The Leadership Academy seeks participants from UCEDDs, LENDs, and their disability community partners to come together to grow in leadership, build connections, and enact meaningful change in their sphere of influence. Apply Today!
News

1/11/2021
Supporting Families and Systems that Serve Young Children through the Act Early Response to COVID-19
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with an investment of over $4M in the Act Early Network through an Act Early Network-wide Response to COVID-19 made possible by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 43 State and Territorial Act Early COVID-19 Response Teams were awarded a one-year (September 2020-August 2021) grant opportunity for Support for Early Childhood State Systems Through the Act Early Network.

1/21/2021
Human Rights Depend on Democracy: Protect it
Disability is a bipartisan human-rights issue, and the stakes for people with disabilities are huge if democracy is compromised in any way.
A video clip circulated on social media last week showing people with disabilities being forcibly removed by police from a congressional hearing. The caption, clearly designed to garner outrage: "Disabled Trump supporters get arrested for storming U.S. Capitol." Two days later, Reuters ran a fact-checking piece that identified the clip as a 2017 Senate hearing on the Affordable Care Act, where about 200 disability rights activists protested a proposed amendment to the legislation that would have made significant cuts to Medicaid.
Policy

1/27/2021
Plain Language: Medicaid Services for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities - Evolution of Addressing Service Needs and Preferences
New Medicaid Services for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities Resource in Plain Language from Health Management Associates and AUCD. This resource provides comprehensive information about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the Medicaid program policies and services that support their needs.
1/25/2021
Disability Policy News
Biden Administration, Executive Orders, COVID-19 Relief and Vaccine, Senate, Impeachment
1/19/2021
Disability Policy News
Inauguration Day, 117th Congress, COVID-19 Vaccine, Presidential Transition, Impeachment, COVID-19 Relief, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
AUCD Webinars
Increasing Engagement with Underserved Communities: AUCD partners with Morehouse School of Medicine National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (MSM NCRN)

Wednesday, February 10, 20214:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: Webinar
The Morehouse School of Medicine National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (MSM NCRN) coordinates a strategic and structured national network of local, state/territorial/tribal, national, and community-based organizations that will mitigate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minority, and rural populations. This project is supported by a $40 million award from the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services Office of Minority Health as part of the National Infrastructure for Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 within Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities (NIMIC). The MSM NCRN is in partnership with community-based organizations, corporate companies, academic institutions, healthcare centers, hospital systems, faith-based organizations, and federal agencies.
Services and Supports for Adults with FASD

Wednesday, February 10, 20213:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: Zoom
When children with disabilities become adults, there is a significant reduction in services and supports available. For individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), however, that loss of services is even more dramatic. A three-person panel will discuss the current state of services and supports, identifying options and describing how certain states have achieved successes in developing new services. This webinar is an essential event for the developmental disabilities community, including clinicians, service providers, individuals with FASD, families, local and state agencies, and advocates.