• |
    LogoImage2-AUCD

    AUCD Community Inclusion

    AUCD’s Community Inclusion Team supports the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Network in partnership with the Administration for Community Living.

  • |
    LogoImage2-AUCD

    AUCD Maternal and Child Health Engagement

    AUCD’s Maternal and Child Health Engagement supports the Autism CARES Programs, including LEND and DBP Programs.

  • |
    LogoImage2-AUCD

    AUCD Public Health

    AUCD’s Public Health Team works to create health promotion and public health efforts that include people with disabilities.

  • |
    LogoImage2-AUCD

    AUCD Emerging Leaders Community

    AUCD Emerging Leaders are a part of a community that includes trainees, early career professionals, self-advocates, and family members from AUCD member Centers and Programs.  

Donate

Concurrent Sessions Group B

Monday, November 9, 2026

2:15 pm - 3:30 pm

Meeting Level

Concurrent sessions are 75-minute small group discussions or panel presentations.

Meetings & Sessions

A Grassroots Model for Building the Mental Health & IDD Research Base

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.

Presenter(s)

Matthew Wappett, PhD

Executive Director Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice, UCEDD/LEND

Expanding Access to FASD-Informed Care through Nursing Professions

Nurses and nurse practitioners play an important role in recognizing FASD and connecting people with evaluation and care. This session will explore how expanding FASD knowledge within nursing professions can improve access to informed, responsive support.

Presenter(s)

Lynn Cole, NP, DNP

Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND

Utilizing the Medium Term Trainee Option to introduce, recruit and prepare Self-Advocates with ID/D for Long Term participation.

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.

Presenter(s)

McCafferty S. Kermon,

The University of Arizona, LEND

Co Presenter(s)

Jaclyn Larson, AZ - The University of Arizona, LEND

Using data and stories about housing, employment, expenditures, and technology to document best practices in community living

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.

Presenter(s)

Jean Winsor, PhD

Senior Associate Institute for Community Inclusion/Boston Children's Hospital, UCEDD/LEND

Co Presenter(s)

Emily "Shea" Tanis, PhD, KS - Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, UCEDD/LEND
Sheryl Larson, PhD, MN - Institute on Community Integration, UCEDD/LEND

Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities

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.

Presenter(s)

Mallory Legg, J.D.

Director, Project HEAL Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND

Co Presenter(s)

Kendall Eaton, J.D., MD - Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND
Logan Ewing, J.D., MD - Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND
Shalena Wade, Ph.D., MD - Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND

Co-Designing Disability-Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Across Healthcare Settings

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.

Presenter(s)

Emily Hoffman, MEd

Clinical Research Manager Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Co Presenter(s)

Benjamin "Rocky" Byington, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Simon Abimosleh, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Contributing Author(s)

Kristn Currans, PsyD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Kara Ayers, PhD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH - University of Cincinnati UCE, UCEDD/LEND
Kate Swafford, MSW, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Legal Supports for Young Adults and their Families; Navigating Public Benefits and Planning for the Future

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.

Presenter(s)

Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS

AVP & Director Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND

Co Presenter(s)

David N Mervis, Esq., MD - Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND
Jennifer Falter, Esq., MD - Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND

Organizational Culture: A Key to Direct Support Workforce Stabilization

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.

Presenter(s)

Amy Hewitt,

Institute on Community Integration, UCEDD/LEND

Co Presenter(s)

Julie Kramme, PhD, MN - Institute on Community Integration, UCEDD/LEND

Contributing Author(s)

Sandy Pettingel, PhD, MN - Institute on Community Integration, UCEDD/LEND
Julie Bershadsky, PhD, MN - Institute on Community Integration, UCEDD/LEND

Driving Change through Collaboration: Integrating the activities of the UCEDD, LEND and IDDRC

In this session, we will outline the formal mechanisms that we used to forge a strategic and intentional collaboration between three federally funded elements – UCEDD, LEND and IDDRC - at the University of Rochester. Our goal is to share our experience so it may serve as a roadmap to other institutions who are trying to bridge the gap between disparate programs that span clinical, community, training and research efforts.

Presenter(s)

Ania Majewska,

Co Presenter(s)

Laura Silverman, NY - Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND
Suzannah Iadarola, NY - Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND

Contributing Author(s)

John Foxe, NY - Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience - IDDRC
Sherry Mentor, NY - Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience - IDDRC
Lauren Fenton, NY - Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND

Two Ways of Listening: Designing Community Input Through Complementary Data Sources

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.

Presenter(s)

Emily Lanchak, M.Ed.

Research Program Manager Vanderbilt University, UCEDD/LEND

Co Presenter(s)

Julie Lounds Taylor, Ph.D., TN - Vanderbilt University, UCEDD/LEND
Bruce Keisling, Ph.D., TN - Center on Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND

Building Effective Partnerships to Strengthen UCEDD Core Functions

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.

Presenter(s)

Sarah Swanson, MPH

Assistant Professor Munroe-Meyer Institute of Genetics & Rehabilitation, UCEDD/LEND

Building State and National Partnerships to Support UCEDD Core Functions

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.

Presenter(s)

Jamie Ray-Leonetti, JD

Associate Director of Policy Institute on Disabilities, UCEDD

Co Presenter(s)

Marian Frattarola-Saulino, MSW, Values Into Action
Lisa Tesler, Pennsylvania DD Council
Robert Zotynia, self-advocate
Footer-Logo-AUCD

1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Mailing address:
PO Box 8787
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8787

Copyright 2025 Association of University Centers on Disabilities

  • AUCD Federal Partners
Subscribe to AUCD’s Newsletter

Copyright 2025 Association of University Centers on Disabilities