News / Document Search Results

6/27/2019

Haben Girma to Speak at AUCD2019

Haben Girma will speak at this year's AUCD2019 opening plenary panel along with other leaders in the disability space, to discuss her lived experience, what leading change together means to her, and how we can elevate the conversation around the rights of people with disabilities and their families to bring about change.

2/27/2017

AUCD's Andy Imparato Visits the Pacific

For the past ten days, AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato has been visiting disability organizations and meetings in the South Pacific, hosted by Tafaimamao Lefu Tua Tupuola and Kiriko Takahashi of the American Samoa UCEDD (Ucedd Ascc). He has met with people with disabilities, families, and numerous staff working on disability issues throughout the South Pacific.

AUCD Webinars

UCEDD Tip Sheets

Tip Sheets are intended to provide guidance and share peer practices of specific aspects of UCEDD operations, grant management, and core grant application development. Tip sheets clarify requirements outlined in the DD Act, related federal regulations, and/or AIDD's Quality Review System processes as appropriate; and also share experiences and recommendations from network peers.

Public Health is for Everyone

8/20/2019

Tuesdays With Liz: Jerry Alliston on Emergency Preparedness

This episode of Tuesdays with Liz is dedicated to the importance of emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. Liz interviews Jerry Alliston (Community Education Director at the Mississippi UCEDD) about his experience and lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

8/19/2019

Access All Day (OH UCEDD/LEND)

The LEND Program at the University of Cincinnati UCEDD provides training to Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden staff to help make the zoo more accessible for people with disabilities and their families. The last two years, the zoo has hosted an Access for All Day, where they invite the community to take part in the progress they've made to make the zoo more accessible such as: adult changing tables, sensory friendly restrooms, planning maps, social narratives, visual supports, sensory bags and more.

8/19/2019

ICI (MA UCEDD/LEND) Wins Grant to Examine Transfer-of-Rights and Guardianship

Recently, ICI was awarded funding from the Institute of Education Sciences through its Special Education Research Grants Program. The project is entitled "Exploring How Transfer-of-Rights and Guardianship Discussions May Affect Transition Outcomes for Students with Intellectual Disabilities." Funding will begin September 1, 2019, is anticipated through 2023, and will be in the amount of approximately $360,000 per year for the 4-year grant period.

8/19/2019

Kansas KUCDD/LEND Community Advisory Panel Annual Meeting

The KUCDD/LEND Community Advisory Panel (CAP) held their annual, face-to-face meeting on July 12th in Salina, KS. Ski Adams, outgoing Chairperson was honored for his years of service as a member for the CAP with a plaque and the announcement of the new sign that will hang at KUCDD acknowledging and honoring CAP Chairpersons over time. Chris Testorff was welcomed in his leadership role, as our new Chairperson.

8/19/2019

Mailman Center for Child Development LEND Trainee Awarded JCCAP Launch Award (FL UCEDD/LEND)

Pediatric psychology intern Nicole Lorenzo, second left in picture, was awarded the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (JCCAP) Launch Award. She received this recognition during the JCCAP Future Directions Forum on June 28-29 in Washington, DC.

8/19/2019

Maryland LEND Faculty Receives Grant to Increase Access

Mary L. O'Connor Leppert, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., a former LEND trainee and current LEND faculty, and Dr. Joyce Harrison, MD received a grant from the state of Maryland to continue their work to increase access of children with neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders by building capacity of primary care physicians to identify and manage these disorders.

8/19/2019

Munroe-Meyer Programs Harness Arts' Positive Impact (NE UCEDD/LEND)

By John Keenan, the Munroe-Meyer Institute

"It's never the finished product. It's the process." That's how Carolyn Anderson, director of Why Arts, an organization that provides Omaha's underserved populations with access to inclusive quality arts programming, views artistic creation --it's a journey.

8/19/2019

Promising Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Study on Treating Core Symptoms in Rett Syndrome Supports Further Trials

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Director Jeffrey Neul, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues studied the safety and effectiveness of the drug trofinetide in female children and adolescents (age 5-15) with Rett syndrome (RTT). Findings were recently published in the journal Neurology and show promise for improving core features associated with the rare disease, supporting further trials.

8/13/2019

Jennifer Longdon on Gun Violence

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz Weintraub interviewed Jennifer Longdon, is a person with a disability as a result of gun violence. They spoke about her experience following the gun violence and how she became a disability advocate.

8/12/2019

CT LEND Students Sign Bill with CT Governor to Enhance Communication Between First Responders and Children and Adults with Disabilities

The UConn UCEDD staff and LEND students were invited to a bill signing of HB 7000 (PA 19-147) with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. Governor Lamont praised the students and UCEDD for all the work they had done on the bill. Governor Lamont told the students how proud they should be for making a real difference in the world for the disability community. Representative Linehan, who met with the LEND students at the Capitol, worked with them on enhancing the UConn UCEDD's Emergency Preparation Flipbook to include a communication aid that would enhance communication between first responders and children and adults with disabilities.

8/12/2019

Kansas LEND CARE-A-Van

Kansas LEND faculty "hit the road" bringing services and training to rural parts of Kansas. As part of our mission to improve access to care and build capacity, LEND faculty drove a CARE-A-Van nearly 800 miles from Kansas City to Garden City and Hays, Kansas. While there, the team worked closely with local school districts and providers to conduct autism and developmental evaluations.

8/12/2019

Program Launched for Special Education Students to Combat Social Isolation (NE UCEDD/LEND)

By John Keenan

The Munroe-Meyer Institute and Millard Public Schools will partner on new social and recreational skills development programs for special education students with autism and other forms of intellectual and developmental disabilities, designed to decrease social isolation and prepare students for life after school. "Social and life skills development is essential for the long-term prosperity of every individual," said Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

8/12/2019

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Welcomes 2019 ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Campers

ACM Lifting Lives and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) partnered again to bring a week of country music and research to campers with Williams syndrome. 2019 marks the 10th year of the ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp and the 15th anniversary of the VKC's involvement. This creative and celebrity-filled week of discovery continues to put individuals with Williams syndrome in the spotlight, both on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and in the research labs at the VKC.

8/8/2019

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers: Fifty Years of Scientific Accomplishments

Progress in addressing the origins of intellectual and developmental disabilities accelerated with the establishment 50 years ago of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health and associated Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers. Investigators at these Centers have made seminal contributions to understanding human brain and behavioral development and defining mechanisms and treatments of disorders of the developing brain.

8/7/2019

Shelly Baer Receives 'In the Company of Women' Health & Services Award (FL UCEDD/LEND)

Rochelle Baer (sitting) MSW, LCSW, Director of Leadership Training Initiatives at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development, received the In the Company of Women Health & Services award at the 31st Annual ceremony presented by the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, Inc., Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department and the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women.

8/6/2019

Making the Minneapolis Parks More Accessible (MN UCEDD/LEND)

Molly Peterson (LEND Fellow, 2018-19) is serious about play. "As a pediatric physical therapist, play is a pivotal aspect of my job description," she says. "Children are motivated to move and master mobility skills in an environment that appeals to them. It needs to be fun, exciting, and a little bit challenging. To me, community playgrounds foster that environment and provide children with or without a disability the opportunity to practice social, cognitive, and physical skills, and most importantly, the opportunity to play with peers. This project aims to stimulate discussion about inclusion and how playgrounds can be a stepping stone to promote inclusion from a young age." Peterson is talking about her LEND project that recommends the Minneapolis Board of Parks and Recreation make playgrounds more inclusive to people with disabilities.

8/6/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: What is a Congressional Recess?

Members of Congress are already filling up their calendars for the August recess, which lasts through Labor Day. Now is a good time to request meetings with them. Think about hosting a community event and inviting your members of Congress or invite them to visit your programs or centers.

7/29/2019

ReDiscovery (TX UCEDD)

The purpose of ReDiscovery is to provide training, technical assistance, and educational materials on long-term recovery services and resources for individuals with disabilities and other access and functional needs affected by Hurricane Harvey.

7/29/2019

GU UCEDD Annual Conference and Celebration

Georgetown University UCEDD Annual Conference and Celebration The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development held its annual conference on June 14. The Conference presenter was Debra Leach, EdD from Winthrop University. Dr. Leach presented, Bringing ABA to Home, School, and Play for Young Children with ASD and Other Disabilities. In addition to the Conference the UCEDD joins the GU Certificate in Early Intervention in honoring the 2018-2019 graduates as well as celebrating the awarding of the Geraldine P. Waldorf, Making a Difference Award to Marisa Brown for her life-long commitment to the residents of DC with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and their families.

7/29/2019

MNLEND Fellows Complete "a Truly Transformative Year"

29 MNLEND Fellows (pictured) received their Certificate of Completion, recognizing the culmination of their year-long appointment with the Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) Program at ICI. Each year the MNLEND, which is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, selects outstanding graduate/postgraduate students and community members to become Fellows.

7/23/2019

2019 AUCD Board Elections: Nominations Requested

Deadline: September 9, 2019

AUCD is currently seeking nominations to the AUCD Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning at the 2019 AUCD Conference in November.

7/23/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: What Does the ADA Mean To You? Happy ADA Anniversary!

Happy 29th ADA Anniversary! Liz asks her friends--all past interviewees on Tuesdays with Liz--what the Americans with Disabilities Act means to them.

7/22/2019

CT LEND Fellows Learn about Inclusive Employment

im and her husband Scott partnered with longtime friends, Noelle and Tim Alix, whose daughter Cate also has Down syndrome. Both families wanted an inclusive employment opportunity for the children and others in the community. Their vision is one of an inclusive community where everyone is welcome to work and to gather surrounded by great food, great coffee, and great people and a place where everyone belongs.

7/22/2019

E-Learning Module: Autism CARES Act 101

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), in partnership with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), is pleased to share the e-Learning module, "Autism CARES Act 101." This free, self-paced module addresses key facets of the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act, including grassroots and legislative origins, how it has evolved since 2006, and resulting federally-funded programming. It also delves into the impact that the Autism CARES Act has had on services and systems that support autistic individuals and their families.

7/22/2019

Student Emerging Leaders Making a Difference for People with Disabilities (FL UCEDD/LEND)

Samantha Meador, center in picture, a graduate of UM Mailman Center's high school leadership program, Student Emerging Leaders Program's (SELP), was honored with the prestigious Silver Knight Award that is given to high school seniors. Yearly, the Miami Herald and Nuevo Herald Silver Knight Award committee selects thirty students. They are honored for academic achievement and community service.

7/22/2019

Students with Disabilities Blaze Trail at UT (TX UCEDD)

The University of Texas at Austin E4Texas project awarded ten students Certificates of Completion on May 11, 2019. The E4Texas program immerses students with and without disabilities into college life at the University of Texas Austin campus. Students come to the university campus from around the state. E4 Texas is project of the Texas Center for Disability Studies. Students who take this program are focused on certification as personal care attendants while building independent living, self-advocacy, and social skills.

7/16/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Voting

You can VOTE! Learn all about overcoming voting barriers for people with disabilities with Liz. Liz discusses how to get to the polls and how early voting might be the right option for you.

7/15/2019

Emergency Preparation Toolkit for Children and Adults (CT UCEDD/LEND)

The CT LEND program spends one day at the CT Legislature learning to speak to and educate legislators about issues related to persons with disabilities living in CT. The LEND trainees meet in small groups with individual legislators. One of the groups met with CT State Representative Liz Linehan and discussed emergency preparation for persons with disabilities and shared Flipbook. "Tips For Emergency Personnel: Supporting People with Unique Access or Functional Needs (including disabilities) "Representative Linehan wanted to share it and make it more accessible for a family in her district who had a child who was a non-reader and nonverbal. Representative Linehan brought the toolkit to the Connecticut General Assembly to advocate for a bill to enhance communication between emergency responders and children and adults with disabilities in times of crisis.

7/12/2019

UCEDD Supplement Status Memorandum

7/10/2019

Autism CARES Act of 2019: Mark Up

The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2019 (H.R.1058) will be a part of the Health Subcommittee markup on Thursday, July 11. This is a critical next step in the reauthorization process.

7/9/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Ivanova Smith Shares Her LEND Story

Ivanova Smith shares her experience with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs, which are funded through the Autism CARES Act. The act is up for renewal by Congress and needs to be reauthorized or renewed by September 30 the end of 2019 in order to continue to provide funding for programs like LEND. Join Ivanova and Liz in educating members of Congress about the importance of LEND and CARES.

7/8/2019

AUCD Welcomes Interns

AUCD is pleased to welcome this year's interns to our office to join our staff, learn about initiatives of the network, and assist with projects of national significance to people with disabilities, their family members, and communities. We are lucky to have several interns joining us for differing lengths of time and working on a variety of topics across different departments.

7/8/2019

Georgia's Postsecondary Graduation Inagural Classes (GA UCEDD)

Inclusive postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities are growing across the nation and in Georgia. Currently, Georgia has nine of the more than 260 inclusive postsecondary programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities at universities and colleges across the country.

7/8/2019

Midwest Advocacy & Leadership Conference Draws Support from Four UCEDDs

UMKC Institute for Human Development (MO UCEDD) welcomed over 220 participants May 31 - June 2, 2019, as lead organizer and co-sponsor of the SOAR Regional Advocacy and Leadership Conference. SOAR, Seeking Opportunities for an Advocacy Revolution, invited people with disabilities, their family members, and disability system professionals from Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas to lead the change they wish to see. Events included a variety of opportunities to gain new leadership and personal skills.

7/8/2019

New Initiative to Improve Autism Diagnosis and Evaluation Commences for Professionals (DE UCEDD)

Experts and other stakeholders in the Delaware autism community are taking action to improve diagnostic practices for autism, which has risen in prevalence by 80 percent in Delaware over the last decade. Delaware-specific guidelines will be created to ensure that diagnostic evaluations are informed by research and incorporate local resources and services. The process began with two days of training and workshops hosted by the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA) on June 24-25 at the Virden Center in Lewes. The events were led by Dr. Stephen Kanne, the executive director of the University of Missouri Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, a nationally known expert on diagnosis of ASD.

7/3/2019

Parent Workshop: An Opportunity for Empowerment, Feedback, and Community Inclusion (NY UCEDD/LEND)

By: Diana Rodriguez, LMSW

The annual parent workshop was held on Wednesday, May 29th, 2019 from 8am-3:30pm. It was put together by Diana Rodriguez, LMSW, Sarah Warnet, M.S. CCC-SLP, and Daniella Soba, OT. A total of 50 parents came and were provided with free breakfast, lunch, tote bags, supplies and folders with information for the parents to take home. At the end of the workshop we sit down with the parents to debrief on how the day went and if there are things that need improvement. This gives the families an opportunity to be part of the actual creation of the workshop.

7/3/2019

Special Education Initiative - A community voice for special education (TX UCEDD)

The Texas Center for Disability Studies (TCDS) at The University of Texas at Austin has launched a new initiative to engage community members in providing guidance to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on special education issues.

7/2/2019

OHSU Institute on Development and Disability UCEDD elevates University Job Carving Program (OR UCEDD)

The OHSU Job Carving Program now has a public face on the UCEDD's website. This university-wide effort has created opportunities for over 30 people with disabilities and is starting to shift institutional culture. The program recently received national recognition from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) 2019 Inclusion Cultivates Excellence Award. This award recognizes and celebrates institutional initiatives and programs that have made a significant impact with respect to inclusive and equitable workplace practices, particularly those that have brought about cultural change throughout the organization. The UCEDD provides technical assistance and guidance to the program. The Job Carving Program webpages went live on June 20th.

7/2/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Winner of the ADA Video Contest!

This video was created by the first-ever winner of the AUCD video contest, Emerging Leader Taylor Carley! Taylor is the Self-Advocacy Coordinator for the Institute for Disability Studies, the UCEDD center in Mississippi. Taylor and his colleagues, Dan Lewis and Emilee Flurry, share why they think the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is important, along with what it means for them for people with disabilities to be included in their communities.

7/1/2019

22q at the Bronx Zoo (NY UCEDD/LEND)

Rose F. Kennedy UCEDD/LEND's Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC) partnered with Einstein Buddies, (a medical school service learning club), Children's Hospital at Montefiore 22q11.2 specialty clinic, Bernice Morrow's Einstein Genetics lab and Harboring Hearts to sponsor 22q at the Bronx Zoo. The International 22q11.2

6/26/2019

Statewide Capacity Building and Coordination with TWC and LEAs (TX UCEDD)

Statewide Capacity Building and Coordination with TWC and LEAs Individuals with disabilities face challenges in their transition from school to adult life, especially in the transition from school to employment. Federal legislation requires local and state education agencies to work with the state vocational rehabilitation agency to facilitate a smooth transition from school to employment. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) have developed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help guide the two agencies for collaborations.

