HOMEPAGE: POLICY
4/13/2023
Oklahoma LEND Graduate Makes it to the State House
Oklahoma LEND graduate, Ellyn Hefner, class of 2014, is elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Prior to being accepted into the OK LEND program, Ellyn was a strong advocate for her son to ensure he would have the same opportunities as his siblings. She graduated from the Oklahoma Partners in Policymaking class sponsored by the Developmental Disability Council of Oklahoma.
3/15/2023
Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature Reflection
by Melanie Ong and Martina Penalosa, MCDD Trainees
Every year, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities (MDD) Coalition sponsors DD Day. On this day, participants come together to educate legislators about issues that are important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
6/27/2022
Statement of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities on Reproductive Health
In response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) issues the following statement. First and foremost, AUCD recognizes the significance and complexity of the impact of the decision on all people, including those with disabilities. For many, this is deeply personal. AUCD fully supports and advocates for people with disabilities to have the right and freedom to make their own decisions about healthcare.
6/27/2022
Statement on Gun Violence and Mass Shootings to Ensure the Safety of People with Disabilities
AUCD is concerned about the increased incidence of mass shootings and gun violence in the past few years, and we are grateful for the bipartisan efforts to address it. We recognize this issue is a complex balancing act of personal freedom and collective safety in the United States. However, we must also acknowledge that among developed economies, the United States has the highest level of gun violence, gun shots are the leading cause of death for children, and many of these deaths occur at home or in other homes and not in schools or mass shootings.
6/21/2021
#AUCDsleeveup Tuesdays with Liz Contest
Deadline: July 16, 2021
We are excited to announce the new #AUCDsleeveup Tuesdays with Liz Contest! We are looking for short videos from persons with disabilities, their family members, and other friends of the disability community sharing why you got the COVID-19 vaccine! Videos will be posted to AUCD social media and available for you and others to share with your own social media. The top 3 videos with the most likes, comments, and shares on social media will *win* AUCD gear and the person with the top video will also win an interview on Tuesdays with Liz episode!
5/21/2021
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Organizations Leaders Object to Offensive Language Made by Albert Watkins
AUCD and leading intellectual and developmental disability organizations object to the offensive language made by Albert Watkins. Read our joint statement below
2/22/2021
2021 Disability Policy Seminar
April 19-22, 2021 - A Virtual Event
The Disability Policy Seminar offers the opportunity for passionate advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field to come together and learn about key issues that affect them most. After two days of training and learning, attendees head to Capitol Hill for a day of meetings with their Members of Congress.
1/11/2021
Lived Experience and Leadership: Self Advocates and Family Members in the Disability Rights Movement
Each fall, the NH-ME LEND Program conducts a leadership intensive on the history of disability. This year, the session was reworked to cover the history of the disability movement. Trainees were asked to watch the 2020 documentary, Crip Camp, and to reflect upon how this innovative inclusive summer camp for teenagers with disabilities during the 1970's helped to mobilize a generation of disability rights activists and energize the independent living movement.
11/26/2019
Tuesdays with Liz: Live from Georgetown University
Liz Weintraub interviewed Claudia Gordon, who is the first Deaf African American female lawyer to graduate from law school in the United States. Claudia has dedicated her professional career to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and the Deaf community. This episode is sponsored by GUCEDD and GU Program for Disability Studies
8/23/2019
Milestone Tracker App - New Spanish-Language Video
Learn the Signs. Act Early. has developed a new Spanish-language video to promote the Milestone Tracker app to Spanish-speaking families. Check out the video here, along with sample social media posts in Spanish and English for promotion.
7/10/2019
Autism CARES Act of 2019: Mark Up
The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2019 (H.R.1058) will be a part of the Health Subcommittee markup on Thursday, July 11. This is a critical next step in the reauthorization process.
6/18/2019
Tuesdays with Liz: 'Mondays with Martha' Crossover Special 2
Liz is once again joined by Martha of 'Mondays with Martha' in this crossover special. They chat about how they view their own disabilities, and how they define disability and advocacy. https://youtu.be/mNARkP7Syl8
3/5/2019
Tuesdays with Liz: Autism CARES Act Reauthorization
Tune in as Liz goes over what the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act is and why it's so important that Congress reauthorize it.
12/18/2018
Tuesdays with Liz: Fav Five of 2018
Happy Holidays from Liz and AUCD! Join us as Liz shares her favorite five Tuesdays with Liz of 2018.
11/13/2018
Tuesdays with Liz - The Autism CARES
Ivanova Smith is here to talk to Liz about Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs, which are funded through the Autism CARES Act. The act is up for renewal by Congress and needs to be reauthorized by September 30, 2019, in order to continue to provide funding for programs like LEND.