Invitation

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I am delighted to invite you to the AUCD 2022 Conference, taking place November 13-16. This year’s theme is Health Equity: Serving the Whole Person. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in person this fall in Washington, DC for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

The pandemic has shown us how important it is that people with disabilities get the supports they need to live active, productive lives in their home communities. From housing to meaningful employment, to access to vaccination sites and a safe trip to the grocery store, people with disabilities and their families experience daily disruptions and are often marginalized (or treated unequally) when it comes to accessing needed services.

Social determinants of health are factors that affect health on a population level, rather than an individual level. This will be our focus. Some examples include transportation access, systemic oppression like racism and ableism, access to healthcare, and physical location. It is especially important that we include the needs of people with disabilities in remote, rural, and other historically marginalized areas—like the territories—when we think about health equity.

We look forward to hearing about your exciting research and innovative ideas. We hope that you will join us in creating an accessible and welcoming space for everyone regardless of education level, background, or disability status. Health equity is for all, and we can’t wait to share space with you as we work toward making it more accessible to people with disabilities!

Carol Salas Pagán, PsyD

AUCD President Elect and 2022 AUCD Conference Chair
Director, University of Puerto Rico’s Center for Excellence in Education, Research and Service on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)