AUCD 2026 Conference
November 8-11 | Washington, D.C.
November 8-11 | Washington, D.C.
Monday, November 9, 2026
2:15 pm - 3:30 pm
Concurrent sessions are 75-minute small group discussions or panel presentations.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience markedly elevated mental health needs, yet the evidence base for effective interventions remains underfunded. The Mental Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities National Research Consortium (MHIDD-NRC), established in 2019, addressed this gap through collaboration among self-advocates, families, providers, researchers, UCEDDs, medical schools, and state agencies. This panel examines the consortium's history, governance, and funding model as a grassroots mechanism for MHIDD research.
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Through an interactive presentation, participants will understand how our medium-term option for trainees with ID/D increases self-determination and the likelihood of success in a very demanding long term LEND program. We share trainee success stories, criteria for participation, benefits to the individual/local disability community, hope for long term outcomes, offer examples, and have breakout discussions. Participants will leave prepared to apply this approach within their own organizations.
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The Access to Integrated Employment Project, the Residential Information Systems Project, and the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) developed the report Thirty-Five Years of Community Living. The report describes progress that has been made in community living for people with IDD. Working with nine (9) advisors with IDD we created content and prioritized data for the report and developed podcasts, infographics, and individual stories.
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This session will provide an overview of transition planning, including applicable laws and regulations. The presenters will discuss elements and goals of transition planning, including examples of person-centered, strength-based planning, as well as potential pitfalls in the process (e.g., inadequate planning, overlooking needs specific to college and employment planning.) The presenters will provide an overview of transition planning resources and discuss strategies for transition planning from a clinical perspective.
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This interactive session explores a pilot project to improve emergency preparedness for employees and patients with disabilities. Participants will use adapted site visit prompts and scenarios to identify gaps in communication, evacuation, sheltering, training, and response planning. Relevant disciplines include public health, healthcare, psychology, emergency management, disability services, occupational safety, human resources, administration, advocacy, and education.
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Maureen van Stone, Esq., M.S., will lead a discussion with staff members of Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law), a medical-legal partnership at Kennedy Krieger Institute, exploring how medical providers, social workers, family members, and friends can support young adults as they seek financial stability, save for the future, and ensure adequate supports to achieve their goals.
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Turnover of direct support professionals is a significant challenge for states and employers in community services for persons with disabilities. Organizational culture is key to stabilizing the workforce. A new organizational culture assessment tool with seven focus areas will be shared. The role of UCEDDs/ LENDs in supporting leaders, organizations, states, and people who self-direct will be discussed. Next steps in development/use of this exciting new tool will be shared.
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This presentation provides an overview of the Data Ambassador Program and experiences of Ambassadors participating. The program established regional cohorts of UCEDD/LEND Trainees as Data Ambassadors, knowledgeable in national IDD data and data accessibility to advance leadership in policy, education, research, and practice. The program is a partnership between the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Project of National Significance and AUCD.
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How do different approaches to community engagement shape what we learn? Tennessee's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network implemented an innovative two-phase community input process combining a statewide needs assessment with real-world inquiry data. Presenters will explore what each approach uniquely contributed, reflect on implications for planning and cross-network collaboration, and discuss how integrating complementary sources of community input strengthened interpretation. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for designing community input efforts.
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Building strong partnerships is essential to advancing the core functions of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities( UCEDDs) and increasing their community impact. Through facilitated discussion and peer learning, participants will explore strategies for collaborating with ACL-funded programs and community partners, identify common barriers and successful approaches, and develop ideas to strengthen technical assistance, information sharing, and systems improvement. Relevant for UCEDD leaders, faculty, staff, trainees, and partner organizations.
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Arizona's Employment First progress is supported by partners with different roles and a shared commitment to competitive integrated employment. Representatives from the Arizona Office of Employment First, Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council will discuss how they coordinate funding, policy, training, community engagement, and implementation. Participants will gain practical strategies for building equitable partnerships that move Employment First from shared philosophy to sustained systems change.
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Pennsylvania's UCEDD will moderate conversation around multiple partnerships designed to support the UCEDD in training and community engagement, policy analysis, pilot or model services and information dissemination. Highlighted projects include Pennsylvania Supports Broker Certification, the National Supports Broker Network, the True Friendships DD Council grant, and the PA Coalition on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Participants will learn strategies for engaging state and local partners and other community allies.
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