6/25/2019

Board President Amy Hewitt Testifies at the Reauthorizing Autism CARES Act of 2019 Hearing

Amy Hewitt, AUCD Board President and Director of the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, gave a powerful testimony on the importance of reauthorizing Autism CARES at the Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

6/25/2019

Dedication, Hard Work, and Achievement: Honoring John B. Moeschler, MD, MS (NH ME LEND)

John B. Moeschler, MD, MS. is retiring from his role as Program Director for the New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program after 27 years of service from 1992-2019. As a developmental behavioral pediatrician and geneticist in NH, he served thousands of children and families with, or at risk for, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and trained hundreds of interprofessional leaders in high quality, innovative clinical care. In recognition of his many accomplishments, John was awarded Pediatrician of the Year by the NH Pediatric Society in 2012.

6/25/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Mara Keisling Talks Trans Rights

In recognition of Pride Month, Liz chats with Mara Keisling, founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, about the intersection between trans rights and disability rights. Visit https://transequality.org/ to learn more about the National Center for Transgender Equality.

6/24/2019

Alabama CIL Uses RTC:Rural Advocacy Toolkit to teach youth

Disability Rights & Resources, a Center for Independent Living in Birmingham, Alabama, is using RTC:Rural's Advocacy Skill Building Toolkit to introduce and teach advocacy skills to youth with disabilities by conducting workshops across Alabama. With assistance from a grant from the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights & Resources was able to hire a Community Empowerment Specialist to organize the advocacy workshops.

6/24/2019

MMI Receives a Two-year Grant from NIH to Explore How Children with Cerebral Palsy Perceive Pain

Max Kurz, Ph.D., an associate professor of physical therapy at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, received a two-year grant for more than $400,000 from the National Institutes of Health to explore how children with cerebral palsy perceive pain. The grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which Dr. Kurz described as a "high-risk, high-reward" grant, will let him and his collaborators examine how the brains of children with cerebral palsy process sensory information.

6/24/2019

New Factsheet on Survivor Justice Is Disability Justice

Schools Must Protect Students with Disabilities from Sexual Harassment.

The National Women's Law Center (NWLC), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) are excited to release our joint fact sheet in honor of the 47th anniversary of Title IX.

6/24/2019

The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Celebrates the Graduation of the 2018-2019 NJLEND Fellows at the 3rd Annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium

On May 10th, 2019, The Boggs Center celebrated the graduation of the 2018-2019 NJLEND Fellows at the New Jersey Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NJLEND) program's 3rd annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium. Held in New Brunswick at Children's Specialized Hospital, the event featured a keynote address, Life Course Research and Community Engagement to Improve Autism Outcomes, from Paul T. Shattuck, PhD, Associate Professor at Drexel University's A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, and was attended by those from the Rutgers community, New Jersey's Department of Children and Families, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, and other state and community organizations. During the NJLEND Leadership Projects Poster Session, attendees had the opportunity to learn from each Fellow about the leadership project they conducted over the course of the academic year.

6/24/2019

Tracy Glass, PATHS Program Director is Prepared to Give All to the Program (TX UCEDD)

Tracy Glass, the PATHS Program Director, is devoted to the PATHS Program and has been working to improve the program. The PATHS Program allows students with or without disabilities the opportunity to a human service career tract as well as the skills to live independently. This program has changed the lives of many students with disabilities that did not have a career direction or the ability to live independently.

6/21/2019

AUCD Celebrates the Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision

"Olmstead sent a clear message that people with disabilities have a right to thrive in their own homes, and that self-determination and community integration are not just aspirational goals, but a fundamental human right," said Andrew Imparato, Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

6/18/2019

Alliston Provides Training, Promotes Employment for People with Disabilities through Fellowship Work in Kenya (MS UCEDD)

Dr. Alliston recently had the opportunity to share his expertise and enthusiasm for transition to adulthood in Nairobi, Africa, through the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (PRP-IDE). PFP-IDE is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is implemented by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the Institute for Community Inclusion, and Humanity and Inclusion.

6/18/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: 'Mondays with Martha' Crossover Special 2

Liz is once again joined by Martha of 'Mondays with Martha' in this crossover special. They chat about how they view their own disabilities, and how they define disability and advocacy. https://youtu.be/mNARkP7Syl8

6/17/2019

MMI's Adult Behavior Medicine Clinic Making a Difference (NE UCEDD/LEND)

He'll sing the same words over and over. He'll grab himself. Sometimes, he might try to grab others. Sharon, Niko's mother, believes that if Niko didn't have Down syndrome -- an identifiable developmental disability -- the people he meets in public might have called the police on him by now.

6/17/2019

Ohio UCEDD Program Director Supports Employment Transition Project in Africa

AUCD network members and international alumni of the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE) are creating lasting progress for inclusive employment in Africa! Dr. Margo Izzo, Program Director at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, visited Tanzania to promote transition models with PFP-IDE alum Gwaliwa Mashaka, a deaf social entrepreneur who champions education and employment of women and girls with disabilities in science.

6/17/2019

The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Celebrates Graduation of New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2018-2019

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities hosted a graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2018-2019. New Jersey Partners in Policymaking is a leadership development and advocacy education program for adults with developmental disabilities and family members available through The Boggs Center with funding from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. This year's graduates included 10 self-advocates and 15 family members prepared to work toward meaningful change in our state.

6/17/2019

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) SENSE Theatre enriches performances with Musical Talent from Artist on the Autism Spectrum

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) investigator Blythe Corbett and participants of the Winter 2019 SENSE Theatre program recently performed the original musical "The Makeover" to appreciative audiences. Their performances were the culmination of practice and hard work put in by young actors with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), typically developing peer actors, and, new this year, a new musician who is also on the spectrum.

6/16/2019

Call for Proposals - PacRim2020

The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Center on Disability Studies, in the College of Education, is accepting presentation proposals to be featured at the 35th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability & Diversity at the Hawaii Convention Center, March 2-3, 2020. Submissions are being accepted from June 1, 2019-December 1, 2019 at www.pacrim.hawaii.edu.

6/14/2019

Request for Proposals (RFP) from the WITH Foundation (WITH), the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) and Ability Central

Enhancing the Resources, Programmatic Efforts, and/or Advocacy regarding Supported Decision-making for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

This is an invitation for collaborative proposals which focus on the development of additional resources, programmatic models, and/or advocacy related to Supported Decision-Making (SDM) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

6/12/2019

Become an AUCD 2019 Sponsor or Exhibitor Today!

Committment Deadline: September 30; Artwork Deadline: October 15

At the 2019 AUCD Conference over 1,000 community leaders, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, professionals, advocates, and students will join forces in their commitment to change the world for people with disabilities and their families. Sponsors and exhibitors of the Conference will have direct access to AUCD's $650 million national network of directors, researchers, practitioners, and advanced-level Fellows representing university-based programs from every state and territory. Best of all, you'll join an increasingly dynamic conversation focused on the support, inclusion, and well-being of people with disabilities, and demonstrate your organization's commitment to this population.

6/11/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Lisa Carey on Applying Research to Classrooms

Liz chats with Lisa Carey, Assistant Director of the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, about applying brain research in educational settings to better enable students with disabilities to learn.

6/10/2019

Fellow Visits MN UCEDD from Kenya to Learn American Inclusive Employment Practices

Working in competitive employment is a long-term "and often difficult" goal for many people with disabilities. Those difficulties are even greater in developing countries like Kenya, but Daniel Mbugua Chege knows they can be overcome. "I believe in persistence," says Chege, an Inclusive Employment Fellow who established six community-based organizations in his native Kenya to reduce the stigmatization of people with disabilities while promoting their self-advocacy and economic self-reliance.

6/10/2019

The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University Announces the 2017 PATHS (TX UCEDD)

The Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) program at Texas A&M University is honored to announce the 2017 graduates. This year, 36 young men and women successfully graduated from the PATHS certificate program. The PATHS certificate program was developed in 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Grenwelge, Director of Transition Service Programs, Associate Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension while working with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University.

6/10/2019

WITH Foundation Awards $392,000 to Promote Comprehensive and Accessible Healthcare

AUCD was awarded funding to support the Turn up the HEAT On (Health is for Everyone Action Team). The project builds on successful efforts led by the AUCD to include Developmental Disabilities in medical education. The project will implement Developmental Disability (DD) competency in medical education by leveraging AUCD's network to build capacity and develop leadership of medical schools in a three- state pilot (West Virginia, Kentucky, and Alabama).

6/6/2019

2019 ICI MA LEND Graduation

On May 10th the achievements of the 2019 LEND Fellow were celebrated at their graduation. During the event, 2019 highlights were shared including family visits, Title V program visits, work in community based organizations (CBOs), clinical and research reflections, and the Disability Policy Seminar in DC.

6/6/2019

Exciting Work Showcased at the LEND Poster Session

The full cohort of Leadership in Education for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) trainees filled the atrium of the Van Nuys Medical Science Building's on April 26th for the LEND poster and networking session.

6/6/2019

Longtime ICI Staff Member Invited to Join Employment "Dream Team" MA UCEDD/LEND

Karen Flippo, who worked at the ICI for many years, is one of seven people from five countries invited to participate on the "Dream Team" at this year's EUSE Conference on Supported Employment. The conference will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on May 27-29.

6/6/2019

Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) Professional Development Training in a Rural Region

In partnership with The Children's League and the Judy Center, the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute conducted a two-day ACT Raising Safe Kids training for professionals at the Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, Maryland on May 14-15, 2019. ACT Raising Safe Kids is a program developed by the American Psychological Association violence prevention office.

6/6/2019

MNLEND Fellow Speaks at Hollywood Fundraiser with Conan O'Brien

MNLEND Fellow Olivia Maccoux spoke at a sold-out Hollywood fundraiser headlined by comedian Conan O'Brien (pictured together). "In Stitches: A Night of Laughs with Conan and Friends" was covered by the Hollywood Reporter and raised over $300,000 to support critical research and programs that improve the quality of life for people living with hydrocephalus, an incurable lifelong condition that affects over one million Americans, and which Maccoux acquired when she was born three months premature.

6/6/2019

Parent Advocacy Training for Somali Parents of Children with Autism (ME UCEDD and NH-ME LEND)

Over the past two decades, Maine has experienced rapid growth of racially, ethnically and linguistically diverse populations. Although Maine's population is largely White (95%), children in Maine are disproportionately from minority populations; currently 9% of children in Maine are from a race other than White.

6/4/2019

AUCD Professional Fellow Alumni Wins Prestigious State Department Award

Maria Omare of Kenya (AUCD ProFellow 2017) is One of Four Winners

Maria Omare, an alumna of the ADA International Fellowship Program's Spring 2017 Cohort, has been selected for the prestigious Alumni Impact Award by the Professional Fellows Division of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

6/4/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Andy Arias on Diversity in the Disability Movement

Liz chats with actor-advocate Andy Arias, a Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Labor, about his different identities and the importance of diversity in leadership in the disability movement.

6/3/2019

Recognize Exceptional Leadership

AUCD Awards Nominations Open through August 15

The AUCD Awards represent the exemplars within our network, and local, state, and national partners. We know the depth, breadth, and expertise of our trainees, advocates, professionals, and partners is extraordinary and deserving of recognition. In preparation for this year's conference, we invite you to nominate someone who truly inspires you in the spirit of the conference theme: Leading Change Together!

5/29/2019

AUCD Announces New Senior Program Manager for UCEDD Technical Assistance, Sarah DeMaio

Sarah DeMaio will be moving from her role providing TA to the LEND and DBP programs with AUCD�s MCH TA team to Senior Program Manager of the UCEDD TA team at AUCD. Sarah brings to this role 15 years of experience working with people with disabilities and leading initiatives to increase inclusion in a wide range of arenas. In her role on the MCH TA team she coordinated Autism CARES network outreach and supported the LEND Family Discipline Network. Prior to that role, she was the executive director for the Autism Society of Northern Virginia. As a sibling of an adult with Down syndrome, she will bring her passion and expertise in family engagement and transition to adulthood to her work on the UCEDD team. Sarah will begin this new role on June 1, 2019.

5/28/2019

54 Learn the Signs.Act Early. Ambassadors Complete Annual Training at NCBDDD/CDC

42 new Learn the Signs. Act Early. Ambassadors joined forces with a veteran cohort of 12 Ambassadors representing 48 states, 3 territories and the District of Columbia on the campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Annual Act Early Ambassador Training April 30-May 1, 2019 hosted by the Learn the Signs. Act Early.

5/28/2019

Intelligent Lives Comes to Moscow ID (ID UCEDD)

The Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development (CDHD), in collaboration with the University of Idaho Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR), hosted a community screening of the documentary Intelligent Lives, created by Dan Habib. Preceding the event was a resource fair with different resources available on campus and within the Moscow community. Following the screening was a panel discussion addressing questions that were brought up within the film. CDHD brought this documentary to the university to broaden the understanding of intelligence testing and how people with intellectual disabilities are disproving assumptions made about them due to their IQ score.

5/28/2019

The Center for Leadership in Disability's 10th Year Anniversary Events (GA UCEDD)

Atlanta, GA - The Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University hosted four events to commemorate their 10-year anniversary. The speakers selected are internationally known experts in their fields and all four exude the values of leadership and inclusion that have informed CLD's work over the past 10 years.

5/28/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: 'Mondays with Martha' Crossover Special

Liz is joined by Martha of 'Mondays with Martha' (https://youtu.be/Iv-3Jm6y85A) in this crossover episode. They chat about why they each started web series and encourage YOU to share your story.

5/27/2019

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researcher Sutcliffe, Others Find High-risk Genes for Schizophrenia

Author: Bill Snyder

Using a unique computational framework they developed, a team of scientist cyber-sleuths in the Vanderbilt University Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute (VGI) has identified 104 high-risk genes for schizophrenia. One contributor is Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) member and Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences James Sutcliffe, Ph.D.

5/22/2019

ITAC Bulletin Board - May 2019

As you finish the current academic year and look forward to future cohorts, we recognize the importance of delivering information and resources that may be timely to MCH training programs. It is our hope that you find the resources contained in this newsletter useful in supporting the work of your faculty, staff and trainees.

5/22/2019

Mental Health Month: A message from AUCD's MH SIG

As we celebrate mental health month, we invite you to participate in AUCD's Special Interest Group on Mental Health Aspects of I/DD. Our goal is to ensure that the mental health needs of children and adults with IDD-MH are fully recognized within the disability community and that they are effectively addressed.

5/21/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: The Developmental Disabilities Act

Passed in 1963 (not 1960), the Developmental Disabilities (DD) act plays a vital role in ensuring Americans with disabilities are able to participate in the community. Liz outlines what branches compose the DD Act and what they do.

5/20/2019

@AUCDNews Twitter chat #IDefineMyWellness

This Twitter chat will engage the overall disability community in a conversation on what wellness means and encourage sharing of helpful resources. Based on what is shared, AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health will create a brief on health education, policy and practice resources. Our goal is to make this brief available by the ADA Anniversary at the end of July.

5/20/2019

Active Leadership in the Tucson Community (Arizona LEND)

What a bittersweet end to a fantastic traineeship for the University of Arizona LEND cohort! Over the past nine months, Arizona LEND has been involved in some great Leadership Projects designed to step outside of their comfort zones and serve people with disabilities and complex medical needs in Tucson. From neighborhood playgrounds to customized websites, the trainees in this cohort came together to make the most of their skill sets. Here are some of the highlights.

5/20/2019

AUCD Video Contest!

Emerging Leaders: Submit your ADA video and get featured on Tuesdays with Liz
Deadline: June 11

AUCD current and former trainees are encouraged to submit a brief video sharing what the ADA means to them. Winners may be featured on an episode of Tuesdays with Liz!

5/20/2019

Christine Brown, Columbus Business First 40 under 40 Honoree! (OH Nisonger LEND)

Christine Brown, Nisonger Center LEND Self-Advocate Faculty Member and Clinical Research Assistant, has been selected as a Columbus Business First 40 under 40 honoree! In its 27th year, Christine was chosen for her outstanding career achievements and impressive community service, among 378 nominations.

5/20/2019

Dr. Luc Lecavalier receives Joan N. Huber Faculty Fellow Award (OH UCEDD)

Dr. Luc Lecavalier, Professor of Psychology and Nisonger Center faculty member at The Ohio State University; received the Joan N. Huber Faculty Fellow Award for Excellence in the Social and Behavioral Sciences for 2019. This fellowship program recognizes some of the very strongest scholars in the social and behavioral sciences disciplines. Each year the college awards no more than three fellowships to full professors nominated by department chairs and school directors in the division of social and behavioral sciences.

