Louisiana University Center for Excellence in DD

2013

The Louisiana UCEDD works actively to be a responsive and vital resource for promoting improved quality of life outcomes for individuals with significant disabilities. This Center has evolved from an exclusive focus on early childhood, in the 1970s, to a full life span perspective and an important resource for systems change. We address each Core function and all Emphasis areas each year. In a typical year, this UCEDD provides training for about 550 preservice trainees and about 8,000 inservice participants. Training and technical assistance events are conducted in all regions of Louisiana and we have begun targeted systems development for all 50 states and the Territories. Topics of events in Louisiana vary according to local needs and resources available to the Center, but include intervention strategies, manpower development, problem-solving, and the development of person-centered supports and services. For the 50 states and Territories, the topic of assistance is special education accountability monitoring. The overall priorities for this UCEDD were set and are adjusted annually by our Consumer Advisory Council. We maintain a values-driven, outcome-oriented, science-founded, and collaborative approach. The extent of our efforts is related to our success in leveraging resources, which we see as including funds, opportunities, and operational partners. We recruit about $4 million each year to support projects across the life span and often to meet costs associated with collaborating with a wide range of partners. We work closely with the Louisiana Disability Council and Protection and Advocacy programs and with other UCEDDs. We are committed to achieving desired outcomes for individuals with disabilities through activities of advocacy, systems change and capacity-building. This commitment can be seen in the projects we operate, our collaborative approach, and the degree of involvement by stakeholders in all aspects of Center operation.

Training, Technical Assistance, Direct Service, Research, Dissemination

Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other - Leadership, Other

Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Rural/Remote, Urban

Single-County, Mulit-County, State, Regional, National

N/A