AUCD 360 - June 2020

AUCD Statement on the Death of George Floyd

AUCD is a diverse, interdisciplinary leadership, research, training, and service network focused on people with disabilities with a foundational commitment to inclusion, diversity, and cultural competence. Our work, our experience and our shared humanity unequivocally opposes the ongoing, fatal police killings and other violence against Black individuals across our country. What happened to George Floyd May 25 was not a beginning, it was a continuation. But it was a catalyst for change. Read more...

#AUCD2020 is Going Virtual

We make this announcement during unprecedented times in our country. The current and anticipated long-term impacts of COVID-19 led to our decision to convene a virtual conference this year. Our conference theme, 'Achieving Equity: Leading the Way in the Next Decade, 'confronts the realities we face as a nation in addressing the long-term inequalities experienced by marginalized communities. AUCD2020 continues to serve as a forum for meaningful collaborations on salient topics, best practices, and critical issues that affect the disability community, our network, and beyond. Read more ...

Call for Proposals AUCD 2020
Deadline Extended to Friday, June 12th

Due to many factors facing our network and nation right now, we are extending the Call for Proposals deadline to Friday, June 12 at 11:59pm EST. The AUCD Conference is one of the nation's premier places to highlight your work. Presentations will be accepted to the conference in several different types of sessions, formatted for maximum visibility and interaction with attendees. . Learn more...

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with AUCD

Next month, AUCD will celebrate this landmark event to bring attention to the important work that has been done to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities and to highlight the work that is yet to be done. We honor our leaders in the disability community who worked tirelessly for the passage of the ADA and look to our emerging leaders, many of whom have grown up after the ADA became law, to carry on the mission, hope, and vision of the ADA. We are seeking stories that will amplify this achievement by asking what does the ADA mean to you? Read more...

AUCD Launches Children's Mental Health Champions

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expands its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with the launch of a new pilot program, Children's Mental Health Champions, made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read more... 

Recognize Exceptional Leadership

The annual AUCD Awards gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made outstanding contributions. We honor leadership, advocacy, research, policy, and practice that further diversifies and creates more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families. Read more... 

Stories Needed about impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities

Congress is writing the next bill to respond to the needs of Americans in this crisis. In order for the needs of people with disabilities and their families to be addressed in the next bill, members need to hear about the real impacts. Often, a short personal story is helpful for them. Read more... 

Seeking talented trainees for AUCD Emerging Leaders Internship

We are pleased to announce (2) openings for the AUCD Emerging Leaders Internship for the 2020-2021 training year. Ideal candidates will be big-picture thinkers who value building and enhancing a community among trainees and emerging leaders (e.g. early career professionals and trainee alumni) in meaningful and sustainable ways across all AUCD member sites. Read more... 

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Jacy Farkas Receives Peter Likins Staff Inclusive Excellence Award

Congratulations to Jacy Farkas on receiving the 2019-2020 Peter Likins Staff Inclusive Excellence Award. The annual Peter W. Likins Inclusive Excellence Awards were established to recognize students, staff and faculty-led programs that enhance the University of Arizona through their inclusive programming and/or leadership. To be considered, nominees should have made a significant contribution toward creating a diverse and inclusive community.  Read more...

Aimee Day receives the EPSY Staff Excellence Award

Aimee Day receives the EPSY Staff Excellence Award The EPSY Staff Excellence Award will be awarded to the most outstanding staff member who has contributed to the excellence of Educational Psychology through outstanding departmental support. Aimee has been with EPSY and the Center on Disability and Development since 2013 as a Program Coordinator. She works with Person-Centered Planning as a trainer, Purposeful Life - providing families with exceptional children information meetings, FACETS - Families of Autistic Children Engaged Together for Support, she leads the CampLIFE events, is working with the Texas Transition Conference each year and a number of other programs. Read more...

Two Iowa LEND Trainees Recognized with Annual Healy Award

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD, Iowa's UCEDD) is proud to announce that Mary Ball, M.A. LSC, and Cassandra Olmstead, M.A., are the 2020 recipients of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities. Ball and Olmstead were members of the 2019-2020 cohort of the Iowa Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities program (ILEND). Read more...

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The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Develops COVID-19 Resources

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, New Jersey's UCEDD and LEND program, has developed training and resources to address informational needs related to COVID-19. In April, the Center launched its "Just in Time" Webinar Series to provide virtual learning opportunities focused on emotional well-being, mental health, behavior supports, creating meaningful days, and DSP skill building and self-care. Read More...

New fact sheet: How will the COVID-19 recession impact people with disabilities in rural America?

While many Americans will suffer in the coming recession, people with disabilities in rural areas are especially vulnerable because they are less likely to have an emergency savings fund, have access to paid leave, or be able to work from home. RTC:Rural's recent fact sheet analyzes data from the 2015 and 2016 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making (SHED) and the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) 2017-18 Leave and Job Flexibilities Module. Read More...

Inclusive National Service Programs Goes Virtual During COVID-19
The Training, Resources and Information for the Advancement of Disability (TRIAD) Service AmeriCorps members from The Institute for Disability Studies' (IDS) Hattiesburg and Long Beach campuses continue to serve their communities, just serving now in a more creative and virtual means. As COVID-19 has kept this AmeriCorps Program from having members meet in-person, the need for virtual service became a priority. Read More...

MCDD Resources and a Toolkit During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many things are uncertain. The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) created guidance documents for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities and their families to help navigate these challenging times. Read More...

Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities Factsheets

The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities is a national coalition that was established to identify and reduce life-limiting healthcare inequities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by improving access to medical protocols that reduce medical discrimination.
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When Access Goes Viral, Tracking UA Partners' Toolkit for Creating an Accessible Online Course

University of Arkansas - Partners for Inclusive Communities (Partners), Arkansas' UCEDD, has a variety of projects that focus on accessible design. Project staff have created a website called Explore Access: Tools for Promoting Disability Access and Inclusion (exploreaccess.org) which offers several resources and toolkits. Among the target audiences for these resources are those working in higher education settings.  Read More...

Iowa Launches COVID Recovery Iowa

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) is one of five contractors hired by the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to participate in COVID Recovery Iowa, an innovative program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Read More...

Communicating disabilities research in plain language through brand-new Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) podcasts

"The Promise of Discovery" is a new podcast hosted by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (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 May 8, with the premiere of the first three episodes. The goals of the podcast are to host conversations about research in plain language and to highlight "real world" implications. . Read More...

UNMC MMI UCEDD Hosts Nebraska Statewide Disability Leadership Trainings

The Munroe-Meyer Institute University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities program (MMI UCEDD) has hosted Disability Leadership training series across the state, including the communities of Omaha, Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Kearney and Grand Island. This training series is a partnership between UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities Program and several Nebraska disabilities programs; in addition, it has been funded by the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities. Read More...

Food Resources Needed for NH Residents with Disabilities

The latest data brief from the New Hampshire (NH) Disability & Public Health Project shows that in NH, people with disabilities and their families are 4 times more likely to report food insecurity than people without disabilities. Food insecurity results from not being able to afford enough food to live an active, healthy life. Read More...

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) research centers established to support individuals with disabilities, their parents as they enter transition age, seek gainful employment

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher Erik Carter, Ph.D., has introduced two new Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) focusing on supporting youths with disabilities, as well as their parents, as they transition into adulthood and begin to seek employment and adult services.  Read More...

Faith, Disability, and Mental Health: Faith Leaders Forum

Over thirty faith-based community leaders from across the state of Maryland engaged in a live, interactive, virtual learning collaborative to increase their awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental illness, and to understand how they can help address those challenges and the stigma associated with mental illness and disability. Read More...

MMI Psychology Department to Offer Free Consultative Clinics

The Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) Psychology Department at UNMC is offering free behavioral telehealth consultative clinics. Families of children age 18 or younger can access two free consultative appointments via the teleconferencing platform Zoom or by phone. Providing the services via telehealth also means they will be available to people across the entire state. . Read More...