5/20/2019

Kansas LEND Receives Diversity & Inclusion Award

Kansas LEND was honored to accept the University of Kansas Medical Center Executive Vice Chancellor award for Diversity & Inclusion in April. LEND was nominated by Alice Zhang, LEND Postdoctoral Fellow and was supported by our community partner Families Together, Inc. The work to expand understanding, acceptance, inclusion and belonging on our KUMC campus and beyond continues. Pictured: Jessica Schuttler, Ph.D., LEND Training Director, Alice Zhang, LEND Postdoctoral Fellow and Dr. Robert Simari, KUMC Executive Vice Chancellor

5/20/2019

LEND Audiology Trainees Learn Strategies for Early Diagnosis at EHDI 2019

The 18th annual Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Meeting welcomed nearly 1,000 diverse stakeholders on March 4-6 in Chicago, IL. The EHDI Meeting brings together those who work in state-based EHDI Programs, assist in EHDI efforts on the federal level, provide screening, diagnostic, and early intervention support at the state level to young children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families, and deaf and family advocates. The Meeting is organized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Hands and Voices, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Health Resources and Services Administration, and National Center for Hearing Assessment & Management at Utah State University.

5/14/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Right to Communicate with Mary Schuh and Ken Capone

Liz chats with Mary Schuh and Ken Capone about what the 'right to communicate' means in the context of disability and why it is so important.

5/14/2019

AOD Commissioner Julie Hocker Visits the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND)

On a two-day visit to Tennessee, Julie Hocker, Commissioner of the U.S. Administration on Disability, met with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) leadership, faculty, trainees, and Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Network partners. Hocker visited at the suggestion of Lance Robertson, Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Administration for Community Living, who travelled to Tennessee in January and returned enthusiastic about the collaborative relationships within the state.

5/14/2019

Meet Ellie Jarvie

Former Disability Advocacy LEND fellow in 2017-2018

While Tourette Syndrome was once classified as a rare disorder, studies now show that 1 in 160 school aged children will have Tourette Syndrome or a tic disorder. Six in seven youth with Tourette will have another mental, behavioral or developmental disorder.

5/13/2019

Update to the Administration for Community Living's Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

A planned reorganization within the Administration for Community living (ACL) was note in the Federal Register on May 9th. The goals of the reorganization are to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the organization; strengthen infrastructure; and improve the connections between the organization and its stakeholders, grantees and consumers at the national, state and local levels. AUCD and other members of the disability community have engaged in efforts to learn more and understand the possible impacts.

5/13/2019

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) LEND Self-advocate Trainees Learn from and Demonstrate the Benefits of Inclusive Environments

Author: Courtney Taylor

The definition and purpose of disability inclusion is to be sure that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires. In the 2018-19 academic year, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Consortium LEND (VCL) Training Program through the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center welcomed two self-advocates to their cohort of trainees for the first time.

5/7/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Stephanie Meredith on Prenatal Testing and Disability

For our Mother's Day special, Liz talks with Stephanie Meredith, the Lettercase Program Director at the University of Kentucky's UCEDD, about prenatal testing. Stephanie shares how doctors should communicate with expectant parents if testing determines that their child has a disability.

5/6/2019

"A Day in the Life" (OH LEND)

Written By: Elizabeth K. Schmidt

The Nisonger Center Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at the Ohio State University aims to address disparities in the availability and quality of health services for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities through interprofessional training in leadership, scholarship and community partnerships that impact health care and community systems.

5/6/2019

ACL Principal Deputy Visits the Mailman Center for Child Development (FL UCEDD)

During the visit, Ms. Lazare met with trainees, faculty, and staff who provided an overview of the Mailman Center's leadership, training, and community engagement initiatives, particularly those that focus on the intersection between disability and diversity in the minority, underserved, and low income communities of Overtown and East Little Havana. Ms. Lazare noted that "while many federal and federally supported programs talk about being committed to capacity building and system changes, the Mailman Center makes these things very real."

5/6/2019

OHSU Institute on Development and Disability UCEDD Researcher Quoted in National Geographic

Dr. Melanie Fried-Oken, leading international clinician and researcher in the field of augmentative and alternative communication and co-director of the OHSU UCEDD, was quoted on the ethics of how a computer brain interface that could translate brain activity and thoughts into audible sentences.

5/3/2019

Crowds, Officials Turn Out for 'Light It Up Blue' Event (NE UCEDD/LEND)

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh joined leaders from the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) and Autism Action Partnership at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge on April 2 to mark World Autism Day and see the bridge be lit up blue for autism awareness.

5/3/2019

Improving the Trajectories for Youth with Disabilities and Family Living in Poverty: Systems Change in 11 PROMISE States

Last month, the 'Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income or (PROMISE) Project hosted an event at the National Press Club to disseminate project findings and outcomes, and celebrate the close-out of a successful five-year, $211 million-dollar project. The U.S. Department of Education, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Social Security Administration, funded PROMISE's six model demonstration projects to improve the education and career outcomes of low-income children with disabilities receiving SSI and their families. A team of AUCD staff and evaluators from University of Minnesota's UCEDD, the Institute on Community Integration, comprised the PROMISE Technical Assistance (TA) Center.

4/30/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: LEND Trainee Kayla Rodriguez Advocates for Autism Acceptance

Liz chats with Kayla Rodriguez, a LEND trainee and self-advocate at Georgia LEND, about the importance of autism awareness and acceptance. Kayla also shares her view of why the Autism CARES Act is so important for programs like LEND and ADDM.

4/29/2019

Ilaria Navarra Completes her Fulbright Scholarship at the Georgetown University UCEDD

Ilaria Navarra, the first recipient of the Fulbright-NIAF-Georgetown University Research Lectureship in Education, completed her 6 month scholarship and is returning to the University of Macerata in Macerata Italy to complete her doctoral studies. Navarra is a primary school teacher in Episcopia, Basilicata, Italy. She was awarded the Fulbright grant to study the implementation of the Montessori method in US based preschools and primary grade classrooms.

4/29/2019

One Boy's 'life-changing' Therapy at MMI (NE UCEDD/LEND)

Wyatt Fisher is in the mood to jump. The 6-year-old first-grader is wearing a safety harness with an extremely springy cord attached to the ceiling of the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Sensorimotor Learning Lab. Wyatt and his mom have come all the way from Ravenna, Neb. -- 152 miles west of Omaha -- for an intense episode of care from the physical therapists on staff at MMI.

4/29/2019

The Right to Communicate: From Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Kindred Stories of Disability to Capitol Hill

McKenzie Tuckson is 15 years old and lives in Nashville with her mother and father, Tamara and Josh. McKenzie is a sophomore in high school. She is a cheerleader and vice-president of her class. When McKenzie was in kindergarten, she was diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects girls almost exclusively. It is characterized by a slowing of development, loss of purposeful use of the hands, challenges with walking and talking, and intellectual disability.

4/25/2019

Early Reading Can Improve Communication Skills

Supporting early reading experiences can improve communication skills over time. Technology-based training from Texas A&M University provides reading skills to parents/community partners to increase language & communications skills of children with ASD.

4/25/2019

The Act Early Ambassador Provide Parents with Tools

Alicia Brewer Curran manages Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders ECHO Autism training program and is 1 of 54 NCBDDD's Act Early state/territory Ambassadors providing parents and providers with tools to identify and address developmental concerns.

4/23/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Chris Smith Explains the 'Sunset Provision' and Talks Advocacy

Congressman Chris Smith provides an overview of what a 'sunset provision' is and how it relates to the Autism CARES Act. He also shares with Liz why the advocacy she and other disability advocates do is so important in helping ensure disability issues and policy receive attention in the halls of Congress.

4/22/2019

Break for High School Students with Disabilities (MS UCEDD)

For one group of Hattiesburg-area high school students, Spring Break 2019 is not about the sand, the sun or the water - it's about preparing for the future. During the week of March 11-15, the Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) Program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) hosted an Alternative Spring Break on the Hattiesburg campus focused on preparing high school students with disabilities for employment.

4/22/2019

Disability and Democracy: Barriers in Arizona Elections (AZ UCEDD)

The Institute for Human Development (IHD) at Northern Arizona University has been awarded funding to conduct a year-long, statewide research project identifying barriers to voting for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Arizona from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC).

4/22/2019

Dr. Rackensperger's Impact - It's all about Attitude

In this video produced by Institute on Human Development & Disability / UGA, Dr. Rackensperger describes her passions and the impact she has had on her students and community members, with the assistance of augmentative and alternative communication devices.

4/22/2019

Explore Access with UA Partners' Social Media Accessibility Toolkit (Arkansas UCEDD)

University of Arkansas Partners for Inclusive Communities has a new resource to assist organizations in making social media outreach more accessible. The Social Media Accessibility Toolkit provides information about how to use built-in features on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instragram to create accessible posts and videos. Where features are not available to solve certain accessibility issues, the toolkit offers alternative solutions.

4/22/2019

Linking Nutrition and Disability (MN LEND)

What does food have to do with disability? Kalia Thor wanted to know. She is a Fellow in ICI's Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) Program, but she is also a second-year Master of Public Health nutrition student at the University of Minnesota, a Maternal and Child Health nutrition trainee, and a nutrition educator for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. "During undergrad [in nutritional science], I always wondered why nutrition choices were so limited for certain individuals with disabilities and why they tended to be so 'picky' at mealtime," she says.

4/22/2019

SC LEND Trainees Attend the Nurturing Developing Minds Conference

The members of the South Carolina LEND program recently attended a state conference in March 2019 focusing on research and initiatives that are driven to create supportive environments to help children and their families flourish. The Nurturing Developing Minds conference provided several opportunities to the LEND trainees, including attending reviews of recent research and policies on developmental surveillance and screening (with a particular emphasis on the Help Me Grow nationwide initiative) and on the long-term risks of spanking and promising interventions (i.e., the No Hit Zone)

4/18/2019

Autism Issue Briefs from Waisman Center UCEDD/LEND

Two publications describing evidence-based approaches to improving services for autism spectrum disorders are available online from the Waisman Center UCEDD/LEND programs as part of a series of Issue Briefs and Study Briefs.

4/17/2019

A Woman's Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) is pleased to invite you to attend our annual special event to recognize National Autism Awareness Month, A Woman's Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs.

4/17/2019

AIR-B Network Hosts Community Autism Conference in South Los Angeles

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network; PI: Connie Kasari), consisting of University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Davis, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, Drexel University, and each site�s community partners, provides a free conference at each region�s community every year. The purpose of these conferences, an integral part of the AIR-B Network�s research, is to raise autism awareness, disseminate research findings in the community, and to bring researchers, parents and community members together.

4/17/2019

AIR-P Network Activities - April 2019

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities.

4/17/2019

Caregiver Voices: Cross-Cultural Input on Improving Access to Autism Services

This study used qualitative methods to gather family and provider perspectives of perceived barriers and facilitators to obtaining an ASD diagnosis and accessing ASD-related services for underserved families. Themes from focus groups and interviews with families from three cultural groups (black, Hispanic/Latino, and Korean) and three primary languages (English, Korean, and Spanish) highlight specific barriers related to family, community, and systemic challenges as well as facilitators to accessing care for these populations.

4/17/2019

Early Identification of Developmental Concerns in Young Children

In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March, CDC's Act Early Ambassador to New Jersey, Deepa Srinivasavaradan's article entitled, "Early Identification of Developmental Concerns in Young Children," highlighting the importance of ongoing developmental monitoring and screening using "Learn the Signs. Act Early." materials, was published in the March edition of Exceptional Parents Magazine. It included tips for doctors/professionals and next steps for parents to follow if developmental concerns are noted in young children.

4/17/2019

Effects of Propranolol on Conversational Reciprocity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A pilot, double-blind, single dose psychopharmacological challenge study

Zamzow RM, Ferguson BJ, Stichter JP, Porges EC, Ragsdale AS, Lewis ML, Beversdorf DQ

Pharmacological intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an important addition to treatment, yet currently available agents target co-morbid psychiatric concerns, such as aggression and irritability. Propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist with anxiolytic effects, has been shown to improve verbal fluency and working memory in adults and adolescents with ASD in single-dose challenges.

4/17/2019

Family & Professional Resources & Developments for Rural and Underrepresented Communities within Northern California

Northern California is uniquely positioned to serve a diverse community of historically underrepresented children and families, as well as professionals within rural communities. As members within a majority minority state, we strive to continue learning about the complex intersection of disability, diversity, and inclusion as we actively develop culturally sensitive services and programs. We wish to highlight the strides that our staff members have taken in our diversity and inclusion efforts in several programs related to family support and service navigation, research and professional training specific to diverse and rural populations.

4/17/2019

From Research to Practice - Wisconsin LEND: Milwaukee Link trainees engage in data analysis to develop the Family-centered Autism Navigation (Family CAN) Interview

The Wisconsin LEND: Milwaukee Link program is a satellite program of the Madison-based LEND program that is offered at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As an extension of the Wisconsin LEND program, Milwaukee Link trainees have the opportunity to engage in leadership training focused on enhancement of service delivery for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities with ethnic and/or economic diversity. Research experiences are an integral part of a trainee's leadership development.

4/17/2019

Improving Initial Age of Diagnosis for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities: Asking Parents

Pang Chaxiong (MN LEND Fellow), Alefyah Shipchandler, (graduate research assistant), and Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande (researcher and MN LEND faculty), all with the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, will be presenting a poster-- Improving Initial Age of Diagnosis for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Communities: Asking the Parents-- at this year's INSAR meeting in Montreal, Canada in May.

4/17/2019

MCHB Minute - April 2019

This issue of the Developments newsletter provides an opportunity to highlight a host of exciting activities coming up this spring and summer supported through the Autism CARES Act. HRSA's Autism staff is looking forward to the ongoing exchange of ideas and information that these activities will stimulate, and to interacting with you in many of these venues.

4/17/2019

New Pediatric Sleep Education Modules - Developed by the Pediatric Pulmonary Centers

We are pleased to share a new resource, the Pediatric Sleep Education Modules, developed by the HRSA-funded Pediatric Pulmonary Centers. The modules are free, online, self-directed, training modules related to the care of pediatric sleep patients. CMEs are provided for completing the modules, which can be done individually or as a group.

4/17/2019

Report: Low-Income and Minority Youth with Autism Face Worse Outcomes than Peers

Youth with autism are growing up in a world where awareness of autism and expectations for full inclusion in society are increasing. Today, one in 59 children have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder and no two youth with ASD are alike, their service and support needs vary and continually change as they age.

4/17/2019

Sleep Problems in Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities: A Brief Report.

Sleep problems in children with autism and the association with child behavioral problems was studied in an ethnically diverse population, in a cross-sectional study with structured interview. Sample included 50 families of children with autism and 50 families of children with other developmental disabilities, matched by age/gender. Interview included Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Aberrant Behavior Checklist.

4/17/2019

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

This cohort continues to participate in monthly technical assistance calls which have supported the grantees as they explore solutions to addressing tele-health and -education needs. The rich and productive discussions around engaging diverse populations through expanding tele-health and -education have resulted in numerous technical assistance opportunities including Delaware, Washington, and Wisconsin attending and presenting the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center, Convergence Telehealth Summit in Williamsburg, Virginia on March 31st-April 2nd. Additionally, the Wisconsin team visited the University of Missouri, Thompson Center�s to learn more about how to implement the ECHO Autism model.

4/17/2019

Virginia Collaborative Developmental Disabilities Trainee Exchange

In September 2018, Va-LEND at Virginia Commonwealth University was awarded a grant to collaborate with the University of Virginia in a trainee exchange program. As part of this project, Va-LEND Trainees have had the opportunity to visit an array of clinics at the University of Virginia as part of their LEND clinical hours . To date a total of eight Va-LEND Trainees have visited twelve different clinics and the Va-LEND Training Co-Directors also observed a clinic at UVA. Additional visits by LEND trainees are scheduled in the coming months. The clinics visited by Va-LEND Trainees were: Down Syndrome, DBP Diagnostic Clinic, Pediatric Neuromuscular, the Autism Clinic, and the Neonatal Clinic. The trainees had a positive experience and benefitted from the opportunity to observe other clinics at a different University.

4/17/2019

When an Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Resolves, What Remains?

A chart review was performed of 38 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by 3 years of age at an inner-city developmental program who subsequently experienced resolution of ASD symptomatology and no longer met diagnostic criteria for ASD at follow-up an average of 4 years later. Demographic, developmental/cognitive data, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule data as available were reviewed from the initial diagnostic evaluation and at the time of follow-up.

4/16/2019

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Speech Services

For over 10 years, staff at UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute have provided training around augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) speech services to Omaha Public Schools, including participating in IEP planning teams!

4/16/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Congressman Chris Smith Discusses Autism CARES Act

Liz sits down with Congressman Chris Smith to discuss what the Autism CARES Act does, and why it is important that Congress re-authorize funding for CARES by September 2019.

