HOMEPAGE IN THE NEWS
5/16/2023
UW CHDD Promoted to UW IHDD with Sandra Juul as New Director
The University of Washington (UW) Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD) has been renamed the UW Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD), with Dr. Sandra Juul appointed as the new Director. The IHDD is a research, service, and training center that aims to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families through various programs and services, including diagnostic, assessment, and treatment services.
5/15/2023
Autism and the Dysregulated Arousal System
By Rebecca Grzadzinski, Kattia Mata, and Jose Rodriguez-Romaguera, The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities - UNC IDDRC
How do babies learn to be social? Babies are born into the world with so much to learn, from basic body movements to complex communication and interaction skills. Philosopher John Locke believed that babies are born into the world as "blank slates" (tabula rasas)-everything to learn will be gained from their environment and experience1. Indeed, environment and experience are critical for learning-studies on enriched environments highlight this. However, research continues to highlight the influence of inherent characteristics, underlying neurobiology and genetics on how and what we learn or know. Researchers aim to understand what and how we learn by studying the dynamic interplay between inherent biological traits, physiological states, and the environment.
5/3/2023
EDI-Self-Report (EDI-SR) Survey
The purpose of this new research study is to create a questionnaire known as the EDI-Self-Report (EDI-SR). This project is funded by the Eunice Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). The EDI-SR was designed to measure emotional experiences in autistic teens and adults and teens and adults with other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This study is enrolling individuals ages 11 and older who are autistic or have an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) and their parents/caregivers, as well as individuals without these diagnoses. Individuals must be current United States residents to participate.
4/25/2023
Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities Recognized with University of Arizona Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards
At a ceremony on March 2, 2023, the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities was awarded the 2023 College of Medicine - Tucson Departmental Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for its outstanding excellence in the management of its people and resources, including its progress in building an inclusive workplace.
4/25/2023
Sonoran Center Trains Students to Close Disability Care Gaps
Most people receive care from a variety of health professionals throughout their lives, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, people who run public health programs, and more. Unfortunately, not all of these professionals have experience providing care to people with disabilities. The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities in the Department of Family & Community Medicine in the College of Medicine - Tucson works to ensure that future health care providers are prepared for some of the unique challenges they may face.
4/25/2023
The Disability Employment TA Center (DETAC)
The Disability Employment TA Center (DETAC) is a five-year federally funded national Technical Assistance Center that provides training and technical assistance to Centers for Independent Living, Councils on Developmental Disabilities, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service, Protection and Advocacy entities, Traumatic Brain Injury Centers, and Projects of National Significance.
4/24/2023
Harnessing Uniqueness: MNLEND Fellow Leverages Neuroscience Advances to Explore Brain-Behavior Links
A MN LEND fellow searches neuroimaging databases for patterns that could lead to more personalized and effective strategies for regulating emotions, or developing social cognition, among other skills.
4/14/2023
Iowa Works Together to Address the DSP Workforce Shortage
Recently, our UCEDD joined our sister agency, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, and other organizations, including the Iowa Association of Community Partners, Iowa Caregivers Association, ASK Resource Center, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Serves and Iowa Workforce Development, to develop a new recruiting tool. "A Job That Matters: Learn How You Could Become a Direct Support Professional" is publication that features a series of stories about the job, the people who need supports and services to live in the community, and the people who do these jobs in different ways. The publication was recently inserted into local Sunday newspapers and is being circulated electronically throughout the state to build awareness and support DSP recruitment.
4/14/2023
ME UCEDD Receives Nearly $500K Maine DHHS Grant to Help Adults with Disabilities
With a $499,970 grant from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Aging and Disability Services, the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD), will conduct a model demonstration project of intensive evidence-based behavioral intervention to help adults with disabilities who are currently subject to restrictive behavior management plans.
4/14/2023
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researcher Works to Enhance Therapy Processes with and for Autistic People
Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health distress than the general population. Unfortunately, therapy services for this community are limited and rarely designed with and for autistic people. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher Jessica Schwartzman, Ph.D., recently co-authored a paper* in the journal Autism which outlines the development and testing of an autism-adapted, measurement-based care** system (MBC-AUT) to enhance therapy processes for autistic people and their families.
4/13/2023
2023 Bryan-College Station Success Conference was held April 1, 2023 at Central Church in College Station
The Conference theme this year was Destination: A Good Life! Let's Travel This Road... Together. Help plan a roadmap for your child's life.Keynote speakers were Ben and Wendy Erdman who spoke about their lives and almost 20 years of marriage in a session titled, "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" They shared the story of their lives, family supports. early education, work opportunities, how they met and about their marriage.
4/13/2023
Affiliated Faculty Highlight: Lisa Bowman-Perrott, PhD
Lisa Bowman-Perrott, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Affiliated Faculty Member with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is working with two new grants and collaborating with UTSA and Baylor University.
4/13/2023
Child Care Aware of Kentucky Block Project
It might be surprising to learn that one of the most powerful tools for teaching children during early development is the humble building block. And yet, according to Cynthia Willmarth, Early Education Quality Coach for Child Care Aware (CCA) of Kentucky at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI), they can have a profound impact on children in their earliest years.
4/13/2023
Kathleen Zimmerman Receives Grant to Support K-2 Students
Kathleen Zimmerman, assistant professor of special education and researcher at the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD), received a 4-year grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to support students in K-2 classrooms who are exhibiting challenging behaviors.
4/13/2023
Nevada PBIS TA Center Recognized for Excellency
The Nevada Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Technical Assistance (PBISTA) Center located within the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has received three awards this quarter.