Virtual Book Club Language Intervention

Weekly 30-minute virtual Book Club trains parents in PEER dialogic reading strategies to build early vocabulary and communication. Preliminary data show improvements in expressive and receptive language, attention/memory, and adult–child interaction. Relevant disciplines: Speech‑Language Pathology, Early Intervention, Special Education

A Replication model: Replicating the University of Miami's Project Self-Advocate Training (SALT) in Nebraska

Project SALT is a three-day leadership and advocacy training for adults with disabilities. It is a replication model, and one advocate from Nebraska brought it to her center. She continued to implement Project SALT, making changes and improvements to the curriculum. In this session, we will learn about the expansion, improvements, and the impact it is having in Nebraska. The focus is on the process of collaboration across states.

All Kids Academy: Nurturing Every Child's Educational Potential, in Sickness and in Health: Inpatient Supplemental Support and Preprofessional Training Program

All Kids Academy (AKA) provides direct supplemental individualized developmental and educational support services to patients from birth to 8 years of age experiencing prolonged hospitalization at a large children's hospital in partnership with 2 partnering universities. Direct services are delivered by senior undergraduate college interns who are supervised by faculty in Child Development and Family Studies or Education/Special Education.

Sensory Room as a Model for Inclusion and Well-Being in Postsecondary Campuses

This poster presents research findings from an inclusive model of a campus sensory room and a mobile sensory kit initiative implemented across public university campuses. Mixed-method findings demonstrate improvements in stress, emotional well-being, and belonging among students, faculty, and staff. Participants will learn how sensory-friendly spaces can reduce stigma, support inclusion, and provide cost-effective strategies for promoting well-being and participation for all learners in postsecondary settings.

The Georgia Disability History Alliance: The Role of AUCD Members in Preserving Disability History

AUCD member programs, based in universities, are in a prime position to serve as catalysts for preserving disability history. Over a decade ago, CHDD/UCEDD partnered with our University Special Collections Library and multiple stakeholders, creating the Georgia Disability History Alliance. The Alliance has built a large Disability History Archive, hosted yearly Symposia, collaborated on a year-long Disability History Museum Exhibit, collected histories, and showcased student work from the archive.

Using a Multidisciplinary Approach to Support Young Children with Autism in Rural Arkansas

The Arkansas Autism Partnership is the state's 1915(c) waiver to support young children who have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in their home and community. Each child is supported by a team lead by an interventionst who can hold a variety of multidisciplinary master's degrees. The program is a collaboration between Arkansas' Division of Developmental Disabilities and Division of Medicaid, the UCEDD, and local provider agencies.

Collaborative Partnerships to Build Statewide Capacity: A Scalable Model for Coaching Providers

This presentation shares an innovative coaching model that builds early intervention provider capacity to use Family Guided Routines Based Intervention © (FGRBI) within their own practice as well as support colleagues with implementation. Two model extensions will be highlighted. Attendees will explore how the model functions, review real-word outcomes, and learn how collaborative coaching strengthens recommended practice implementation and can be adapted across diverse systems, settings, and community partnerships.

National environmental scan of experiences and best practices for use of technology in LEND programs

We will share findings from an environmental scan aimed at understanding the experiences of trainees with disabilities with using technology as part of their LEND experience. Overall, LEND programs vary widely in the degree that they utilize virtual platforms. Trainees with disabilities often appreciated virtual options because access was easier. A full account of findings from the director survey and focus groups with trainees with disabilities will be shared.

Improving Disabilities-related Curriculum in Medical Schools

People with disabilities experience significant and often preventable health disparities, in part due to the limited disability-related education provided in medical training. This poster highlights efforts to improve disability curriculum in medical schools through collaboration with disability advocates, educators, and learners. The initiative aims to equip future physicians with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide equitable, patient-centered care for people with disabilities.

Twice Exceptional Learners in Public School: Parent Perceptions

In partnership with GiftedNYS, the experiences of parents navigating public schools to support the academic and social-emotional needs of their twice exceptional children were explored. We examined how well schools support these students, supports or barriers families encounter, and practices that have contributed to positive educational experiences. We will share how this data will be used to inform advocacy efforts to improve experiences of twice exceptional students in public schools.

• Download 2e Student Experiences in NYS

Advancing Belonging in Higher Education: Student Engagement, Loneliness, and Pathways to Workforce Participation for Students with Physical Disabilities

This panel explores how engagement, belonging, and career development shape the success of college students with physical disabilities. Presenters will highlight the Gregory S. Fehribach Center's internship model, examine student engagement using NSSE data, and discuss the impact of loneliness on student well-being. These perspectives offer practical strategies for creating environments that promote connection, participation, and workforce readiness. Relevant disciplines include higher education, disability services, student affairs, VR and others.

Disability topics in medical education: challenges, opportunities, and future directions

This session examines disability as an essential component of medical education. Presenters highlight current opportunities for medical student engagement with disability outline strategies to expand meaningful learning opportunities, and describe practical steps for embedding disability focused content throughout medical school curricula. Presenter perspectives include a medical student, health/medical educators, and family members with lived experience. This session is relevant to all involved with pre-service health/medical education.