4/15/2019

Communication Aids & Systems Clinic (CASC)

The Waisman Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison Communication Aids & Systems Clinic (CASC) provides highly specialized, cutting-edge augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for children and adults experiencing significant communication difficulties.

4/15/2019

Expanding Disability Access for Higher Education is Critical

Access to higher education is a critical gateway to productive employment, economic self-sufficiency, and community inclusion. AUCD believes that all students should have access to postsecondary education opportunities and is pleased to support the Expanding Disability Access for Higher Education Act, S.1176.

4/15/2019

Leadership Transitions at the UCEDD in Bronx NY

As of January 2019 Joanne Siegel, LCSW became Co-Director (previously Associate Director) and Karen Bonuck, PhD became Director (previously Co-Director) of the UCEDD, which is based in the Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC). Ms. Siegel, who is a Principal Associate (faculty) in the Department of Pediatrics at Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center moves to this new leadership role after 40+ years at RFK CERC.

4/15/2019

New Impact Issue Examines Inclusive K-8 Education (MN UCEDD)

Historically, students with the most significant cognitive disabilities were often taught only functional skills in our K-12 schools - how to do self-care, tell time, use money, carry out routine daily tasks. But several laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), have affirmed that students with disabilities have the right to access the grade-level curriculum. Today, we know how much more students can learn when provided with the opportunity, and growing numbers of families, educators, and students are advocating for higher expectations and a more inclusive educational experience.

4/15/2019

Rural Institute Offers Education and Support to Advocates (MT UCEDD)

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities aims to educate policy makers about how their decisions impact children and adults with disabilities. One way to do so is to provide leadership education and support to local advocates like Jackie Mohler of Family Outreach in Helena, Montana. Jackie recently represented Montana at the AUCD Leadership Academy.

4/15/2019

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researcher Shares Largest Neuroimaging Dataset on Math Development

Vanderbilt University neuroscientist and VKC Investigator James R. Booth is making available the largest known neuroimaging dataset on math development. His goal in doing so is to support the work of other researchers across the world who are working to understand how arithmetic skills develop in childhood.

4/12/2019

Now Archived: Winter Webinar Series from AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group

AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) presented its winter webinar series. The goal was to share new and innovative work from AUCD member programs from across the country in brief, accessible presentations tied together across a common topic, and to support conversation around each.

4/11/2019

The Communication Matrix

The Communication Matrix is a free online assessment tool created by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to help professionals and family members support students with complex communication needs in their journey toward greater self-expression. These resources are designed to improve both educational and communication outcomes.

4/10/2019

AUCD 2019 Gala: A Fantastic Night Celebrating Leadership in Civil Rights

The AUCD For All Gala: Celebrating Leadership in Civil Rights was a great success with close to 300 people joining AUCD and its network to highlight the importance of advancing civil rights and social justice for children and adults with disabilities. We are grateful to the evening's honorees for their dedication in championing the rights of everyone to realize a life of fulfillment and meaning. Photos from the event can be viewed and shared from our online photo album.

4/9/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Happy Autism Acceptance Month!

April is all about autism as it is Autism Acceptance Month! Liz talks about why we need to advocate for acceptance of autism and not only awareness, what autism is, and briefly covers the Autism CARES Act.

4/8/2019

Augmentative Communication & Empowerment Supports, or "ACES"

Developed in 1990 at the Institute on Disabilities at the Temple University Augmentative Communication & Empowerment Supports, or "ACES," is a program for young adults who use speech generating devices transitioning from school to work, to help develop and refine their communication.

4/5/2019

AUCD President, Sachin Pavithran, Discusses the Invisible Crime of Disability Hate

"Violence against people with disabilities is too often dismissed as people just being immature. Hate crimes that get attention are against more historically known groups, and hate crimes against people with disabilities are shoved under the carpet because it is seen as a crime of convenience, not hate."

4/5/2019

Call for Art Submission: Disability and Shame (HI UCEDD/LEND)

Genesis Leong University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Center on Disability Studies

The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal is issuing a Call for Art Submissions to be included in the special forum on the subject of shame and disability, broadly conceived. It is hoped that through critical discourse addressing the historical and current contexts, contributing factors, effects, and responses to shame, greater understanding of this phenomena will diminish discrimination and violence.

4/5/2019

Developmental Milestone Video Broadcast in Rural Health Clinics (NV UCEDD/LEND)

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities has partnered with the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Nevada LEND program and Good Health TV to share a developmental milestone video with parents and families.

4/5/2019

IHD's Disability Studies Minor: Changing Perceptions, Encouraging Advocacy (AZ UCEDD)

The Institute for Human Development's Disability Studies Minor challenges its students to rethink their attitudes toward people with disabilities. Its goal is to encourage students to realize that people with disabilities represent a minority group, one that has historically been marginalized, but that is, in fact, the single largest minority group in our increasingly diverse society.

4/5/2019

OHSU UCEDD Celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a Poster Gallery

Taking over the first floor wall space in the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, a building built in 1971 with some of the first UCEDD funding disbursed, the OHSU UCEDD hosted a Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month event showcasing its clinical, research and programmatic work. Selected posters were displayed for the final week of the month and the event was promoted across the university. A chance at winning prizes incentivized participants' trek across campus to check out over 20 posters and learn more about developmental disabilities and the work of different centers within the Institute on Development and Disability.

4/5/2019

PATHS Program Interviews 2019-2020 Applicants (TX UCEDD)

The process for selecting students for the PATHS 2019-2020 year just completed. With over 80 applications, applicants and their parents are then selected to complete an interview process. They met with the PATHS selection panel to learn more about the program expectations and answer any questions they may have regarding the program. Applicants are then interviewed without their parent to allow the panel to talk one-on-one with applicants and confirm the applicants commitment to the PATHS program and career tract they have selected.

4/5/2019

Study Finds that Psychiatric Emergency Room Visits Increased Among US Youth (MD IDDRC)

In a recent study published in Pediatrics, Luther Kalb, PhD, core faculty member of the IDDRC at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, examined trends in psychiatric emergency department (ED) visits from 2011 to 2015 among youth ages 6 to 24 in the U.S. Data for this study primarily came from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a national survey of ED visits across the US.

4/4/2019

Comunico Con Mi Equipo!

Research suggests that parents need on-going support, training, and information in their preferred language on the applications and uses of AAC at home.

4/3/2019

APHA Disability Section Call for 2019 Awards Nominations

Deadline: Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Do you have a colleague who has made an outstanding contribution to advance disability and health? Submit a nomination! Nominators do not need to be members of the APHA Disability Section. See the attached eligibility criteria for each award listed to determine the nominee's membership requirements associated with each particular award.

4/2/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Preparing to Meet with Congressional Staffers

Liz goes over things to keep in mind when meeting congressional staffers while Inky Brittany provides graphic recording.

4/1/2019

April 2019: Autism Acceptance Month

AUCD, our members, and partners have used this as an opportunity to share information relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders. The month has traditionally been framed as Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 as World or International Autism Awareness Day. In recent years you may have noticed that AUCD has shifted to include both "Awareness" and "Acceptance" in our April messaging. 2019 marks our full transition to April as Autism Acceptance Month.

3/28/2019

New Part D Policies Address Opioid Epidemic

The new Medicare Part D opioid policies encourage collaboration and care coordination among Medicare drug plans, pharmacies, prescribers, and patients, in order to improve opioid management, prevent opioid misuse, and promote safer prescribing practices. CMS continues to be committed to addressing the opioid crisis and helping our beneficiaries use prescription opioid pain medications more safely.

3/27/2019

AUCD Emerging Leaders Map 2019

"Centering People with Disabilities/Disabled People"

"Centering" means that PWD/DP are at the core of our work. It requires actively listening to and respecting people with disabilities/disabled people and their needs and wants within our communities. The Map highlights diverse trainees and early career leaders across AUCD's network. Each person was selected for inclusion on the map based on their contributions to the network, how they have demonstrated leadership, and their values and commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect for others.

3/26/2019

Statewide Transition Capacity Building and Coordination with Texas Workforce Commission and Local Educational Agencies (TX UCEDD)

Individuals with disabilities face challenges in their transition from school to adult life, especially in the transition from school to employment. Federal legislation requires local and state education agencies to work with the state vocational rehabilitation agency to facilitate a smooth transition from school to employment. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) have developed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help guide the two agencies for collaborations.

3/26/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Episode 200!

Liz celebrates the 200th episode of 'Tuesdays with Liz,' and chats with a few AUCD staff about what 'Tuesdays with Liz' means for them and for disability policy.

3/25/2019

Marcia Montague, Ph.D., Affiliated Faculty Speaks at Voices of Impact 2019 (TX UCEDD)

Stepping up to help first-generation students be successful Dr. Montague spoke about the first generation undergraduate students. At Texas A&M University approximately 25% of the undergraduate student population are first generation college students. The 6 year graduation rate of this group of students lags about 10% behind that. Research shows that frist generation students come from low income or working class families, doubt their ability to graduate in the timeline, doubt their ability to be able to afford their education. They are often less involved in High School and work off campus.

3/25/2019

Telecom Toolbox Can Help VR Counselors Support the Employment Goals of Rural Consumers (MT UCEDD/LEND)

Since the recession, employment rates for people with disabilities has not increased at the same rates as those for people without disabilities. In rural areas, these disparities are more pronounced: in most rural areas, employment rates for people with disabilities decreased significantly while rates for people without disabilities in those same areas increased.

3/25/2019

You're Invited to AUCD 2019!

Leading Change Together

The world is an ever-changing place of ideas, trends and economic and political forces, and our network is well-positioned to respond to these changes as they happen. Through our collective work, AUCD's member centers and programs can play a leadership role in innovating and evolving to meet the needs of our varied stakeholders. I hope that this conference will energize you, introduce you to new ideas, and serve to improve our practice.

3/24/2019

Preview the AUCD 2019 Conference Agenda

Every year we strive to improve the AUCD Conference. For 2019, we have a few agenda changes that we hope you'll enjoy, including adjusted times of the Change Sessions, staggering of select Council meetings, and a switch from three plenaries to two. View additional details and preview the agenda today!

3/20/2019

ARMS of Advocacy: Arkansas and Mississippi LEND

The Arkansas (AR) and Mississippi (MS) LEND program engenders a diverse, interdisciplinary culture of growth and learning in the disability field. Composed of trainees and faculty from 16 health care disciplines, we conduct quarterly solution-focused learning sessions with a local family who has a child with a disability. Trainees have the opportunity to interview each family two times and collaborate in inter-disciplinary teams to find solutions to challenges the family and child may be encountering. A third meeting with each family culminates in trainees presenting their findings.

3/20/2019

Einstein Adds Curriculum on Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NY UCEDD)

Thanks to funding from the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD), The Rose F Kennedy UCEDD at Albert Einstein College of Medicine is developing a special curriculum for medical students geared to treating adults with IDD. The grant, part of the AADMD's National Curriculum Initiative in Developmental Medicine (NCIDM), seeks to address educational gaps in medical schools in order to reduce health disparities for this population.

3/18/2019

University of Cincinnati UCEDD's Director Receives Advocacy Achievement Award

Ilka Riddle, PhD and Director of the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) was recently awarded the Advocacy Achievement Award from Cincinnati Children's Hospital at the 8th Annual Faculty Awards Ceremony at Cincinnati Children's.

3/12/2019

Dr. Eric Kurtz Appointed Executive Director of the Center for Disabilities (SD UCEDD/LEND)

Eric Kurtz, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as the Executive Director of the Center for Disabilities at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. Dr. Kurtz was selected following a nation-wide search. He has a strong record of leadership in various capacities, most recently as the Helmsley Charitable Trust's Interim Director for Rural Healthcare where he spearheaded initiatives and partnerships to improve access to quality healthcare across the Upper Midwest.

3/12/2019

SALT at Mailman Center: Empowering adults with disabilities to take the first steps towards self-advocacy (FL UCEDD/LEND)

"Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world". This quote by Howard Zinn has always resonated with me because it's rooted in the principle that even if we start small, efforts can domino effect into something much greater. I am proud to be an Audiology extern at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development because we believe in opportunities for ALL people, including those with disabilities.

3/12/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: It's Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

March is Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month. Liz goes over what that means and the types of discrimination a person with a developmental disability can face.

3/8/2019

2019-2021 Learn the Signs. Act Early. Ambassador Cohort Selected

The 2019-2021 Act Early Ambassador cohort has been recently selected and will begin their term at the annual Act Early Ambassador Training at CDC Headquarters in Atlanta on April 30th and May 1st, 2019. These Ambassadors will join Act Early Ambassadors representing the 12 states currently in the middle of their 2018-2021 term in their role as liaisons to the Act Early Initiative.

3/8/2019

AUCD's PFP-IDE Alumna Champions Inclusive Employment for Women in Tanzania

AUCD's Spring 2018 PFP-IDE Fellow Victoria Lihiru is championing inclusive employment for female students with disabilities in Tanzania. Learn about Victoria's PFP-IDE Fellowship and advocacy skills from the Vermont UCEDD that she's using to help African women with disabilities overcome gender and inclusion barriers on the PFP-IDE Fellowship blog!

3/7/2019

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities Partners to Offer Transition Programs for High School Students with Disabilities (MT UCEDD)

Montana high school students with disabilities now have two opportunities to explore and prepare for postsecondary education through the Movin' On in Montana Summer Program and Club.

3/6/2019

Cindy Thomas Appointed Interim Director of the Institute for Community Inclusion (MA UCEDD)

Cindy Thomas, M.S., C.R.C was recently appointed Interim Director of the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). ICI, based at Boston Children's Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Boston, recently celebrated 50 years of promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. Ms. Thomas has been an integral part of the ICI for over 30 years and has played a significant role in its growth. Most recently, she has served as the Associate Director, as well as continuing her long-term role as lead for the Employment Services and Capacity Building team.

3/5/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Autism CARES Act Reauthorization

Tune in as Liz goes over what the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act is and why it's so important that Congress reauthorize it.

3/4/2019

Advocacy is Making a Difference (SC UCEDD)

By Kelly Walling, BSW Senior

Think back to your education... did you ever have a class where you were able to learn about disabilities??? If so, that is incredible! If not, then you're like me. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate career, I have not had access to a disability-focused course. We had classes that included disabilities in their course and teaching, but never one that focused on what having a disability looks like, means, and what we, as social workers, can do to best serve clients.

3/4/2019

Advocacy is Making a Difference (SC UCEDD)

By Kelly Walling, BSW Senior

Think back to your education... did you ever have a class where you were able to learn about disabilities??? If so, that is incredible! If not, then you're like me. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate career, I have not had access to a disability-focused course. We had classes that included disabilities in their course and teaching, but never one that focused on what having a disability looks like, means, and what we, as social workers, can do to best serve clients.

3/4/2019

Advocacy is Making a Difference (SC UCEDD)

By Kelly Walling, BSW Senior

Think back to your education... did you ever have a class where you were able to learn about disabilities??? If so, that is incredible! If not, then you're like me. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate career, I have not had access to a disability-focused course. We had classes that included disabilities in their course and teaching, but never one that focused on what having a disability looks like, means, and what we, as social workers, can do to best serve clients.

3/4/2019

Beyond the Walls: How Fellows at Boston Children's Go Beyond the Classroom (MA LEND)

By: Sean Fishkind, Boston Children's LEND Fellow and student at Boston College Law School

The interdisciplinary nature of the LEND program gives a unique flavor to each and every week, giving a variety of perspectives to each issue discussed. At Boston Children's LEND program, the interdisciplinary nature is extended beyond the the walls fellows meet in each week. Whether meeting with state leaders for Title V programs, working with Community Based Organizations ("CBOs"), or researching pressing issues in developmental disabilities, fellows are constantly pushing their boundaries. By putting an emphasis on work outside of the "classroom", fellows have expanded their knowledge in a truly interdisciplinary fashion.

3/4/2019

Helping Babies Beyond Their First Year: A Day of Learning (WI LEND)

In Milwaukee, WI, 100 infants die before reaching their first birthday. Infant mortality disproportionately affects more Black infants than White infants in Milwaukee due to a variety of social, medical, and other complex factors. The Strong Baby Sanctuary is a network of faith-based organizations that are addressing this multifaceted issue by engaging the community in education, healthcare, and wellness.

2/26/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Shelly Christensen Talks Inclusion in the Jewish Community

In recognition of Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month, Liz chats with Shelly Christensen about her new book, 'From Longing to Belonging: A Practical Guide to Including People with Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions in Your Faith Community', the intersection of Jewish and disability identities, and the importance of belonging and inclusion.

