COUNCIL ON LEADERSHIP IN ADVOCACY (COLA)
11/20/2023
Iowa Creates a New Vaccine Clinic for Patients with Unique Needs
Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) has a new vaccine clinic for children and some adults with unique needs, including sensory issues, anxiety, and other disabilities. Earlier this year, the mother of a child with autism got in touch with CDD, looking for a place to get her child vaccinated against Covid-19. CDD clinical nurse manager Sheree Murphy, RN, took up the challenge, and enlisted the help of UCEDD program coordinator, Anne Crotty, MPH.
11/16/2023
Disability in Iowa: Working Together!
In early November, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), home to Iowa's UCEDD, LEND program, and IDDRC, teamed up with our sister organization, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, to host "Disability in Iowa: Working Together." Iowa's state legislators were invited to CDD for a learning session to increase their awareness of the work we do on behalf of Iowans with disabilities, and to help them understand more about the experience of living with a disability, including the challenges of access to supports and services.
11/15/2023
JFK Partners' Colorado Office of Employment First Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with Development of Video Minis
October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) which commemorates the many contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. This year's theme, "Advancing Access and Equity," recognized the importance of ensuring all people have equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents to our workforce.
11/15/2023
OHSU UCEDD: A personal and professional experience
In the summer of 2020, Jan Staehely, communication consultant and staff member at the OHSU Institute on Development and Disability UCEDD, and an individual with Cerebral Palsy who uses an assistive communication device, had a frightening experience. Wildfires were approaching the south-eastern towns near Portland, Oregon and her neighborhood was placed in an evacuation zone.
11/7/2023
2023 Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy
The Council on Leadership in Advocacy presents the Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy in recognition of exemplary leadership and advocacy practices of including people with disabilities and family members in projects and initiatives within a Center and the AUCD network as a whole. This award is named after Gordon Richins, a long-time leader, mentor and friend in the AUCD network and beyond. The Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy was presented to the KUCDD-LEND Consumer Advisory Panel at the AUCD Conference on November 7, 2023.
10/30/2023
Defining Equity
We are excited to announce AUCD's Board-approved working definition of equity in IDD. Below you will also see a plain language and easy read version. We hope this will help guide you in your future Council work as we continue to discuss concrete ways to improve systems, services, policies, and programs to improve equity. We know this will be an ongoing and evolving conversation within your Centers and across the Network. Thank you for your feedback and contributions to this effort.
10/26/2023
Announcing the 2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Community Interns
The Emerging Leaders Community is excited to announce 3 Interns for the 2023-2024 training year! These trainees will serve as visible ambassadors to the broader AUCD network, interacting with AUCD staff at all levels and the AUCD Board of Directors' Emerging Leaders Representative.
10/24/2023
AUCD Partners with USAging
AUCD is thrilled to be a partner with USAging for the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, thanks to vital funding from the Administration for Community Living. AUCD's selected Network Centers and Programs are providing needed flu and COVID-19 shots to people with disabilities and older adults to help keep them healthy.
10/20/2023
Dan Habib and Samuel Habib Win a National Emmy for My Disability Roadmap
Dan Habib and Samuel Habib of the Westchester Institute for Human Development won a News & Documentary Emmy Award for their short film, My Disability Roadmap. Their New York Times Op-Docs film was honored at the September 27, 2023, ceremony held at the Palladium Times Square Theater in New York City. "My goal for this film is that people won't talk down to people with disabilities.
10/20/2023
Episode 20 of BoggsCast Now Available: Inclusion and Employment Advocacy with Wendy Lacey
The Boggs Center is excited to share the latest episode of BoggsCast, a podcast where faculty and staff explore best practice, showcase success stories, and help listeners envision possibilities for innovation through interviews with state and national experts.
10/20/2023
Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) Expansion: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Services
For many patients at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a lifeline, offering crucial support to vulnerable populations. However, the system is complex and often does not favor those who need assistance the most. The average national approval rate for initial applications is around 38%. The process becomes even more discouraging as appeals are denied at a rate of around 85%. Consequently, individuals who are already navigating life with a disability are left without assistance and can feel hopeless.
10/13/2023
2024 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leaders Award
Deadline to apply: Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 5:00pm ET.
AAPD is seeking to recognize two (2) emerging leaders or groups with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community. People can apply as an individual or as a group up to four (4) people being recognized for the award. Awardees will receive $7,500 to further a new or existing initiative that increases opportunities for people with disabilities and $2,500 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the disability community.
9/21/2023
Identifying Autism in Rwanda
In rural Africa, people with autism and other disabilities are stigmatized and routinely hidden indoors. This summer, the MN UCEDD trained community health workers in Rwanda on identifying the signs of autism in children and on principles for addressing the needs of people with disabilities in rural areas.
9/21/2023
Peer Support and Research Engagement for Transition Age Young Adults with IDD Resources
Informed by community members, including young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the REACH Lab and Institute on Disabilities at Temple University developed free and easy-to-access resources about how peer support can help with successful transition and research.
8/24/2023
Publishing Opportunity with AIR-P Cureus Channel
The AIR-P would like to share the Autism and Health: Across the Lifespan channel, where our authors can publish articles without cost and at a faster rate than is typically available through the traditional scholarly publication process.