Supporting Diversity in the Developmental Disabilities Network through Minority Partnerships
December 16, 2013
![]() |
Clarke, T. & Majewski, K. Association of University Centers on Disabilities, 2013. |
Download |
|
To promote diversity within the Developmental Disabilities Network, as well as address health disparities experienced by minority populations, the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) in 2009 awarded three-year partnership grants to two UCEDDs - the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University, and the University of Southern California UCEDD (USC UCEDD) at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
This report was developed to guide University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) by revealing strategies, highlighting accomplishments and outcomes of the projects, and identifying lessons learned by grantees as well as provide recommendations for UCEDDs, AIDD, and AUCD. The expectation is that by informing the network, leadership from all Centers will seek out similar opportunities to create academic and clinical programs for diverse students and the individuals they will go on to serve.
![]() |
The multitude of accomplishments by the minority partnerships, although not without their challenges, has proven the positive impact such programs have on diversity in the field of developmental disabilities and healthcare now and in the future. However, in order for the program to continue to impact the diversity of the field of developmental disabilities, and eventually have a role in reducing health disparities in minority populations, the minority partnerships need to continue down the path of sustainability and be replicated in other universities and states. A significant number of lessons and recommendations are shared as a resource to the UCEDD network for such replication efforts.