2/25/2019

Jenness Roth Promoted to Associate Director at the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities (TN UCEDD)

Jenness Roth has been promoted to the position of Associate Director at the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Jenness brings over 20 years of experience to the position, including several years of management experience as the executive director of a statewide non-profit that serves people with developmental disabilities and their families.

2/25/2019

New Early Intervention Training Program (Georgetown UCEDD)

The Georgetown UCEDD has added a new partnership and program to their interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and training activities called GEORGE (Graduate Education of Related Service Providers at Georgetown and George Washington Universities in Early Intervention). With support from a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Toby Long along with faculty from the GUCEDD, George Washington and Catholic Universities, has incorporated interdisciplinary pre-service program students into our existing Georgetown University Graduate Certificate in Early Intervention (GUCEI) Program.

2/25/2019

OHSU UCEDD Hosts Transition Town Hall

The UCEDD at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Institute on Development and Disability hosted a community town hall to highlight transition resources available for families, professionals, and providers. This event was in partnership with Autism Speaks and Autism Society of Oregon, and included sponsorship from the Tiffany Foundation.

2/25/2019

VKC (TN IDDRC/UCEDD/LEND)'s Verity Rodrigue Rodrigues to serve on National Mental Health Advisory Board

Verity Rodrigues, M.S., Ph.D., educational consultant and instructor in Pediatrics at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC/UCEDD/LEND) reatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD), has been selected to participate on the advisory board for the National Training Center on Mental Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (MHIDD).

2/21/2019

ITAC Bulletin Board - February 2019

As we begin a new calendar year, we realize the importance of delivering information and resources that may be timely to MCH training programs as you prepare for the current academic year and beyond. It is our hope that you find the resources contained in this newsletter useful in supporting the work of your faculty and trainees.

2/19/2019

Rural Insitute for Inclusive Communities Awarded Prize to Develop Healthcare Communication Tool (MT UCEDD)

Dr. Martin Blair, Executive Director of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, and team of pediatricians and community partners received one of the seven prizes for Phase 1 of the U. S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs Challenge.

2/19/2019

The Center for Leadership in Disability Co-Hosts 11th Annual Georgia Positive Behavior Support Conference (GA UCEDD)

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD), housed within the School of Public Health at Georgia State University (GSU), co-hosted the 11th-annual Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support (GAPBS) conference on December 5-6, 2018 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The 2018 GAPBS conference had over 1,500 attendees, representing over 103 Georgia school districts. GAPBS is a network state under the national Association for Positive Behavior Support (www.apbs.org). According to the Association for Positive Behavior Support, positive behavior support is defined as "a set of research-based strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease problem behavior by teaching new skills and making changes in a person's environment."

2/19/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Culture and Diversity with Tawara Goode

Liz chats with Tawara Goode, director of the Georgetown UCEDD, about what culture and diversity mean, how culture influences perceptions and beliefs about disability, and cultural considerations in healthcare.

2/12/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Couples with Disabilities and the Marriage Penalty

Liz chats with Teresa Moore and John Britton, a couple who have been together for eighteen years and both have disabilities, about the risks that getting married carry for people with disabilities.

2/11/2019

AK, KY & UT UCEDDs Collaborate on ACL Mental Health Grant

A collaboration between the Alaska, Kentucky, and Utah UCEDDs will offer training opportunities for self-advocates, family members, direct service providers, and mental health and healthcare professionals to provide quality mental health services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The 3-year, $2.1 million project is being funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

2/11/2019

Institute on Disability Receives Challenge Grant for an Inclusive College Program (NH UCEDD/LEND)

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the John Vance ACCESS Fund, a donor-advised fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, to support the implementation of the UNH-4U program, a new initiative providing an inclusive college experience to students with intellectual disabilities. The IOD is currently seeking an additional $150,000 in matching contributions necessary to begin the admissions process for students.

2/11/2019

New Brief About the Status and Outcomes of People with IDD in Integrated Employment (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The Institute for Community�s ThinkWork project partnered with National Core Indicators to create a brief looking at the status and outcomes of people with IDD in integrated employment.

2/11/2019

New Business Engagement Compendium, Online Courses, and More! (MA UCEDD/LEND)

ICI senior policy staff and University of Washington partners continue to offer technical assistance (TA) on Business Engagement and Labor Market Information through the Workforce Innovation TA Center (WINTAC). New online learning resources have been added to ExploreVR's Business Engagement Toolkit to provide Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) practitioners access to more resources that help promote the understanding of business engagement concepts, assess the knowledge of business relations staff, and provide an overview of VR agency models across the country.

2/8/2019

Learning from each other: The Iowa LEND and Puerto Rico UCEDD collaboration

Best practice in the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities includes using applied behavior analysis (ABA), specifically implementing functional behavioral assessments and function-based treatments.

2/5/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Advocate Everywhere featuring Graphic Facilitation by Inky Brittany

You don't have to be in D.C. to advocate! As Liz explains how you can advocate from wherever you are, Inky Brittany provides graphic facilitation of Liz's advocating tips.

2/4/2019

IU Research Study Concludes that Inclusive Classroom Placements Result in Higher Academic Outcomes for Students with Disabilities (IN UCEDD)

The study, conducted by the Center on Education and Lifelong Learning at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, followed a cohort of Indiana students with disabilities, from third through eighth grade, to assess the relationship between special education placement in high, mixed, and low inclusive classrooms and academic success. By comparing the outcomes of students included in general education classrooms with similar students in separate special education classrooms, the study was able to determine the impact of inclusion upon student state assessments.

2/4/2019

Laura Bozeman Receives 2018 Father Carroll Award

The School for Global Inclusion and Social Development's Dr. Laura Bozeman was named the 2018 Father Carroll Award recipient at the Northeast Regional Association and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired regional conference.

2/4/2019

Longtime Director of VKC (TN IDDRC/UCEDD/LEND) Communications Retires; Taylor Named as Successor

Author: Courtney Taylor

an Rosemergy, Ph.D., deputy director and director of Communications and Dissemination at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC/UCEDD/LEND), has announced her retirement from a position she has held since 1979. For more than 39 years, Rosemergy has diligently directed the dissemination of knowledge about intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Vanderbilt University (VU) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) campuses to diverse local, state, and national audiences. Her retirement is effective January 2019.

2/4/2019

MCDD Presentation for Project SEARCH Interns (MD UCEDD)

Maureen van Stone, the Director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute, delivered a presentation about the importance of advocacy to Kennedy Krieger's Project SEARCH interns and staff (pictured).

2/4/2019

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS) Event at the Newport Aquarium (OH UCEDD)

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS) Event at the Newport Aquarium On the last weekend in January, the UCCEDD at Cincinnati Children�s hosted an RTS booklet release party at the Newport Aquarium, drawing over 100 guests from as far as Michigan, Illinois and Tennessee as well as regional guests from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio! The booklet, �Understanding Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome: A Guide for Families and Professionals� was developed to help family members of children with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome better explain their child�s condition to healthcare providers, teachers and family members. The booklet and event could not have happened with the generous support of the Dr. Jack Rubinstein Foundation at Cincinnati Children�s.

1/29/2019

AUCD Annual Report 2018

AUCD is pleased to present our annual report for FY 2018. Learn about the individuals and initiatives that make AUCD such a force for people with disabilities and their families around the world.

1/29/2019

Public Health Surveillance of Prenatal Opioid Exposure in Mothers and Infants

The US opioid crisis is the public health emergency of our time and requires urgent public health action to monitor and protect the most vulnerable Americans. We have witnessed a startling death toll in 2017 with 70 237 drug overdose deaths in the United States, of which two-thirds involved opioids. The devastating consequences of this epidemic for mothers and infants have received less attention. Increases in opioid use and misuse in pregnancy have paralleled the increases in the general population; at delivery hospitalization, there were 4 times as many women with an opioid use disorder in 2014 compared with 1999. One of the most immediate and visible impacts of the opioid crisis on infants is the drug withdrawal in the newborn period, termed neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). On the basis of 2014 data, 1 newborn was diagnosed with NAS every 15 minutes in the United States, totaling about 32 000 infants annually with associated hospital costs estimated at $563 million.

1/29/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Susanna Miller-Raines and all about TPSIDs

Susanna Miller-Raines sits down with Liz to talk about Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSIDs). Susanna gives an overview of what TPSIDs are, how you can find out what TPSID programs are available in your state, and some key acronyms in inclusive higher education.

1/28/2019

Inclusion Today, Community Living for Life (Georgetown UCEDD)

HHS leaders had an opportunity to see this inclusive model in action and learn about the innovative partnership between the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and Easterseals DC MD VA that makes it possible. HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families Lynn Johnson and ACL Administrator Lance Robertson visited several classrooms and met with staff and parents at the center to hear about how the program works and the difference it has made for families.

1/22/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability, Human, and Civil Rights with Vanita Gupta

This week, Liz talks with Vanita Gupta, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, who explains what civil and human rights are, and some of the priorities for The Leadership Conference in 2019, many of which include advocating for the disability community.

1/21/2019

Iowa University Center for Excellence in Disabilities in Singapore (IA UCEDD)

Brenda Bassingthwaite, PhD, BCBA, Program Manager for Education at Iowa's UCEDD and David Wacker, PhD, Emeritus Faculty in Pediatrics at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, presented their work training Iowa school-based behavior teams in functional behavior assessment and behavior assessment and interventions in homes in-person and via telehealth at the --- conference at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. Currently, there is not an applied behavior analysis (ABA) program in Singapore; thus, there is limited application of ABA.

1/21/2019

United Nations Flagship Report on Disability and Development 2018 (NH UCEDD)

Disability and poverty research led by Dr. Debra L. Brucker was cited multiple times in the recently released United Nations Flagship Report on Disability and Development 2018. The research highlighted the high rates of poverty experienced by working-age individuals with disabilities in the U.S., comparing poverty rates calculated using four different measures of poverty and deprivation.

1/15/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Remembering History and Early Disability Advocates

Tune in as Liz sits down with Deborah Spitalnik to talk about how the history of disability advocacy has shaped the disability rights movement today and some of the major leaders who spearheaded the movement.

1/14/2019

UM Law Students Research Disability Access at Vacation Rentals (MT UCEDD)

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, protects people with disabilities against discrimination in employment settings, state and local government services, and public-serving businesses. As vacation rental properties such as Airbnb and VRBO grow in demand and straddle the line between private residences and public business, how or if ADA applies was - until recently - somewhat unclear. Law students at the University of Montana set out to provide some answers to this and other ADA questions.

1/10/2019

Aetna Medicaid Announces New Innovative Approach for Members With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MO UCEDD)

Aetna Medicaid, a CVS health business (NYSE: CVS), has announced an outcomes-based model for members with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). The new model, which will launch on January 1, 2019 in Kansas, will be partially based on the Charting the LifeCourse framework developed by the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Institute for Human Development, Missouri's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Services.

1/8/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Welcome to the 116th United States Congress!

With the 116th Congress in session as of January 3, 2019, Liz wants YOU to know there is no reason to be scared of contacting your Congressperson! Here, she reminds you to feel comfortable about sharing your story and advocating yourself, and how you can contact your Congressperson.

1/7/2019

LEND Regional Consortia Activities

LEND Regional Consortia are a forum for smaller groups of neighboring programs to share ideas around topics such as recruitment, curriculum, evaluation, research, and clinical/community services. This resource summarizes previous and proposed LEND collaborative activities at the regional level.

1/4/2019

Kelly Nye-Lengerman Delivers Keynote at UMaine World Usability Day (ME UCEDD)

Kelly Nye-Lengerman, Ph.D., a research associate at the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD), recently delivered the keynote address for "Equity, Access and Inclusion: A World Usability Day Event" at the University of Maine. Her keynote was sponsored by the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD). "We had an opportunity to forge a strong collaboration with UMaine's Office of Student Accessibility Services on their conference," said UCEDD director, Alan Cobo-Lewis. Under the leadership of director Sara Henry, the office serves nearly 800 students with documented disabilities at UMaine.

1/4/2019

New Encyclopedia Announcement: "Disability in American Life: An Encyclopedia of Concepts, Policies, and Controversies." (IL UCEDD/LEND)

This encyclopedia is edited by Illinois UCEDD faculty Tamar Heller, Sarah Parker Harris, Carol Gill, and Rob Gould. This exciting new publication includes entries by faculty and trainees throughout the network as well as other noted scholars in disabilities across many disciplines. The forward to the encyclopedia was written by AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato. Once primarily thought of as a medical issue, disability is now more widely recognized as a critical issue of identity, personhood, and social justice.

1/4/2019

Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment

AUCD is excited to announce that the host application for the International Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE) is now open. PFP-IDE is a new U.S. Department of State professional exchange program that will enable 20 emerging leaders in inclusive employment from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to participate in a five-week Fellowship in the U.S. where they will learn about disability rights and inclusive employment.

1/2/2019

Fact Sheets Created From Disabled Parenting Project (OH UCEDD/LEND)

These fact sheets were created as part of our Cincinnati LEND Seminars in Evidence-Based Medicine project. A team of LEND trainees and faculty members conducted research on best practices while also consulting with stakeholders, including women with disabilities who have experienced pregnancy and prenatal care as well as medical providers.

1/2/2019

Working to Improve the Patient Experience (AL LEND)

Each year, LEND Trainees at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics in Birmingham, Alabama develop a project that will aid in improving the experience of our patients. As an interdisciplinary clinic, families who come into the Civitan-Sparks Clinics see a wide variety of professionals, including Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition, Pediatrics, Audiology, Psychology, and Dental. As such, many parents are unsure of what to expect from a visit with each of these disciplines, particularly when they are new to our clinic. Additionally, while the range of areas of concerns that families come in with is broad, visits to each of our disciplines are largely the same clinic to clinic.

12/21/2018

Georgia LEND hosts David Satcher Lecture on Leadership on the Elimination of Health Disparities

Georgia State University's (GSU) Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (GaLEND) Program - housed within the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) - has had a partnership with the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine extending back to 2010. GaLEND recruits a fellow who participates in the Health Leadership Policy Fellowship at Morehouse School of Medicine and GaLEND at GSU concurrently. In 2015, GaLEND and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute created a partnership with Emory's Center for Excellence in Maternal Child Health (MCH). These three institutions offer the MCH Leadership Collaborative each Fall semester which draws students and faculty from across the three institutions to prepare for leadership in a rapidly changing world.

12/21/2018

Maureen Van Stone, Esq., MS, Named as Kennedy Krieger Institute's Director for the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MD UCEDD)

Maureen Van Stone, Esq., MS, Named as Kennedy Krieger Institute's Director for the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) effective December 17, 2018. Maureen earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Southern California, a master's degree in developmental psychology at The Johns Hopkins University, and a Juris Doctor at Whittier Law School, with a concentration on children's legal issues. She holds an adjunct faculty position at Towson University.

12/21/2018

Michigan Development Disabilities Institute (UCEDD-MI) Awarded Nearly $1 Million Grant from Michigan Health Endowment Fund

Awards will support older adult caregiver programs

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund has awarded nearly $1 million to two Wayne State University programs that protect and enhance the well-being of our area's older adults and caregivers. The Health Fund granted $413,903 to Dr. Peter Lichtenberg's program, SAFE: Caregiver Empowerment, and $500,000 to the Michigan Development Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) for its program, Michigan Older Caregivers of Emerging Adults with Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (MI-OCEAN) Family Support Project.

12/21/2018

New Toolkit from the Council on Quality and Leadership: Building the Framework for IDD Quality Measures

The report 'Building The Framework For IDD Quality Measurement' provides a roadmap for the key measures which would support people with IDD to receive high quality services and supports. It serves as one of many steps towards quality value-based services for people with IDD.

12/21/2018

Organization for Autism Research: Request for Applications

Since 2002, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) has spent more than $3.7 million in support of autism research. OAR invites researchers to submit pre-proposals to the 2019 Applied Research Competition. Applications are due Monday, March 25, 2019.

12/21/2018

Organization for Autism Research: Request for Applications

Since 2002, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) has spent more than $3.7 million in support of autism research. OAR invites researchers to submit pre-proposals to the 2019 Applied Research Competition. Applications are due Monday, March 25, 2019.

12/21/2018

Organization for Autism Research: Request for Applications

Since 2002, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) has spent more than $3.7 million in support of autism research. OAR invites researchers to submit pre-proposals to the 2019 Applied Research Competition. Applications are due Monday, March 25, 2019.

12/21/2018

Remembering Betty Williams (IN LEND)

Betty Williams, long time leader in the self-advocate community and The Arc of Indiana's Self-Advocacy Training Coordinator, passed away peacefully this afternoon surrounded by family and close friends. A fighter to the end, Betty left us on her own terms, in her own way and at her own time. For so many of us, we can't imagine a world without her but think for a moment what the world would be like if we had not had her. She championed so many issues. She fought so many causes. She changed so many minds, and, most importantly, she empowered so many people.

