The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute is hosting its 2021 Summer Learning Series, consisting of 15 virtual workshops with interdisciplinary topics focused on working with children, youth, and adults with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities, and their families. The workshops will run from June 1 through July 29 to help disseminate critical information to providers, parents and caregivers, and people with disabilities across a wide range of topics.

The 2021 Summer Learning Series is designed for a range of professionals (e.g., service providers, service coordinators, psychologists, social workers, school counselors, nurses, medical staff, teachers, paraprofessionals, case managers, speech, physical, and occupational therapists) and community members such as parents, caregivers, and faith leaders to expand their knowledge and skills in working with people with disabilities and their families. Psychologists and social workers can earn continuing education credits through a majority of the workshops.

The virtual sessions will cover a multitude of topics, including transition planning for students with disabilities, suicidal behaviors in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sexual health, social media, assistive technology, disability across the lifespan, anti-ableist strategies to reduce healthcare inequities, disability and aging, and support for college students with autism spectrum disorder, to name a few.

The MCDD is thankful to the many professionals who will be sharing their critical knowledge and expertise with attendees this summer. The MCDD is especially grateful to those joining us from the AUCD network including Jenny Turner, MSW, LCSW, senior research associate at the University of Missouri, Kansas City- Institute for Human Development; Kara Ayers, PhD, associate director of the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; and Brian Freedman, PhD, Director of Adult Transitions and co-director of the University of Delaware's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program.

For more information on the Summer Learning Series or to register, visit kennedykrieger.org/community/initiatives/maryland-center-developmental-disabilities, or contact Mirian Ofonedu, PhD, LCSW-C, Director of Training at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities.