AUCD 360 - July 2020

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

The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This 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? How has the ADA has impacted your center and its work? How has the ADA impacted areas of your public life such as school, jobs, transportation and accessibility? Most importantly, how has the ADA inspired you to live a successful and rewarding life? Read more...

National Disability Voter Registration Week

In 2020, over 35 million eligible voters will be people with disabilities, according to Rutgers University. That figure jumps to over 62 million eligible voters when you add in family members in the same household. Millions of others are connected to disability in work and community. AUCD is excited to join partners across the disability community working to increase the political power of people with disabilities by sharing resources and getting folks registered to vote. This National Disability Voter Registration Week is part of our plans to continuously share information and resources up to Election Day 2020. Learn 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). Six Champions were selected, representing California, Colorado, Kentucky, New Mexico, Virginia, and Washington D.C., to serve as liaisons to the CDC's Children's Mental Health program. Read more...

Funding Opportunity Children's Mental Health Champions

Deadline: July 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET
Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) will support an additional cohort of Children's Mental Health Champions. This funding opportunity is limited to AUCD network members in any state or territory.
Read more...

AUCD-NCBDDD/CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Funding Opportunities

In response to emerging needs resulting in part from COVID-19, a nationwide Act Early State and Territorial Team initiative focused on building resilience among families with young children served by early childhood state systems is under development. These teams will focus on parent-engaged developmental monitoring, screening, and referral initiatives to ensure that children with developmental delays are identified early and connected with services that can help children and families. A competitive Act Early Ambassador RFA is also available in conjunction with this funding opportunity. This work will be funded through an existing cooperative agreement between AUCD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). Read more...

2020 AUCD Board Elections: Nominations Requested

Deadline: September 11, 2020

AUCD is currently seeking nominations to the AUCD Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in November 2020.  Read more... 

 top of page

Join us in congratulating Susan Hetherington (twice!) on her retirement and her Community Health Improvement Award!

The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (Rochester, NY UCEDD) is excited to announce that our Director, Susan Hetherington, is the 2020 Awardee of the David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award for Senior Faculty. This award recognizes University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) faculty for significant contributions to the health of the community through research, teaching, practice, and/or service programs. Dr. Hetherington was recognized for her contributions to health equity and community inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Read more...

VT LEND HDCC Council wins Diversity Team Award 2020 for Profiles in Diversity Journal

Profiles in Diversity Journal has recognized thousands of individuals from around the world who are making a difference. The Diversity Team Profiles spring edition recognized and celebrated the idea of teamwork, the importance of individual contributions, and the unique people organization who have come together to advance the cause of diversity and inclusion every day. VT LEND HDCC (Health Disparities Cultural Competence Council) celebrates the inclusivity that diverse individuals working together as members of a team represents. HDCC's 16-member group is housed under VT LEND at the University of Vermont. Read more...

University of Kansas Researchers Honored for Contributions to Disability Studies

Four University of Kansas researchers join three former presidents and four former senators of the United States as honorees among 87 recognized for transforming the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities during the past 20 years in the U.S. The honors, compiled in the National Honors Recognizing Significant Contributions in the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the U.S. Between 2000 and 2020, include essays highlighting trends in the field. A consortium of intellectual disability organizations collaborated on the report, which comes 20 years after the group's first report looking back on 20th century achievements in the field. Read more...

Margaret Gilbride, JD, CT (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Elected President of National APSE - the Association of People Supporting Employment First

Margaret Gilbride JD, CT, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Director of Transition and Employment at The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, was elected President of National APSE - the Association of People Supporting Employment First. She began her term as President of the National APSE Board of Directors on June 16, 2020. Margaret Gilbride also serves as President of the New Jersey chapter of APSE. APSE is the only national organization with a focus exclusively on inclusive employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Read more...

Caroline Coffield, PhD (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Honored with Distinction of Fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Caroline Coffield, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Director of Pre-service Training at The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, and Training Director of NJLEND, was honored with the distinction of Fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The designation of Fellow is conferred after an individual has at least 7 years of continuous membership in AAIDD, with an established record of participation in the professional and business affairs of the Association, and is judged to have made a meritorious contribution to the field of intellectual disability. Read more...

 top of page

Kennedy Krieger Assists State in Planning Return to School

The Kennedy Krieger Institute's Specialized Health Needs Interagency Collaboration project (SHNIC), funded by the Maryland State Department of Education, supports a group of Kennedy Krieger nurses and educators to provide training and technical assistance to school personnel and parent groups regarding the needs of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in schools throughout Maryland. With the onset of COVID-19 and the disruption of typical school health activity, the team has been involved in statewide and international groups developing guidelines for the return to school for students with specialized health needs. Read More...

Program Helps KU Prepare Students with Intellectual Disability Thrive Among Peers

When COVID-19 prompted the closure of the University of Kansas campus, Dana Lattin had faith that students in KU Transition to Postsecondary Education, or TPE, could adapt to their new online experiences. That's because TPE is based on developing problem solving, creativity and resiliency, she said. Established with a five-year grant to the KU Life Span Institute in 2015, TPE offers students with intellectual disability a combination of academic, career development and student life experiences that builds their community participation and prepares them for employment. Read More...

New College of Employment Services Course Focuses on Path from School to Adulthood

The ICI partners with the University of Minnesota and Elsevier Publishing to produce the DirectCourse College of Employment Services, or CES. This suite of online courses allows disability support professionals to build their skills in supporting their clients to find fulfilling community employment. The latest CES course is titled "Transition: Preparing for a Seamless Move from School to Adult Life." Read More...

ICI Researcher Co-Authors "Employment and Earnings Among Ex-offenders with Disabilities"

Ngai Kwan has recently co-authored a journal article with Glacia Ethridge, Angel Dowden and Michael Brooks from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (a HBCU), and Debra Harley from University of Kentucky. The article is entitled "Employment and earnings among ex-offenders with disabilities: A multivariate analysis of RSA-911 data" and published by Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Read More...

Va-LEND Welcomes New Faculty With Focus on Cultural Agilit
For Dana Yarbrough, this summer marks 21 years at the Partnership with People with Disabilities as a project director, Director of Center for Family Involvement (CFI), and Assistant Director of the UCEDD. But it also marks a new adventure: bringing her vision and perspective to Va-LEND. Her expertise is particularly relevant to shine new light on cultural diversity at Va-LEND. Yarbrough explains, "I've had the opportunity to build a team of cultural brokers at the UCEDD. This includes immigrants, refugees, and people of color who are parents of children with disabilities, who help our organization collaborate in ways that are culturally agile, sensitive and responsive." Read More...

Sherlock Center Initiates New Community of Practice for Teachers of Students with Complex Needs

In response to COVID-19, the Sherlock Center and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) are collaborating on a Community of Practice (COP) for teachers of students with complex needs. Teachers participating in the COP are providing instructions to students that often require unique and adapted instruction, as well as materials and supports to address their sensory, movement, and communication needs. With the COVID-19 national crisis forcing the closure of all Rhode Island schools, teachers had pivot to distance learning quickly. 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...

MMI to Open Autism Clinic in Underserved North Omaha

RAfter months of planning and community feedback, the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Autism Clinic for Toddlers in Omaha North (ACTION) now has an anticipated opening date -- January 2021. The 7,920-square-foot clinic, located at 5050 Ames Ave. in Baker Place Shopping Center, will bring intensive clinical services to North Omaha for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. The ACTION Clinic will provide intervention services and parent training for children under the age of 5 years old. Read More...