12/21/2018

The Center for Diversity in Public Health Leadership Training at Kennedy Krieger 2019 Center Activities (MD UCEDD/LEND)

The Center for Diversity in Public Health Leadership Training at Kennedy Krieger Institute provides innovative and real-world experiential learning for diverse undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate school scholars interested in maternal and child, public health, and eliminating health disparities.

12/18/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Fav Five of 2018

Happy Holidays from Liz and AUCD! Join us as Liz shares her favorite five Tuesdays with Liz of 2018.

12/17/2018

Dan Habib Presents INTELLIGENT LIVES in a Washington, D.C. Congressional Briefing on Transitioning from School to Competitive Integrated Employment (NH UCEDD/LEND)

On Wednesday, September 26, 2018, Dan Habib shared a clip from INTELLIGENT LIVES, his newest film, at the congressional briefing, "Successes of Youth with Disabilities Transitioning From School to Competitive Integrated Employment" in Washington, DC. The briefing was presented by Coalition to Promote Self-Determination and the National Council on Disability, in collaboration with Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA).

12/17/2018

Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities Partners with RI State Police to Offer Disability Awareness Training to Troopers (RI UCEDD)

Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College, in partnership with the RI State Police, is piloting a disability awareness training tailored to meet the needs of RI State Police Troopers. The intent of the training is to expand Trooper disability awareness and enhance their engagement with Rhode Islanders with disabilities.

12/17/2018

Residential Information System Project 2016 report (MN UCEDD/LEND)

The Residential Information Systems Project released the fiscal year 2016 report online along with over twenty interactive charts. The project is working on the analysis of 2017 data. It was also funded for another five years. RISP has data about the residential options of people with IDD who receive supports and services from their state since 1977.

12/17/2018

Time for Gratefulness and Celebration at the UA Sonoran UCEDD

On Nov. 8, we had a wonderful time celebrating the accomplishments of University of Arizona Sonoran UCEDD's founding director, Leslie J. Cohen, and welcoming the center's new director, Wendy Parent-Johnson! Members of our community, partner agencies, advocates, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate. Leslie was honored with gifts from the UA Department of Family and Community Medicine's Administration as well as from the Sonoran UCEDD staff and faculty. Some of her parting gifts included art from the UCEDD's program, Artworks.

12/17/2018

UNH (NH UCEDD/LEND) Receives $4.3M Federal Grant to Improve National Disability Data

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire has been awarded a five-year, $4.3 million grant from the U.S. Administration on Community Living's National Institute for Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

12/13/2018

MCHB Minute - December 2018

As we near the end of 2018, we want to thank our Autism CARES programs for all that you do to improve the care and outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DDs). Our collective efforts are increasing access to early and appropriate developmental screening, diagnostic, and intervention services, improving the effectiveness of support services available to youth making the transition to adulthood and enhancing care coordination and service delivery for children and adolescents with ASD and other DDs.

12/12/2018

Doctoral Student, Ching-Yi Liao (TX UCEDD), Selected for the 11th Cohort of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Research Doctoral Student Scholars (DRDSS)

Ching-Yi Liao is a doctoral student in Special Education at Texas A&M University and the Project Coordinator for Coach 2 Communicate (C2C), a parent-directed treatment project to teach parents and caregivers with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs across Texas. The C2C project is under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Ganz, an affiliated faculty member with the Center on Disability and Development. Ching-Yi was selected as an outstanding scholar through an internationally competitive review process. Dr. Jennifer Ganz nominated Ching-Yi as well as the department chair and college dean. The DRDSS inquiry question for the program is "What makes for excellence in special education research?"

12/12/2018

ICI Hosts Japanese Delegation for Training in Boston (MA UCEDD/LEND)

In late October, the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) hosted a delegation of disability and career services professionals from 3 Japanese universities: Kyoto University, Wakayama University, and Tsukuba University. The Japanese professionals came to Boston for training on how to serve students with disabilities in higher education, with a focus on career and employment.

12/12/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Associate Director Honored with NIH Merit Award

Laurie Cutting, Ph.D., Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Special Education; Professor of Psychology, Radiology, and Pediatrics; and Associate Director, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC), has received a rare $3 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) Merit Award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). She also has been selected to receive the Leadership Award of Women in Cognitive Science.

12/11/2018

AUCD Opposes USCIC-2010-0012: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds

The Association of University Center on Disabilities (AUCD) writes to express our strong opposition to the above-captioned proposed rule. AUCD is a national organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. AUCD's mission is to advance policies and practices that improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being of all people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and their communities by supporting our members in research, education, health, and service activities that achieve our vision.

12/11/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Dan Crimmins Wants YOU to Apply to the AUCD Leadership Academy

Daniel Crimmins, Director of the Georgia UCEDD and LEND Program, chats with Liz about the AUCD Leadership Academy. They discuss what makes a leader, what to expect at the AUCD Leadership Academy, and who should apply (hint: you!)

12/10/2018

Grant Awarded for Data Collection and Research Pertaining to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MA UCEDD/LEND)

ICI's ThinkWork project received a continuation of its data grant, Access to Integrated Employment: National Data Collection on Day and Employment Services for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. The grant totals $400,000 per year for a period of five years starting on September 1, 2018. This is the latest renewal of a long-running grant that has been housed at the ICI since the 1980s.

12/10/2018

Meg Grigal Receives Research Award (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Meg Grigal received the Patricia L. Sitlington Research in Transition Award from the Division on Career Development & Transition. This award is presented to someone each year whose research and professional activity contributes to increased positive outcomes for transition-age youth with disabilities and to the field of transition through a body of research in transition.

12/10/2018

New Vision Study Award Named for ICI Staffer (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The Northeast Chapter of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NE/AER) has established a new award in honor of SGISD's Robert McCulley and his 38 years in the field! The Robert McCulley Rising Star Award will be given to an individual who demonstrates the potential for exceptional leadership and a lasting contribution to the field of visual impairment. The recipient will be a recent graduate with up to five years of professional service in the field of visual impairment education or rehabilitation.

12/10/2018

News from the National Center on Disability in Public Health

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is pleased to announce the new National Center on Disability in Public Health. The new National Center uses evidence-based strategies to develop and increase the ability of public health professionals to include people who have disabilities. This National Center encourages collaboration between public health partners and AUCD's Network Centers in every state and territory. Key areas of health disparity serve as the National Center's focus areas and include: Access to Healthcare, Developmental Monitoring and Screening, Emergency Preparedness, Nutrition and Healthy Weight, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Wellness and Mental Health.

12/10/2018

Seeking Safety Based Collateral Groups for Caregivers of Adolescents and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Diagnoses (CA UCEDD)

Authors: Lina Rodas, Bridgid Mario Conn, Caitlin S. Sayegh, Sari Glassgold, and Sara Sherer

This is the second installation in a three-part series describing the structure, format, and development of social skills groups and parent collateral groups for individuals ages 13-21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), as well as the vital necessity of advocacy and community partnerships in working with our clients and their families.

12/10/2018

SELN Welcomes New State (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) welcomed Utah as the newest state in its employment network. The SELN is a membership-based network of state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) agencies committed to making changes in their service systems and improving competitive integrated employment outcomes.

12/7/2018

Assistive Technology Makers' Fair Brings Makers Across the Country Together in Concord, NH

On Saturday, September 29, 2018, individuals devoted to creating solutions for individuals who experience disabilities participated in the first national Assistive Technology (AT) Makers' Fair: Making AT for All Conference & Expo in Concord, NH.

12/7/2018

AUCD'S UCEDD Resource Center Announces Awardee for Training Initiative Addressing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome for the National Network of UCEDDs

The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) sought a lead UCEDD to build the capacity of the national network of UCEDDs to address the impact of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) through collaborative implementation of best and promising practices across federally-funded networks to support child, caregiver, and family outcomes in the local communities. Federally-funded networks include those funded by AIDD, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

12/7/2018

HRSA's MCHB Announces Phase 1 Winners of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge!

HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has selected 10 winners from Phase 1 of the Using Technology to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Low-Income Families and Communities Challenge. Henry Ford Health System's submission, "5-2-1-0 Go App!" is a collaboration with Michigan's LEND program and the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) at Wayne State University. The project proposes to enhance an app targeting kids ages 9-13 with four mini games based on 5-2-1-0. The overall aim of the app is to promote healthy food choices, identify community food resources, and provide exercise activities - which will be made adaptable for children with disabilities.

12/6/2018

CDD (TX UCEDD) Welcomes Vanessa Richard and Joana Idakwo

Vanessa Richard comes to Center on Disability and Development from Texas Workforce Commission/Vocational Rehabilitation Services where she was a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Vanessa and her family transitioned from Georgia to Texas in 2013 where she served in the capacity of Rehabilitation Unit Manager with Georgia Rehabilitation Agency. Her extensive background in vocational rehabilitation provided her the opportunity to develop and coordinate services for individuals with disabilities on the community level. Additionally, she also has experience at the higher educational level where she worked as an accommodation counselor with Sam Houston State University Services for Students with Disabilities developing classroom accommodation plans. Vanessa is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) with a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from University of Kentucky, and a Master's degree in Human Resource Management from Troy University. Joana Idakwo comes to the Center on Disability and Development from the Houston Independent School District, where she worked as a Transition Coach for the District. Her expertise lies in secondary special education. Joana also runs a non-profit organization Mind-Investors (currently registered in both Nigeria her country of birth and the United States of America) founded in 2012 dedicated to inspiring enthusiastic and dynamic learning as a means of nurturing a lifelong love of knowledge in the minds of Nigerian children.

12/6/2018

Longtime Va-LEND Faculty Member Moving On

Va-LEND's (Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) tagline states, "Celebrating Over 23 years of Training the Next Generation of Maternal and Child Health Leaders." However, Va-LEND is also celebrating 23 years of unwavering leadership of Laura Duncan, MPH, RD, CRC. A faculty member since 1995, this pillar of Va-LEND is leaving the program. Duncan, whose area is in nutrition, specializing in the field of inborn errors of metabolism was asked to be part of Va-LEND in the very beginning of the program.

12/6/2018

Munroe-Meyer Institute (NE UCEDD/LEND) Nets $1.2 million Department of Education Grant

Mark Shriver, Ph.D., professor of psychology and pediatrics at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, will be the project director on a new $1.2 million Department of Education grant from the Office of Special Education Programs. The five-year grant, which runs through a development year and four years of implementation, will train graduate students to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams to address significant behavior problems in schools.

12/5/2018

Child Neurology Society Honors Kennedy Krieger Institute Pediatrician for Excellence in Physician Training (MD LEND)

At its recent annual meeting in Chicago, the Child Neurology Society presented Bruce K. Shapiro, MD, vice president, training at Kennedy Krieger Institute, with the Blue Bird Circle Training Director Award. Launched in 2013, the Blue Bird Circle Training Director Award is presented to a current or former child neurology residency program director who has demonstrated leadership and vision in program development, curriculum development, innovation in teaching methods or training requirements and who inspires trainees and colleagues alike in the practice of child neurology.

12/5/2018

IDHD Student Visits Wolfensberger Archives (UCEDD IL)

In the summer of 2018, the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the UCEDD for Illinois, sent PhD student Drew Egli to visit the Wolfensberger Archives in Omaha, Nebraska. Wolf Wolfensberger is a prominent name in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, he is probably best known for his advocacy and research that contributed to the deinstitutionalization movement and to a paradigm shift towards community inclusion that brought a sea change in thinking about people with disabilities.

12/5/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Member Receives $2.3 Million NIH Director's New Innovator Award

Reyna Gordon, Ph.D., assistant professor of Otolaryngology and a Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) member, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's New Innovator Award of $2.3 million in total costs for her project, "Biomarkers of Rhythmic Communication: Integrating Foundational and Translational Approaches."

12/4/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: 'Inky Brittany' Talks Graphic Recording

'Looking at pictures can create feelings and explain things in a way that sometimes words fail to do.' Listen in as Liz sits down with Brittany Curry, aka "Inky Brittany," a graphic recorder and graphic facilitator. Brittany shares with Liz the multitude of ways graphic recording can be beneficial to all people, including those with a variety of disabilities.

12/4/2018

Would you like to be a CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Ambassador? The RFA is Available Now

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), announce a funding opportunity for Act Early Ambassadors to work with CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." RFA for CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." 2019-2020 Ambassador Program.

12/3/2018

2019 EHDI Meeting Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

Application deadline: January 22, 2019.

AUCD has made available seven (7) scholarships of up to $500 each to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Meeting on March 3-5, 2019 in Chicago, IL. All current LEND audiology trainees, including those in their externship year, are eligible to apply. However, priority will be given to trainees from programs that do not currently receive supplemental funding and trainees that have not attended the EHDI Meeting in previous years. Application deadline: January 20, 2019.

11/28/2018

AUCD 2018 Thank You!

It was truly wonderful to see all of you who came to Washington, DC, for the 2018 AUCD Conference! The AUCD Family was stronger than ever as we explored inclusion and belonging while forging new and stronger relationships with one another. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your passion, expertise, and enthusiasm in the important work you do every day.

11/28/2018

Texas Technology Access Program Director Position (TX UCEDD)

The Texas Technology Access Program is seeking applicants for the Director position. The Director of Texas Technology Access Project (TTAP) is responsible for development, implementation, and reporting of program activities mandated by the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 for the state of Texas. This federal program is statewide, comprehensive, and consumer responsive to Texans with disabilities for their access to and acquisition of assistive technology.

11/28/2018

Watch AUCD 2018 Plenaries

AUCD is pleased to provide video of our conference plenary sessions, "From Concept to Reality - Inclusion for All" and "Achieving Inclusive Communities - Working with our Federal Partners."

11/27/2018

AUCD Welcomes E. Troy Washington as Senior Director of Finance and Grants Administration

E. Troy Washington is the Senior Director of Finance and Grants Administration at AUCD. Troy has over thirty years of accounting and grants experience. He has vast accounting experience leading financial operations for several organizations. His accounting experience includes financial statements and reporting, cash management, financial analysis, month and year-end closings, and audit preparation and analysis. He also has extensive expertise in federal grants oversight, compliance, policies and procedures.

11/27/2018

Photos from AUCD 2018

The AUCD 2018 Conference was full of amazing moments to share. View our photo collection on Flickr and download your favorites.

11/27/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: 2018 Midterm Election Results and What's Next

Catch up on the 2018 midterm election results with Liz as she shares this election's major milestones and how YOU can continue to advocate during the lame duck period.

11/26/2018

New Online Course for Creating Accessible Web Documents from The Center for Persons with Disabilities (UT UCEDD)

WebAIM, a project at the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University, recently launched an online course--Accessible Documents: Word, PowerPoint, & Acrobat. In this video-based, independent-study course, participants learn how to create accessible documents in Word & PowerPoint, export them as PDFs, and optimize these PDFs in Acrobat.

11/26/2018

Thank You AUCD Board Leadership

AUCD deeply appreciates the leadership and service of all members of our Board of Directors, and especially those who have completed their terms of service.

11/23/2018

#AUCD2018 Sponsors - Thank you!

Thank you to the sponsors of the AUCD 2018 Conference! Because of your participation, our theme of "We All Belong Here! Achieving Inclusive Communities" was truly realized.

11/23/2018

Congratulations to the AUCD 2018 Awardees

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 their advocacy, research, policy, and practice that further diversifies and creates more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families. Comprised of 10 categories, the AUCD awards represent the 'best of the best' within our network, and local, state, and federal partners.

11/20/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Money Follows the Person

Money Follows the Person (MFP) improves the lives of older adults and people with disabilities, and does so in a more cost-effective way than institutional settings. Watch this archived video with policy expert Joe Caldwell to learn more about the importance of this program to people with disabilities and to communities.

11/19/2018

Announcing the Launch of the National Center on Disability in Public Health

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is pleased to announce the new National Center on Disability in Public Health. The National Center uses evidence-based strategies to develop and increase the ability of public health professionals to include people who have disabilities. This new National Center builds capacity by encouraging collaboration between public health partners and AUCD's Network Centers in every state and territory. Key areas of health disparity serve as the focus areas for this National Center and include Nutrition and Healthy Weight, Developmental Monitoring and Screening, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Access to Healthcare, Wellness and Mental Health, and Emergency Preparedness.

11/19/2018

Chinese Historical Society Honors SGISD Professor (MA UCEDD/LEND)

SGISD's Peter Kiang was presented with the Sojourner Award. The honor commemorates early Chinese immigrants who were sojourners - workers looking for a piece of Gold Mountain to send back to China, while building railroads, harvesting crops and working in factories.

