AUCD Announces Locations to Work with Social Security Administration to Improve Childhood Adjudications
January 18, 2006
Contact: Rhoda Schulzinger
Director of Childhood Disability Determination Initiative
301-588-8252
[email protected]
www.aucd.org
SILVER SPRING, MD (January 18, 2006) - The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) plans to work with up to 16 selected member University Centers over the coming five-years under a contract with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to develop, test and operate prototypes of Pediatric Medical Units. The PMU's will assist SSA in the disability determination process of children by providing additional medical and clinical expertise.
AUCD is pleased to announce the first PMUs that will work on the state and regional level with SSA and disability agencies to improve the timeliness and accuracy of childhood disability adjudications. The first four prototypes will operate at the following locations:
- Institute for Community Inclusion/UCEDD, University of Massachusetts - Boston, MA
- Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowa's University Center for Excellence on Disabilities, University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA
- Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis, TN
- University of Washington LEND Program, Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington - Seattle, WA
George Jesien, AUCD Executive Director, said "We received 17 offers to participate in the first round of PMUs from across the country. SSA was very impressed with the high level of interest and the quality of the submissions. The initial enthusiasm for this exciting new initiative is indicative of the interest and capacity that the AUCD network has to work with SSA to improve the childhood disability determination process. The selection process was extremely difficult because of the high caliber of the applications."
AUCD plans to circulate a request for Statements of Interest for Year 2 in fall 2006 and to announce the second set of PMUs by the end of 2006. Pending budget authorization, AUCD will add locations on an annual basis as the network of PMUs expand.
About AUCD
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), located in Silver Spring, MD, is a national, non-profit, membership organization that promotes and supports a national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practices through research, education and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
The AUCD network represents every state and most territories in the United States and over 100 universities and medical schools. Through its members, AUCD serves as a resource for local, state, national and international agencies, organizations and policy-makers concerned about people living with developmental and other disabilities and their families.
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