Mitchell Levitz Retires from WIHD

Mitchell Levitz, who worked at Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) for close to twenty years, retired on Friday, June 26th. Mitch has made a powerful impact on the lives of people with disabilities, self-advocates, and families. He has been a strong advocate at both the state and national levels since graduating from high school; has shared his personal perspective with students, families, and community members; and has spoken on behalf of all people with disabilities at state and federal legislative events and conferences. Key areas of his work have been in self-advocacy & self-determination; policy; school & community inclusion; health & wellness; employment; and life transitions including school-to-work and aging with a disability. In his role as the Self-Advocacy Coordinator at WIHD, he established the Hear Our Voices Self-Advocacy group 11 years ago. This group meets monthly and provides educational programs to encourage adults with developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves and others and to be more independent. Read More...

Center for Leadership in Disability Transitions Annual Autism Conference Fully Online

As many organizations, families, and individuals discovered: COVID-19 changes plans fast. With just two months until the Center for Leadership in Disability's (CLD) 6th annual Autism Conference and Expo of Georgia (ACE), hosting the popular research and resource event in person was no longer possible. But the staff at CLD were faced with two choices: Cancel the conference, or forge ahead with one of the many online platforms adapting to a new normal.The CLD decided that the resources and opportunities this event offered were too valuable to set aside for another year. Read More...

 top of page

NH-ME LEND 2020 Cohort Raises Expectations for All by Meaghan Cullinane

"No one rises to low expectations." New Mexican Congresswoman Deborah Haaland's words motivated leaders and trainees alike during the Hill Visit day at the AUCD conference in Washington DC, "Leading Change Together," this past November. These words were shared with the NH-ME LEND cohort and guided us through a rigorous training year working to improve the health and education of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by engaging in training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care. Read more... 

MN LEND's 12th Cohort Graduates Virtually

The 12th cohort of ICI's Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (MNLEND) program graduated May 14 in an online ceremony that featured a congratulatory message from U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, among others, and video testimonials from graduates themselves about what the interdisciplinary fellowship program has meant for them. "No matter what path brought you to this moment, today is a day to celebrate," Senator Smith said. "The skills you've learned will help you build more inclusive communities, where people across all their differences are valued and have control over their lives. As we live through this extraordinary time, the challenges seem harder and the stakes seem higher. These challenges will be bigger for folks already challenged by disability, discrimination and systemic barriers to living the lives they choose. We need your knowledge and experience. We need your voices. Read more... 

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: People of Color, Disabilities, and Mental Health

Register for the upcoming Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center webinar! This webinar will explore the unique intersection of disability, mental health, and people of color. People of color experience higher rates of disability and mental health conditions, but often face decreased access to care and other co-occurring health disparities. This presentation will highlight these inequities and discuss how we can work towards eliminating these disparities and becoming stronger allies for people of color. Presenterd by Morenike Giwa Onaiwu. Read more...

 top of page

Curriculum Design Assistance for AUCD Network Members: The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) Core Curriculum Resources  

Join us for a discussion about the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) Core Curriculum Resources! Originally developed to support LEND curriculum development at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Resources are moving to AUCD in Summer of 2020 in part to extend their reach across the AUCD network and will be relevant for (and available to) all network members engaged in pre-service training activities. Read More...

Marking a Milestone for CDC's Milestone Tracker App  

During this webinar, CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (LTSAE) program will provide an in-depth update on the current status of its unique developmental monitoring tool, CDC's Milestone Tracker app. LTSAE aims to improve early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, including autism, by promoting developmental monitoring so children and their families can get the services and support they need. Read More...

UCEDD Product Development and Information Dissemination  

Supporting Families in the Post-COVID World: Using Technology to Maximize Reach and Remain Connected  

During this webinar, speakers from two large rural states will describe approaches they've used to stay connected and support families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their use of distance technology will be highlighted as a means of reducing exposure to COVID-19 and in maximizing the reach of their efforts. The programs featured are the University of Wyoming's ECHO for Families and the Autism Family Support Program at the University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities. Read More...

 top of page