This event will focus on offering strategies and resources to support the growth and development of inclusive postsecondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities. Presentations will be offered in strands: Program Development, Employment Outcomes, Inclusive Academics, and Policy/Legislation/Research.

The Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence is excited to offer the first in a series of five Leadership Academies that will be conducted on June 22-25, 2015 in Santa Fe, NM. The Leadership Academy is a collaborative, multi-faceted initiative with a goal to increase the number and capacity of leaders to advance and sustain cultural and linguistic competence and respond to the growing cultural diversity among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the US, its territories, and tribal communities.

Learn how telehealth was used to provide caregiver‐ implemented assessment and intervention for communication and behavior problems for individuals who have limited access to services. Describe evidence‐based strategies to support positive outcomes for adolescents with ASD and their families. Discuss a best‐practice model of care coordination for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Examine interventions in which mothers of children with ASD served as promotoras (community health workers) to provide information to other mothers of children with ASD. Learn a new tool to assess the quality of IFSP outcome statements and strategies.

The AMCHP Annual Conference is the ideal venue to present your ideas, research, innovative programming, best practices, and effective outreach strategies to MCH and other public health practitioners, directors of state programs, federal officials, advocates, family leaders, researchers, and healthcare providers.

The AAPD Leadership Awards Gala provides a unique opportunity for our partners, supporters, and colleagues to show their support of Americans with all types of disabilities while bringing together the national cross-disability community with business and government leadership for one night each year. The 2016 Leadership Awards Gala will be held on March 23, 2016 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

On Sunday evening immediately before the Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD is hosting a special Trainee Policy Summit! Attendees will have exclusive access to Hill staffers and former trainees now working in policy, and learn from the experts how to best craft your message for Wednesday's Hill visits. An evening reception will provide a comfortable background for trainees to meet and network with over 200 peers from around the country.

During this crucial election season we need YOU in Washington, D.C. to help us build bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for high-priority disability issues. When you attend the Disability Policy Seminar, we'll arm you with all of the information you need to help educate our Members of Congress and their staff on the priorities of the I/DD community.

Western Theological Seminary and Hope College are hosting the 7th Summer Institute on Theology and Disability in Holland, Michigan, May 23-26, 2016. Western Seminary is beginning a new certificate program in ministries with people with disabilities under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin Conner. The first Friendship House in the United States is also at Western, a residence for seminary students that also includes adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in shared apartments. Holland, Michigan is on the shores of Lake Michigan.

The 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.

The annual MIND Summer Institute on Neurodevelopmental Disorders is a one-day conference intended for a wide range of professionals. The focus of the Institute is to help participants keep pace with the latest advances in neurodevelopmental research and the most current standards for best practices in prevention, assessment, treatment, and support services, and increase their knowledge and skills in the areas of developmental disabilities, early identification, service provision, inclusion, transition to adulthood, and other medical, legal, social and policy issues related to disabilities.

Global Partnerships: Enhancing Research, Policy and Practice

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center was founded in 1966; among the first group of federally-funded University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The Center was named after Herschel W. Nisonger, a long-time faculty member at Ohio State, a national leader in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and past president of the American Association on Mental Retardation from 1960-1961. Nisonger Center will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on October 15, 2016 with many special guests including Andrew J. Imparato.

American Samoa DD Network in collaboration with the Advocates for Inclusion and Governance for All (AIGA, meaning Family) is hosting its 4th Gubernatorial Forum on October 24, 2016 at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium in American Samoa. Various disability issues in special education, employment, healthcare, entitlements, and community inclusion will be a highlighted. Taking the lead in sharing their stories and asking questions to the candidates are self-advocates of the AIGA and Parents of Children with Special Needs (PCSN) Network. A new partner to the advocacy network is the Toe Afua Mai Matua (TAMM, meaning Restoration Through Our Elders) that expressed interest to have an hour session with the candidates. This will be the first year to include aging as a partner to the advocacy experience at the forum.

The AUCD 2016 Conference, "Navigating Change: Building our Future Together," highlights both the change that comes at the end of a Presidential term as well as our need to work together to create a future in which children and adults with disabilities are able to participate fully in all aspects of life as valued members of their communities. Join us to engage in powerful, important, and inspiring personal and professional discourse on December 4-7 in Washington, DC.