News
11/4/2019
CDC-AUCD Leadership Opportunity: Act Early Ambassadors-State or Territorial Liaisons to CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), announce a funding opportunity for Act Early Ambassadors to work with CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (LTSAE) program to improve early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, including autism. Applicants from the following states are eligible to apply for two available Ambassadorships: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, West Virginia.
11/19/2019
Innovations and Best Practices in Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
Two new documents from AUCD
The movement to MLTSS is gaining momentum across states and new and pioneering models are emerging. With this shift, stakeholders need to understand how these changes can impact service delivery and also understand that they can help states design quality MLTSS programs.
Two new documents written by Sarah Swanson of the Munroe Meyer Institute and published by AUCD provide specific examples of new programs developed through this systems change, highlight states that are implementing quality programming in their LTSS programs, and outline ways that disability stakeholders can be involved.
11/12/2019
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Investigator Discovers One More Piece to the Autism Puzzle
Mutations in a subunit of a receptor that binds the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABAA in the brain have been linked, through a common mechanism, to epilepsy, autism and intellectual disability, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues report. Jing-Qiong "Katty" Kang, M.D., Ph.D. "This work represents a critical piece in the whole puzzle we are working on, the impaired GABAergic pathway in epilepsy, autism and intellectual disability," said the paper's corresponding author, Jing-Qiong "Katty" Kang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Neurology and Pharmacology and a Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) investigator.
AUCD Webinars
Sex Talk for Self-Advocates #6
Tuesday, December 3, 20192:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m ET
Location: Webinar
This webinar is part of an on-going series that addresses self-advocate questions about relationships and sexuality. This series is a great learning opportunity for self-advocates, and professionals and paraprofessionals working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to better understand sexual health needs.
Public Policy
Tuesdays with Liz: Beyond the Data - Addressing Gaps in Health Care for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
How has life improved for people living with intellectual disabilities? What needs to improve? Liz Weintraub shares her views as a person with an intellectual disability in her interview with Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver.
Tuesdays with Liz: Autism and Employment with Walmart's JP McCory
JP McCory is a Senior Program Analyst on the Retail Technology team at Walmart. He was diagnosed with autism as an adult. In this interview he shares his thoughts on feeling valued in the workplace and speaking publicly about his experience with autism.
Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Employment with Walmart's Aaron Combs
Aaron Combs is a Resolution Specialist for Walmart's Central Operations team. Aaron has a disability, but says his disability does not define him. He shares what his experience of being a young professional has been like with Walmart, and offers advice to other young professionals with disabilities.
Events
Inclusive Supported Employment: International Learning Series
Thursday, December 5, 2019Location: Webinar
The National Competence Center on Developmental Disabilities (NAKU) of Norway and the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) of North Dakota, USA are pleased to announce an international opportunity for learning and discussion on Inclusive Supported Employment (also known as Customized Employment). We invite our international colleagues to present on their work on Inclusive Supported Employment, and to attend online sessions and presentations about this important topic. It will culminate in a focused pre-conference on Inclusive Supported Employment in Washington, DC in the fall of 2020.
PacRim2020
Monday, March 2, 2020 - Tuesday, March 3, 2020Location: Honolulu, HI
The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Center on Disability Studies, in the College of Education, is accepting presentation proposals to be featured at the 35th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability & Diversity at the Hawaii Convention Center, March 2-3, 2020. Submissions are being accepted from June 1, 2019-December 1, 2019 at www.pacrim.hawaii.edu.