Now Available: 2020 NH Disability & Public Health Infographic Report

The New Hampshire (NH) Disability & Public Health project's 2020 infographic report shows that adults with disabilities need better access to health care."Our infographic report this year shows that people with disabilities have a harder time accessing health care than people without disabilities, and people with multiple disabilities are most likely to face barriers to care" said Evan England, program coordinator and co-author of the report. Read More...

Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin

Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.  E4Texmas transition program held a Zoom graduation on May 9, 2020. Nine students celebrated being the second class to graduate from the program. View the recording of the graduation with special keynote speaker Dr. Richard Reddick. Read More...

Indiana's Disability History: A Video Overview

Journey to Full Citizenship, a video overview of Indiana's disability history, is a new free educational resource. The short documentary looks at 200 years of change in the lives of Hoosiers with disabilities. It's a story of citizens who were placed behind walls and have struggled for their civil rights, a story of advocacy and continually evolving public attitudes, legislation, and policy.. Read More...

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University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities (SD UCEDD/LEND) Goes Virtual

Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and the need to practice physical distancing, the University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities (SD UCEDD/LEND) quickly adapted and innovated to stay connected. After an unexpected extended spring break caused by the rapidly spreading coronavirus, classes at the University of South Dakota were moved online beginning March 16, 2020.  Read more... 

The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Celebrates the Graduation of the 2019-2020 NJLEND Fellows at the 4th Annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium

The Boggs Center celebrated the graduation of the 2019-2020 NJLEND Fellows at the New Jersey Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NJLEND) program's 4th annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium.  Read more... 

North Carolina Inclusive Virtual College Fair

Dan Earixson, a LEND/UCEDD trainee and School Psychology graduate student at University of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Inclusive Postsecondary Education Alliance (NC IPSEA) interagency visibility team has worked together to release the first Inclusive Virtual College Fair.This team includes staff from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (Angelia Lightfoot), Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (Deb Zuver), and IPSE/CTP program staff (Lisa Pluff). Read more...

Va-LEND Thrives Amid COVID-19

Presentation and discussion of research posters and leadership presentations herald the end of the Va-LEND program for the academic year at Virginia Commonwealth University. They are typically lively events marked by discussion, acknowledgement of trainee achievements, and fellowship. This year was very different due to the commonwealth's response to COVID-19 and need to socially distance.  Read more... 

AUCD Professional Fellows Alum in Kenya Pinpoints 33,000 Individuals with Disabilities for COVID Cash Relief

TIn the global fight against COVID-19, individuals with disabilities face especially harsh challenges in developing countries where essential resources and community services are often inaccessible and limited. In East Africa, AUCD's Professional Fellows alumni are leading the way in determining community needs, delivering relief funds, and developing inclusive emergency response plans for their countries' leaders. Read more...

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Office of Postsecondary Education Recruiting Peer Reviewers

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education, Higher Education Programs is currently recruiting peer reviewers to evaluate applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) program. Read more...

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Resources for Building and Strengthening FASD Initiatives

Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

In this webinar, members of the FASD SIG will present resources for increasing your knowledge about FASD, training others, and supporting individuals with lived experience and their families. Attendees are encouraged to share resources they find helpful. Read more...

Strategies for Addressing Anxiety Related to COVID-19

Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET

Anxiety is a common co-occurring concern for many people with IDD (including ASD). In this time of COVID, everyone is experiencing heightened anxiety. For this population in particular we need to be aware of this underlying anxiety and provide strategies to help people manage their symptoms. Read more...

The Role of Cultural Diversity in Mentoring

Friday, June 26, 2020, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

In Mentoring is fundamental to growth and success. Therefore, it is incumbent for mentors to have the ability to discuss challenges faced by culturally diverse individuals and, ultimately, have a repertoire of mentoring strategies to develop talents and skills in mentees from underrepresented backgrounds in LEND programs. Read more...

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