• Download Disability in Med Ed Poster
• Download Disability in Med Ed Poster

Integrating a Parent Navigator into the NICU to Facilitate Connection of High-Risk Infants to Early Intervention

This session will describe the implementation of a Parent Navigator program, in which a parent with lived experience works with families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in order to facilitate connection to Early Intervention services prior to NICU discharge. Program evaluation components, including patient demographics and referral outcomes, will be shared. This will be relevant to many disciplines including policy, direct service, healthcare, and advocacy.

Scaling Support, Securing Futures: The 'Virtual Future is Now' Train-the-Trainer Program

VFIN (Virtual Future Is Now) is an online program that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families develop actionable future plans. This poster session will showcase the design and implementation of the VFIN Train-the-Trainers (TTT) program. Participants will be introduced to VFIN, learn about the TTT program's development, and explore opportunities for agencies and organizations to serve as training providers.

Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Transforming Disability Advocacy Through Lived Experience, Leadership, and Systems Change

This interactive session explores how lived experience can strengthen disability advocacy, leadership development, and systems change. Drawing from disability advocacy, education, workforce development, and community engagement, participants will examine strategies for building partnerships across disability communities, institutions, and policymakers. This session is relevant for disability professionals, educators, advocates, family leaders, trainees, and community partners seeking practical approaches to advancing accessibility and meaningful inclusion.

Partnering for Inclusion: Adapting an Early Childhood Inclusion ECHO for Family Child Care and Spanish-Speaking Audiences

Project ECHO offers a proven framework for building professional capacity through virtual, peer-to-peer learning. This presentation explores how the Waisman Center adapted an Early Childhood Inclusion ECHO series to meet the unique needs of family child care providers, including Spanish-speaking providers. Presenters will share strategies for contextualized adaptation, lessons learned, and recommendations for expanding existing professional development opportunities to reach underserved audiences.

• Download Partnering for Inclusion ECHO

UAB LEND Partnering Opportunities for Developmental Studies (PODS) Model: An Innovative Approach to Interdisciplinary Leadership Training

This panel highlights the UAB LEND Partnering Opportunities for Developmental Studies (PODS) model, an innovative approach to interdisciplinary leadership training. UAB LEND Faculty and trainees will share experiences participating in small learning communities that fostered mentorship, collaboration, advocacy, policy engagement, and quality improvement projects focused on improving outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities. This session benefits leadership training programs consisting of clinical and non-clinical disciplines.

LEND in Action: Capstone Projects Driving Innovation in Psychology Postdoctoral Training  

This panel will feature four psychology postdoctoral trainees who will present their capstone projects developed within the New Mexico LEND program. Each project reflects a systematic investigation of a meaningful disability-related issue and culminates in a tangible product (e.g., toolkits, curricula, or program evaluation) designed for dissemination and practical use. Panelists will briefly describe their process for capstone development, capstone focus, and the outcomes and impact of their work. 

A 3-Year Coaching Model to build capacity for supporting communication and literacy for AAC Users in a Delaware School District.

The Center for Disabilities Studies at University of Delaware will illustrate their model for supporting communication and literacy for AAC users and students with communication disabilities. They will detail a 3-year partnership with a local school district aiming to build capacity to promote AAC implementation and literacy instruction. This poster session will share goals of the model, coaching procedures, takeaways, and plans to expand the program across the state.

• Download AUCD SPEACS poster 10-4.pdf

Future-Ready Organizations: Succession Planning Through Practice Profiles

UCEDDs face the reality of upcoming leadership retirements or transitions. To proactively address this challenge, the Virginia UCEDD applied Implementation Science principles to define, develop, and support future leaders across the organization by identifying critical leadership competencies and observable behaviors, and establishing structured pathways for leadership development. This presentation will share lessons learned, tools developed, and practical strategies that other UCEDDs can adapt to strengthen leadership capacity and organizational sustainability.

Emerging Leaders to Mentors: The Impact of Social Work and Family Partnerships in Kansas

Emerging Leaders to Mentors: The Impact of Social Work and Family Partnerships in Kansas highlights how intentional partnerships between family leaders and social workers create sustainable community impact beyond clinical care. Through shared leadership, mentorship, and community-based programming, we will share how emerging leaders became mentors who strengthen supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Relevant disciplines: Family Leadership and Social Work.

Advancing Disability Inclusion in Faith Communities and Support Service Systems: UCEDD Innovation and Partnerships in Action

Faith communities and service support organizations are essential partners in promoting belonging, health and well-being for individuals with disabilities and their families. This session will showcase collaborative initiatives from three University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities that advance disability-inclusive practices across faith communities and support service systems. Participants will explore replicable models, practical tools, and partnership strategies to strengthen inclusion, belonging, and community engagement in their work and organizations.

