News

4/13/2021

Call for Submissions: AIR-P Research Day at Autism CARES

AIR-P is pleased to launch this call for proposals. This call includes submissions for virtual rapid fire presentation sessions on autism and physical health. Submissions of work in progress is encouraged, as the Research Day will provide opportunity for structured questions and feedback from peers and experts. 

4/19/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Podcast Series Communicates Disabilities Research in Plain Language

"The Promise of Discovery" is a podcast hosted by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) that highlights research in intellectual and developmental disabilities in plain language, making it accessible to the general public. The podcast launched in 2020, with new episodes each month

4/16/2021

AUCD Professional Fellows Alum Wins United Nations Award for Inclusive Education TV Show

AUCD Professional Fellows alumna Maria Omare from Nairobi, Kenya, has won a grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for her work on Somesha Stories, a TV series she created that delivers accessible and inclusive educational content to children in East Africa. Somesha Stories is a weekly program that promotes early literacy and is one of the first children's TV series in East Africa to use closed captioning and sign language in all episodes. The series uses interactive storytelling to foster inclusive values and educate children about diverse topics, including science, community, mental health, COVID-19, and interacting with peers.

4/16/2021

Creating an Accessible Vaccine Experience for People with Disabilities and Older Adults

A coalition of aging and disability groups, including AUCD, partnered to develop a guide to making vaccination sites fully accessible to older adults and people with disabilities. The recommendations included in the guide address significant gaps in accessibility of vaccine administration sites and can go a long way toward increasing vaccination rates in these vulnerable populations.

4/16/2021

Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Report: Six-Month Follow-up

The Institute on Community Integration's Research and Training Center on Community Living for Persons with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, conducted a survey of approximately 9,000 direct support professionals (DSPs) from across the country about their experiences supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a six-month follow-up report to the initial report completed in April 2020 and is the largest study conducted on the direct support workforce.

4/16/2021

MN LEND Fellows Promote Autism Acceptance

Jules Edwards was 32 when she was diagnosed with autism, along with her children. Tom Cox was in his 40s when one of his employees suggested he might look into Asperger syndrome. Those turning points, they say, led both of them to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Today, Edwards and Cox are leaders in Minnesota's autism advocacy community.And as April brings the annual shower of stories about autism - it is called Autism Awareness Month by some groups and Autism Acceptance Month by others - they are hoping a similar understanding breaks through the messaging.

4/16/2021

Thank You! AUCD for All 2021 Virtual Gala: Celebrating 50 Years of Leadership: Looking Back, Moving Forward

The AUCD for All 2021 Virtual Gala was a huge success because of your generous support and participation! We appreciate that so many members of the disability community and AUCD Network came together during an evening of fun and memories to celebrate AUCD's 50th Anniversary. During the evening, we also honored and heard from disability advocates Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Ms. Karen Irick.