11/19/2018

Riley Child Development Center (IN LEND) Participates in Lectureship in Infant Mental Health

Faculty, staff and trainees from the Riley Child Development Center joined in hosting the annual Darlene Kardatzke Lectureship in Infant Mental Health, as a tribute to the professional endeavors of our dear friend and colleague Darlene Kardatzke, MD. The guest lecturer this year was Ayelet Talmi, PhD, a pediatric psychologist and associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

11/19/2018

Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities Presents Inclusive Recreation Video Campaign (NY UCEDD/LEND)

Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, the UCEDD at the University of Rochester is excited to present our Inclusive Recreation & Leisure Video Campaign! Sponsored by the Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (RRCASD) and the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), the video campaign was created to advocate for full inclusion in recreation and leisure settings. Through discussion in SCDD's Community Advisory Council (CAC), we heard from the community that advocacy in this area was a need. Based on this need, we developed a planning committee, which included self-advocates, family-advocates, and professionals, to help guide us in the process of developing the campaign.

11/19/2018

The University of Florida Disability Resource Center Support Within Accessible On-Campus Housing (FL UCEDD/LEND)

The University of Florida's Disability Resource Center is excited to announce the expansion of our elite state of the art accessible rooms within Cypress Hall. Cypress Hall will be expanding from 11 rooms outfitted with the SureHands lift system to 19 by the fall of 2019. The SureHands lift system, along with other accessibility features; such as video door bells, zero entry showers, and individual custom-fitted furniture, showcase UF as one of two in the nation whose campus truly embrace students with mobility impairments. UF being the only postsecondary education institution as a Top 10 research institution.

11/19/2018

Think College awarded $2.5M Stepping Up Technology Implementation Grant (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $2.5 million Stepping Up Technology Implementation Grant from the US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs. The project will fund the development of Future Quest Island - Explorations: Advancing College and Career Awareness for Elementary Students with and without Disability.

11/19/2018

Think College Directors Receive Leadership Award (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The directors of Think College and authors of the acclaimed Think College! Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Meg Grigal and Debra Hart, were awarded the George Jesien National Leadership Award at the State of the Art Conference in Syracuse University. Grigal and Hart have guided the development of federal and state policy and have informed the research and practice of thousands of educators. Their work has paved the way for the development of inclusive post-secondary education programs across the country and abroad.

11/15/2018

ICI Researchers Promote Inclusive Education in Denmark and Ukraine (MN UCEDD/LEND)

Ren�ta Tich� and Brian Abery of ICI's Global Resource Center on Inclusive Education traveled to Denmark and Ukraine in late October to continue their international work supporting research on, and implementation of, inclusive education practices. In Denmark, Abery and Tich� shared their work on the implementation of Response to Intervention, as well as the use of curriculum-based measurement to drive instructional decision-making for students who experience significant cognitive disabilities, with faculty, researchers, and students at the 1st Annual Inclusive Education Summit sponsored by the University College of Northern Denmark and Aalborg University.

11/15/2018

Tell Us Your Thoughts About #AUCD2018

Conference Survey due 11/30

Let us know your favorite moments, things you'd change, and ideas for future AUCD Conferences by completing our online survey, or through the link in your conference app. Your anonymous responses are vital as we begin planning for AUCD 2019, and you could win one of 20 Amazon $50 gift cards for sharing your thoughts!

11/13/2018

Tuesdays with Liz - The Autism CARES

Ivanova Smith is here to talk to Liz about Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs, which are funded through the Autism CARES Act. The act is up for renewal by Congress and needs to be reauthorized by September 30, 2019, in order to continue to provide funding for programs like LEND.

11/10/2018

MD's 30th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference (MD UCEDD)

On October. 3, Mirian Ofonedu Ph.D, Training Director of the MCDD, Maureen van Stone, Esq, MS, Interim Director of the MCDD, along with Kiley Law, MD, MPH, and Paul Lipkin, MD of the Interactive Autism Network at Kennedy Krieger Institute presented on a panel titled, "Suicidality in Persons with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities: Assessment and Intervention Strategies" at the Maryland 30th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference in Woodlawn, MD.

11/6/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Go Vote

The AUCD staff have one message for you: GO VOTE! Check when your state's polls close for the November 6, 2018 midterm elections at https://bit.ly/2CWVugH.

11/1/2018

Support the People of CNMI: Donate to Typhoon Yutu Relief

In mid-October 2018 our colleagues in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) were hit with Super Typhoon Yutu. President Trump declared a major disaster in CNMI; you can read about the impact of the storm on residents in a 10-27 FEMA update and in Washington Post coverage (10-26). People with disabilities and the UCEDD in CNMI have been severely impacted.

10/30/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Happy Disability Employment Month!

Everyone who wants a job should have a job! Tune in this week as Liz talks about why having a job is so important to her and the work accommodations you're entitled to as a person with a disability. Also, get to know some more AUCD staff as they talk about why National Disability Employment Month matters to them.

10/24/2018

Introducing the ITAC Bulletin Board!

We are excited to launch the ITAC Bulletin Board as part of AUCD's technical assistance to LENDs and DBPs! This quarterly newsletter will hopefully make it easier for you to access and use what is most relevant to MCH training programs.

10/24/2018

Registration Closes October 31st! Pre-Conference Summit on Early Childhood

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the Early Childhood/Intervention Special Interest Group (EC SIG) of AUCD have joined with The National Early Childhood Personnel Technical Assistance Center (ECPC), funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education (OSEP), to host the Third Annual Summit on Early Childhood Personnel at AUCD's 2018 Annual Meeting.

10/23/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Overcoming Voting Barriers

You can VOTE! Learn all about overcoming voting barriers for people with disabilities with Liz. Liz discusses how to get to the polls and how early voting might be the right option for you

10/22/2018

Oh Yes, I CAN Work! (AZ UCEDD)

Competitive Employment for Persons with Significant Disabilities

The Arizona University Center on Development Disabilities (AzUCD) at Northern Arizona University partnered with the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council to host two half-day trainings and a simultaneous webcast designed to advance an interagency approach to the concept that competitive, integrated employment is achievable for people with significant disabilities.

10/22/2018

The Maine LEND Showcases Interprofessional Initiatives

The Maine LEND Program leaders and trainees recently displayed their contributions to interprofessional service and education at the inaugural Interprofessional Showcase at the University of New England (UNE). One of the strengths of UNE is training students in the health and service professions to work collaboratively for better outcomes for clients in the community.

10/22/2018

The Sonoran UCEDD Celebrates the Leadership of Founding Director, Leslie Cohen

With deep gratitude the Sonoran UCEDD announced that Leslie Cohen, JD, their inaugural director, will be ending eleven years of service in November 2018. Leslie oversaw the initiation and development of the UCEDD's programs in professional education, employment, health, and aging.

10/22/2018

Welcoming A New Director at Sonoroan UCEDD, Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson

Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson will be joining the Sonoran University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in November as new director for, Leslie Cohen, Sonoran UCEDD's inaugural director, will be stepping down from the position.

10/16/2018

Amy Heningsen Recognized by the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation (UT UCEDD)

CPD occupational therapist, Amy Henningsen, was recognized in September by the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation for the work she has done with so many families in Northern Utah. "A lot of us in the valley have had Amy come to our house through the Up to 3 program," said Maria Leishman, UDSF community group leader. "She's the one who will think outside the box. If it's not working, she'll find another way." Amy looks at toys with a different eye than most people, Maria said. She watches for developmental skills that could be encouraged through play.

10/16/2018

Dismantling Ableism: The Moral Imperative for School Leaders - Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal (HI UCEDD)

Launching RDS Journal's open-access issue with special forum, 'Dismantling Ableism: The Moral Imperative for School Leaders,' with Guest Editors Dr. Holly Manaseri & Dr. Josh Bornstein. Including a featured Editorial by RDS Forums Editor Dr. Jenifer Barclay, a first-person creative works perspective, and our ongoing effort to highlight the latest in Disability Studies dissertations and abstracts.

10/16/2018

ReDiscovery at Texas A&M University (TX UCEDD)

In late August, 2017, Hurricane Harvey brought insurmountable devastation to the Texas coast. A year later, the effects of Hurricane Harvey continue to be felt, especially amongst individuals with disabilities and individuals with other functional and access needs. In a combined effort, the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University and the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas Austin created ReDiscovery. ReDiscovery is training, technical assistance, and educational materials on supports, services, and resources in Texas for individuals with disabilities and other functional and access who were affected by Hurricane Harvey.

10/16/2018

Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities Co-Hosts an Employment Summit (NY UCEDD/LEND)

On October 4th the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), the UCEDD at the University of Rochester, co-hosted an Employment Summit in Rochester, NY, in partnership with Starbridge, a local provider agency. The Summit brought together policy makers, business leaders, self-advocates, family-advocates and professionals to start a community-wide conversation about increasing employment and decreasing poverty for people with disabilities in the Rochester region.

10/16/2018

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Receives a $4.4M grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

The US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living awarded a 5-year $4.4M grant to The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, part of the Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State�s Neurological Institute; Can You Hear Me Now? Listening to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Health Research. This grant, in collaboration with key stakeholders, will establish a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) to improve the health and function of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

10/16/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Your Opinions Matter - Share Them!

Your opinions matter - share them! Liz's testimony on Capitol Hill during the Judge Kavanaugh confirmation hearings made it clear that people with disabilities have a platform. Liz reflects on her testimony, your support, and what you can do to make sure your voice is heard.

10/16/2018

WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities Develops Collaborative to Address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Service Challenges (WV UCEDD)

Over the next five years, a West Virginia University partnership with three divisions of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will target the prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome and the effect it has on children's developmental outcomes.

10/15/2018

AUCD 2018 to Offer CEUs

Social Work CEUs for Select Sessions for up to 5 Credits per Person

AUCD is excited to offer CEUs for select Conference sessions for the first time. Provided through the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, attendees will be able to attend any of the Sunday Driving Change Sessions or the Monday or Tuesday plenary sessions and collect a CEU certificate.

10/15/2018

AUCD Welcomes our Two New Emerging Leader Interns!

The two new Emerging Leaders Interns (formerly the Virtual Trainees), Shayla and Nell, joined the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) team in September 2018! The two interns work together to passionately represent the AUCD Emerging Leaders Community. They will work together to build and enhance the community by being connection points between the national network and each Program/Center by ensuring Emerging Leaders receive information and opportunities related to leadership, research, fellowships, and more.

10/15/2018

Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Honored with MyGOAL Autism Award

Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Executive Director of The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, was honored with the 2018 MyGOAL Autism Outstanding Professional of the Year Award for dedication and service to individuals with autism. The award was presented on September 29, 2018 in Edison, NJ. Dr. Spitalnik also served as keynote speaker.

10/15/2018

ICI's Employment Services Department (MA UCEDD/LEND)

For over forty years, the Institute for Community Inclusion's Employment Services Department has provided person-centered career planning and individualized job development services for adults with disabilities. Members of the Employment Services Department work with adults with disabilities from 18 years old through retirement, providing customized employment services that match the client's skills, interests, and needs. These services include career planning, job placement, job coaching/training, advocacy, case management, and vocational counseling.

10/15/2018

Maryland Legal Services Corporation Rising Star Award (MD UCEDD)

The Maryland Legal Services Corporation board of directors selected Mallory Finn as the 2018 recipient of the Rising Star Award. This award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for 10 years or less and has significantly contributed to expanding access to justice by serving the civil legal needs of low-income Marylanders or advancing the delivery of civil legal services.

10/15/2018

Sheryl Lazarus (MN UCEDD) Testifies Before U.S. Helsinki Commission

Sheryl Lazarus of the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) testified in Washington, DC before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, at a briefing titled, "A Truly Inclusive Society: Encouraging the Ability in Disability." Lazarus, director of the TIES Center, was part of a panel of speakers exploring best practices developed federally and locally in the U.S. to empower and integrate individuals with intellectual disabilities, and the legal changes that will enable individuals with intellectual disabilities to reach their full potential.

10/15/2018

US State Department, National Committee on United States-China Relations Professional Fellows Program (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) participated in the Professional Fellows Program (PFP) sponsored by the US State Department through the National Committee on United States-China Relations this spring. The PFP is a two-way exchange for emerging leaders in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the U.S. in the fields of environment, philanthropy, legal aid, and community building among marginalized populations. In April, the ICI hosted Di Wu in a 4-week fellowship. Wu runs a social enterprise in China called Easy Inclusion, which promotes disability inclusion and diversity in businesses through training and consultancy. This August, Dr. Sheila Fesko, the assistant dean for the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD) and a program manager at the ICI, participated in the reciprocal part of the program, traveling to China to work with Wu on her project and with representatives from other disability organizations in Beijing.

10/12/2018

Associate Director of University of Cincinnati's UCEDD, Kara Ayers, Appointed to Govering Board

Kara Ayers, Associate Director of the University of Cincinnati UCEDD was recently appointed to the Governing Board of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. It's a part of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works with Congress. The GAO oversees federal government spending. In this case, it ensures that research conducted meets the priorities of patients or people directly impacted by disability, chronic illness, and disease.

10/12/2018

DePoy's Passion Fuels Research About Aging Maine Farmers (ME UCEDD)

As a professor of interdisciplinary disability studies and social work at the University of Maine, Elizabeth DePoy's passion for farming and interest in the farming community led to her current research project, "Aging Maine Farmers: Investigation of Their Aspirations, Needs and Ingenuity."

10/12/2018

Maximizing Leadership Potential in Racial and Ethnic Minority LEND Trainees

The LEND programs of the PacWest region have worked together and consistently sought ways to strengthen interdisciplinary leadership training and achieve a diverse MCH workforce over the past four years. We began the process by identifying barriers and gaps in supporting and mentoring racially and ethnically diverse LEND trainees.

10/12/2018

Nisonger Center Receives a $468,000 Grant from the National Institutes of Health (OH UCEDD/LEND)

Nisonger Center receives a $468,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders awarded a 3-year $468,000 grant to The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, part of the Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State's Neurological Institute.

10/12/2018

Nisonger Center's Dr. L. Euegene Arnold receives the 2018 George Tarjan Award for Contribution in Developmental Disabilities (OH UCEDD/LEND)

This award recognizes an AACAP (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) member who has made significant contributions in a lifetime career or single seminal work to the understanding or care of those with developmental disabilities. AACAP created this award in honor of George Tarjan, MD to recognize his work and encourage others to follow his example. The selection was made by members of the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Committee and provides distinguished recognition to the recipient by allowing them to present on a specific topic related to the award.

10/12/2018

Va-LEND Welcomes New FME Coordinator

Kathryn "Kate" Flinn is the new Family Mentorship Experience Coordinator (FME) at Va-LEND. Although she became the new FME Coordinator this past July, Kate's connection with Va-LEND began four years ago. According to Kate, in September of 2014 she worked with Va-LEND Trainees on an autism fitness program where she coordinated at the YMCA in Richmond, for teens with Asperger's/High Functioning Autism. Kate has a son who is on the Autism Disability Spectrum (ASD).

10/9/2018

Don't just be a voter - be an EDUCATED voter!

Don't just be a voter - be an EDUCATED voter! This week on Tuesdays with Liz, one of the things Liz talks about is how to get information about the candidates who are running for office in your state's Board of Elections website. Visit https://www.usa.gov/election-office and select your state or territory from the drop down menu, then click 'Go' and you will be taken to your state or local election office website where you can learn more about the candidates' positions on issues that matter to you.

10/5/2018

AUCD2018 Presentation Accessibility

Webinar & Recommendations

The AUCD Conference strives to be an inclusive event where all attendees are provided an opportunity for meaningful and full participation. To this end, there are some basic goals of presentation accessibility that should be applied.

10/2/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Marcie Lipsitt Talks Disability Rights in Schools

Join us this week at Liz talks with Marcie Lipsitt about her background in advocating for the civil rights of students with disabilities.

10/1/2018

Presenters: Upload Presentation Materials

Deadline: October 26

All Conference presenters are asked to visit the conference website tab "Presentation Details" to upload a PDF or JPG of their poster, a PDF of their slide deck, or any other materials relevant to their presentation.

9/27/2018

AUCD Webinar Series "Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts: What You Need to Know"

AUCD is partnering with the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) to deliver two webinars for network members and partners about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2014. This law provided people with disabilities the opportunity to establish tax-advantaged accounts for saving money in ways that have little to no impact on eligibility for public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. While the potential benefits of ABLE accounts are significant, many questions remain. This series will provide important context, share practical answers and address future considerations.

9/27/2018

AUCD'S UCEDD Resource Center Request for Proposals: Training Initiative Addressing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome for the National Network of UCEDDs

Deadline: October 26, 2018

The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) is seeking a lead UCEDD to build the capacity of the National Network of UCEDDs to address the impact of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) through collaborative implementation of best and promising practices across federally-funded networks to support child, caregiver, and family outcomes in the local communities.

