolina Assistive Technology Project, discussing a number of iPad apps for kids with autism and other disabilities, from rhyming to social skills and more. Read more...

Submissions

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Ohio MCH Training Programs Joint Trainee Poster Symposium Hosted by Nisonger Center LEND in Columbus, OH

Trainees and faculty from all three of Ohio's MCH Training Programs: the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Training program at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, the LEND program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the Nisonger LEND program, gathered at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio for the first Ohio Maternal and Child Health Training Programs Joint Trainee Poster Symposium. Read more...

AUCD 2012: Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow

Join AUCD on December 2-5, 2012 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, to learn and share today's promising practices and innovations that shape the lives of people with disabilities and their families through research, policy, education, and service.

Over 210 proposals were received for AUCD 2012! All are currently under consideration for presentation, and individuals will be notified of their presentation status in early fall.

Watch for registration to be released sometime in July.

Sponsorship Slots Available for All Levels

Click here to learn about all the categories available and submit your application by September 1, 2012. Companies who turn in their sponsorship applications by August 1st will be entered into a drawing to receive a free ad or double their existing ad space!

2012 IASSID World Congress 
July 9 - 14, 2012
Halifax, Nova Scotia

The 2012 IASSID World Congress, "A World of Potential," will bring approximately 1,500 delegates from around the world to Halifax.