Bridging the Early Intervention Gap for Children with Mild Developmental Delays

This study describes developmental outcomes from the Early Discovery Program, a community-based early intervention model for young children (ages 0-5) with mild developmental delays who are ineligible for publicly-funded IDEA services. Findings highlight high rates of improvement across intervention types and support the role of community-funded programs in addressing gaps in early intervention services. Relevant to psychology, mental health, education: early intervention/early education, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy.

Please Leave Your Slippahs at the Door: Weaving Place-Based and Community-Responsive Practices into Disability Leadership Education

Learn about the place-based and community-responsive practices used in the Hawaii MCH LEND Program leadership training curriculum. Gain actionable strategies and envision how you can weave them into your own work, communities, and disciplines.

Impact of the Kentucky LEND on Workforce Development

The findings from this research study suggest that the Kentucky LEND program plays an important role in strengthening the disability workforce by preparing trainees for interdisciplinary practice, leadership, clinical responsiveness, and engagement with lived experience. Together, these findings indicate that the Kentucky LEND program supports both professional development and a broader shift toward inclusive, disability-affirming practice.

Strengthening Independent Living Skills for Individuals with Disabilities Through Residential Peer Mentoring in TPSID Programs

Transitional and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) have invested heavily in academic and employment supports, yet residential environments remain an underutilized setting for developing independent living skills necessary for long-term success. This beginner-to-intermediate presentation explores national TPSID data, gaps in residential support, and practical recommendations for implementing residential peer mentoring in TPSID. Relevant to professionals in higher education, disability services, residence life, and transition services.

Supporting the Journey to Mainstream Education: Reflections from an Interdisciplinary Autism Model in India

Explore an early childhood autism model from India that integrates education, interdisciplinary intervention, and family partnership to support autistic children for mainstream education. The session will present the program's structure, demonstrate how therapeutic goals are embedded within everyday learning experiences, and highlight a longitudinal case study illustrating one child's ongoing journey from early intervention towards inclusive school education. Relevant to educators, allied health autism professionals, parents and family advocates, researchers.

Provider and Family Perspective of Facilitators and Barriers to Interdisciplinary Care across the Children's National Hospital.

Effective interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for delivering high-quality, family-centered care to children and youth with complex medical and developmental needs. This presentation highlights a quality improvement initiative exploring provider and family perspectives on the facilitators and barriers to interdisciplinary care across Children's National. This poster presentation highlights collaboration opportunities between Children's National departments that could help to strengthen collaboration efforts with the goal of improving family centered care.

• Download Multidisciplinary teams

Strengthening Self-Efficacy and Workforce Readiness Through AI-Supported Reflective Learning

This poster presents an Improvement Science evaluation of AI-supported reflective learning implemented in two graduate behavioral health courses. Three structured chatbot-based assignments replaced traditional assessments to promote student engagement, self-efficacy, workforce readiness, and accessible learning experiences. Preliminary findings demonstrate how conversational AI can support authentic assessment and instructional improvement while informing graduate education, interdisciplinary training, disability services, behavioral health, and higher education practice.

Building Higher Education Personnel Preparation Programs to Meet the Current and Future Workforce Needs of State EI/ECSE Service Delivery Systems

We are facing severe and worldwide personnel shortages in early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE). This workshop will provide participants with a framework for developing or revising EI/ECSE preparation programs to meet current and future state priorities and align with personnel standards and evidence-based practices in service delivery. Additionally, strategies for partnering with state agencies to plan comprehensive, coordinated EI/ECSE workforce development systems will be shared.

National Inventory of Personnel Preparation Programs for EI/ECSE

This poster will provide a comprehensive look at the current landscape of EI/ECSE personnel preparation programs across the country. Data on key program characteristics and state licensure/credentials will be shared to highlight similarities and differences across states, providing insight into trends affecting the next generation of theEI/ECSE workforce

Telling Stories Of Disability Identity: Narrative Inquiry While Presuming Competence Of Adults With N/IDD

This project explores how disability identity is enacted in a creative writing class for adults with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities (N/IDD). Guided by Oliver's social model, this study uses narrative inquiry to examine how participants' identities emerge through writing when instructors presume competence. Early findings suggest students often write about restrictions on their lives, creating opportunities to understand writing as a liberatory educational practice for disabled adults.

A Virtual Curriculum for Professionals and Families with Children with Disabilities

This is a joint LEND/UCEDD/Institutional project to create a virtual curriculum for professionals and families with children with disabilities. This online curriculum provides comprehensive instruction in neurodevelopmental disorders using interactive, evidence-based learning modules. Each module covers a topic specific to different stages across the lifespan, engaging a broad and experience group of faculty, specialists, and parent/family perspectives.

The full circle of leadership: How LEND alumni partnerships create lasting impact

This poster presents the New Hampshire-Maine LEND program's model of alumni community partnerships. We highlight two academic-community partnerships in which LEND graduates now serving in leadership roles within community-based organizations partner with our LEND program to establish internship opportunities for current trainees. Our 'full-circle' model demonstrates how investment in leadership development creates reciprocal benefits for trainees, community organizations, and the individuals and families they serve.