9/25/2018

Discount Poster Printing and Shipping

Exclusive Offer from MakeSigns.com; Order by Noon ET on Nov 2.

AUCD and MakeSigns.com have again partnered to assist you in printing and shipping your posters to the 2018 AUCD Conference. Order by 12pmET on November 2 to receive a special 10% discount on poster printing and have your poster waiting for you when you arrive in DC.

9/25/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Joe MacBeth on Direct Support Professionals

Happy National Direct Support Professionals Week! In this episode, Liz talks with Joe Macbeth, the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Joe explains what a direct support professional is, the importance of their work, and how you can help DSPs get better pay.

9/24/2018

MN UCEDD Supports Social Inclusion of Young Russians with Disabilities

Brian Abery and Ren�ta Tich� (shown in Moscow) from the Global Resource Center on Inclusive Education (GRC) at the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) are leading a new project known as Community Participation and Employment as Strategies for Social Inclusion: A U.S.-Russian Dialogue. The project aims to enhance the social inclusion of youth and young adults with disabilities by developing community living and supported employment programs in the Moscow area.

9/19/2018

Judge Kavanaugh: Wrong on the Facts, Wrong on the Law, Wrong for People with Disabilities

Judge Kavanaugh has made his views about people with intellectual disabilities clear: He doesn't see people with intellectual disabilities as individuals who may have abilities to understand or express themselves, and preferences or desires. He completely dismissed the possibility that any of the women--or anyone in the class of people under state guardianship because they had intellectual disabilities--could understand or had any right to know about medical decisions, including being subjected to surgeries. He took away their civil and human rights to know and have a say in what happens to their bodies.

9/18/2018

Tuesday with Liz: Disability Policy for All - We ALL Belong

This week, Liz interviews Amy Hewitt about AUCD's 2018 Conference. Amy discusses the conference theme, the importance of inclusion, and exciting conference events.

9/17/2018

Article published by international fellow hosted by VT UCEDD

After spending five weeks in the US in an intensive fellowship program for inclusive disability employment, Victoria Lihiru returned home to Tanzania ready to make changes. She recently published an article in The Guardian newspaper in Tanzania, reflecting on her fellowship experiences and progress needed for people with disabilities. Her article is titled "Disability inclusive employment: My two cents from Green Mountain state" and can be read online: https://www.ippmedia.com/en/features/abilityinclusive-employment-my-two-cents-green-mountain-stat This article followed her participation in the Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment. This fellowship program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and administered by AUCD in partnership with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Humanity and Inclusion.

9/17/2018

Institute on Disability and Human Development (IL UCEDD) Employee Participates in Public Art Display

Over the summer, the Chicago Lighthouse, a social service organization serving people with blindness, visual impairments, disabilities, and Veterans, in partnership with Huber Financial Advisors, sponsored a public art display in Chicago entitled, "Lighthouses on the Mag Mile". Over 100 artists, more than half who had disabilities, from the community painted 6-foot-tall fiberglass lighthouse sculptures and they were subsequently displayed on Chicago's famous Michigan Ave.

9/17/2018

MNLEND Fellow Develops Sensory Friendly Sunday at Museum

Fellows from the Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program (MNLEND) at the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) have been instrumental in creating Sensory Friendly Sunday, a free monthly event at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis for children, teenagers, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder or sensory sensitivities, and their families. This first-of-its-kind program in a Twin Cities museum, Sensory Friendly Sunday, which launched in May, offers the opportunity for families to make art together, explore galleries, watch a short film, or just relax in a setting with accommodations that make it more comfortable.

9/17/2018

Social Skills Groups Adapted from Seeking Safety Model for Adolescents and Young adults with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Diagnoses (CA UCEDD)

Authors: Lina Rodas, Bridgid Mariko Conn, Caitlin S. Sayegh, Sari Glassgold, and Sara Sherer

Mental health providers from the University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (USC UCEDD) and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine (DAYAM) have adapted Seeking Safety to promote social skills development among adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities (DD) and co-morbid mental health diagnoses.

9/17/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Investigator Explores Motivations of Peer Mentors in Inclusive Higher Education Programs

Research conducted across five universities in Tennessee1 explored why college students become peer mentors, what they hope to gain from the experience, and how their expectations might encourage opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) both during and beyond their college programs.

9/12/2018

Maximizing Leadership Potential in Racial and Ethnic Minority LEND Trainees

The LEND programs of the PacWest region have worked together and consistently sought ways to strengthen interdisciplinary leadership training and achieve a diverse MCH workforce over the past four years. We began the process by identifying barriers and gaps in supporting and mentoring racially and ethnically diverse LEND trainees.

9/11/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Alexander Santana Talks Immigration and Family Separation

This week, Liz asks Alexander Santana to explain some of the work he does around immigration as part of the Vanderbilt Kennedy UCEDD in Tennessee and the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder. He talks what leads someone to leave their home country, the implications of family separation at the border, and multilingual resources available to immigrants and refugees with disabilities.

9/10/2018

MN UCEDD Partners with MN DHS to Produce Multi-Cultural Films on Autism

The Institute on Community Integration (ICI) at the University of Minnesota (MN UCEDD), in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), has produced, "On the Autism Spectrum: Families Find Help and Hope," a series of five short films that raise awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and of services available to Minnesota families within the African American, Hmong, Latino, Native American, and Somali communities. The new films were created for and are distributed by DHS to provide support, encouragement, and direction for families in diverse communities who experience ASD, inspiring them to use available resources.

9/9/2018

Briefing for Maryland Advisory Committee (MD UCEDD)

The Maryland Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hosted a briefing on disproportionate discipline in Maryland Public Schools. The purpose of the all-day event was to hold a public meeting to examine the discipline, suspension, and expulsion rates for students of color students with disabilities. The Maryland data indicate that disproportionality remains a serious concern in Maryland schools.

9/9/2018

Training the Next Generation of Self-Advocate Leaders in Florida (FL UCEDD)

By Jairo Arana

It was President John F. Kennedy who said "when written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity." With this in mind, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council with its sister agencies, the UM Mailman Center UCEDD, USF Florida Center for Inclusive Communities UCEDD, and Disability Rights of Florida contracted with the University of Delaware to develop the Florida DD Network Collaborative Leadership Program. Its purpose is to prepare the next generation of leaders. Some sobering facts, stated in a study by the University of Delaware: "over 50% of the CEOs surveyed did not have a succession plan for their organizations. Almost without exception, the leadership crisis has been a major topic of focus at recent conferences for developmental disability professionals."

9/7/2018

Interim Director Appointed at UMKC Institute for Human Development (MO UCEDD)

George Gotto, IV, Ph.D., has been appointed interim director of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development (IHD) (MO UCEDD). His appointment began on August 6. Gotto joined IHD in 2009 and was named Associate Director of Research in 2016. He holds a joint appointment as Research Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, UMKC School of Medicine. He also serves as director of the Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies certificate at UMKC.

9/6/2018

Bill Beechler, MD FAAP, Authors Essay Included in Book on Media Representations of Disability (IN LEND)

Bill Beechler, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the Riley Child Development Center, recently pursued his passions for comic books and popular culture by writing an essay that was included in a new publication. Dr. Beechler's Essay is titled "Superheroes in a Silent World - Hawkeye and El Deafo" and was included in the book "The Image of Disability: Essays on Media Representation".

9/6/2018

Leader in Disabilities Education Jared Schultz, PhD, Joins UA College of Education and UA Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities (AZ Sonoran UCEDD)

Jared Schultz, PhD, a noted leader in disabilities education and research, has joined the UA College of Education as a professor in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies and the UA Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities as the director of research. The Sonoran Center is housed within the UA Department of Family and Community Medicine, where Dr. Schultz also will have a joint appointment.

9/4/2018

AUCD Emerging Leaders Community

A community of emerging AUCD leaders making a difference for people with disabilities around the world. Learn, connect, get involved, and grow with us!

9/4/2018

Dr. Jennifer Ganz awarded grant from the National Center for Special Education Research (TX UCEDD)

Dr. Jennifer Ganz awarded grant from the National Center for Special Education Research Please join us in congratulating Dr. Jennifer Ganz, a CDD Affiliated Faculty Member, Dr. Kimberly Vannest also from TAMU and Dr. Pustejovsky from UT. They were recently awarded a $600,000 grant from the National Center for Special Education Research. Meta-Analyses of Variables Related to Instruction in Augmentative and Alternative Communication Implementation.

9/4/2018

Engineering Students Develop White Cane Attachment To Help The Visually Impaired (TX UCEDD)

By Taylor Phillips-Rodriguez, Texas A&M University College of Engineering

Since the 1920s, white canes have been used to navigate surroundings and visually notify others of visual impairments. Four engineering students at Texas A&M University have developed a white cane attachment that can provide object detection and turn-by-turn navigation assistance via haptic feedback.

9/4/2018

National Survey Results about the Dual-Customer Dynamic (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The ICI research team administered the National Survey of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies and Business Relations to further examine state VR agencies' capacity for assessing and meeting business needs. This brief examines findings on VR business relations staffing patterns as reported in the survey and observed from providing technical assistance to VR agencies.

9/4/2018

New White Paper Highlights Kessler Foundation's National Disability Employment Initiatives

Since 2004, Kessler Foundation has provided more than $41.5 million to support initiatives that create or expand opportunities for people with disabilities. Kessler Foundation has issued a white paper summarizing the outcomes of diverse initiatives supported under its Signature Employment Grant (SEG) program. Titled "Employing People with Disabilities: Lessons Learned from the Kessler Foundation Signature Employment Grants," the paper is based on the independent evaluations of more than 20 Signature Employment Grants by experts at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

9/4/2018

Predictors of Self-Determination in Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Authored by AUCD Network Members

ICI's Meg Grigal, Debra Hart, and Frank Smith; along with researchers from the University of Kansas; co-authored an article for the Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities Journal titled, "Predictors of Self-Determination in Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities."

9/4/2018

RRTC on Advancing Employment journal article published in "Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities" (MA & MN UCEDD/LEND)

Researchers housed at ThinkWork!, the hub for an array of programs related to employment for people with IDD at the Institute for Community Inclusion, published an article in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (RPSD), a critically acclaimed and widely-read journal in the field of disabilities. This article, titled "Building an Evidence-Based, Holistic Approach to Advancing Integrated Employment," presents preliminary findings from activities completed by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Advancing Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. It discusses a framework for organizing state and federal investments in research, practice, and systems change.

9/4/2018

Summer Programs have an Impact on Over 110 Participants (TX UCEDD)

The Center on Disability and Development supports several summer programs; this year there were 111 participants, as well as 49 staff and mentors who supported and supervised the participants.

9/4/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Public Comments 101

This week, Liz provides an overview of what public comments are, and how you can make them.

9/4/2018

UC Davis MIND Institute Receives Grant to Participate in New International Fragile X Collaboration (CA UCEDD/LEND)

The Azrieli Foundation, a foundation in Canada that has helped launch several major neurodevelopmental research initiatives in that country, has announced a $2.3 million donation to the UC Davis MIND Institute. The gift "the single largest in the MIND Institute's 20-year history" will help create a large international collaboration designed to leverage expertise and innovation around fragile X-related disorders such as fragile X syndrome.

9/4/2018

Welcome to the AUCD Emerging Leaders Community!

A community of emerging AUCD leaders making a difference for people with disabilities around the world. Learn, connect, get involved, and grow with us!

8/31/2018

The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Tristram Smith (NY UCEDD)

The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), University of Rochester UCEDD, mourns the passing of a leader and groundbreaking researcher, Dr. Tristram Smith, who suddenly passed away on August 6th, 2018. In the wake of his passing, SCDD celebrates Dr. Smith's legacy and his important work on improving early intervention and educational interventions for children with autism and their families across the globe.

8/28/2018

Confirming Judge Kavanaugh Will Jeopardize Civil Rights for People with Disabilities

Contact your Senators Today

AUCD urges individuals and organizations to learn about Judge Kavanaugh's record on the DC Circuit and use this opportunity to educate your Senators about the importance of self-determination and access to healthcare for millions of Americans with disabilities and their families.

8/28/2018

Tuesdays with Liz - Back to School Special

Join us for this 'Back to School' special as Liz asks disability advocate and incoming Bryn Mawr freshmen, Laura Rodgers, about how she feels about her upcoming first year of college. Laura talks about how her disability factored into her college selection process and provides advice on and an overview of supports for college students with disabilities.

8/21/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Nothing About Us, Without Us

Liz talks about what "Nothing About Us Without Us" means, the importance of inclusion, and how people with disabilities can make sure their voices are heard when policy decisions about them are being made.

8/20/2018

Disability Policy News In Brief

Supreme Court; Labor-HHS-Education & Defense spending bills, and more

8/20/2018

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities' Transition Resources Featured by NTACT (MT UCEDD) Organization: UM Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities

From October 2015 through April 2017, Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services contracted with Montana's UCEDD, the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, to support VRBS and school staff to provide quality pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities. The Pre-ETS Technical Assistance Center services included assistance with schools' Pre-ETS planning; development of Pre-Employment Transition Services resources and products; training created in response to local, regional, and state needs; dissemination of information through a listserv; and training delivered via webinars, online communities of practice, at state conferences, and on-site in local communities.

8/20/2018

SEANET Student Interns Explore Aquaponics and Aquaculture (ME UCEDD)

The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), with funding from Maine EPSCoR/SEANET, is partnering with Hancock County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, and the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research on a six-week summer internship experience for high school students with disabilities.

8/15/2018

Survey: Inclusion of Developmental Disability in Training Curricula for Physicians

Your feedback by August 30th is greatly appreciated.

We need your expertise. AUCD leads the "Health is for Everyone Action Team (HEAT)," a team of different organizations working to include education about the unique needs of people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) in the training curricula for medical students, residents, and physicians.|

8/15/2018

Talking Points on the Confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh

Plain Language

AUCD opposes the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States. Use these plain language talking points to contact your Senators and share your concerns about Judge Kavanaugh.

8/14/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: David Goldberg on Kavanaugh's Disability Rights Record

This week, Liz sits down again with David Goldberg to discuss Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. They discuss a Circuit Court Ruling by Kavanaugh that undermined the civil rights of three women with intellectual disabilities.

8/13/2018

A Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) Study of Special Educators' Use of Evidence-based Practices

The field of special education has long stressed the need for educators to use evidence-based practices, but the gap between identification and implementation remains. What influences how special educators decide which practices to implement is not well understood. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) researchers surveyed special educators to better understand factors in instructional decision making. Their findings were reported in the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities in February 2018.

8/13/2018

Oral Health Disparities Between Adults with IDD and the General (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Research indicates that people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) experience poorer oral hygiene, higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease and have a higher incidence of untreated caries than the general population.

8/9/2018

ICI Staffer Present at Oklahoma Case Management Symposium (MA UCEDD/LEND)

ICI staffer, Suzzanne Freeze, joined with colleagues at the Spring 2018 OKDHS Case Management Symposium in Oklahoma City, OK. Freeze provided a keynote session and hosted two breakout sessions. The Symposium focused on employment supports expanding possibilities, facing challenges, using existing incentives and partnering for successful outcomes.

8/9/2018

MN UCEDD Collaborates with The Arc on FINDS Report Revealing Caregiver Stress

In 2017, the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) at the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) conducted an online survey in collaboration with The Arc of the United States in order to better understand the status of family caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the U.S. Known as the Family & Individual Needs for Disability Support (FINDS) study, the survey and newly released FINDS Community Report 2017 shed light on the experiences of families who provide supports to a family member with I/DD.

8/9/2018

The US Opioid Crisis: Addressing Maternal and Infant Health

CDC released the first-ever multi-state analysis of trends in opioid use disorder (OUD) in labor and delivery. These data indicate the number of pregnant women with OUD at labor and delivery more than quadrupled from 1999 through 2014, with significant increases in every one of the 28 states with available data.

8/7/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: David Goldberg Discusses Kavanaugh's Nomination and the ACA

This week, Liz talks with civil rights lawyer, David Goldberg, who previously worked for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. He discusses what could happen to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if President Trump's Supreme Court Justice nominee, Judge Kavanaugh, is confirmed.

8/6/2018

Dreamer Dreaming Up Change for the Healthcare System (OR UCEDD)

This summer I had the opportunity to be an intern for the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) within the Institute on Development and Disability (IDD) at Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU). My role was with IDD's Diversity Task Force (IDTF) that is made up of providers, clinicians, faculty members, staff, and family members. The mission of the IDTF is as follows: As compassionate leaders in healthcare, we strive to provide innovative and comprehensive services in a welcoming environment. The diversity of life is valued here, and we are committed to making inclusion a priority so everyone at IDD feels comfortable, valued, and respected.

8/6/2018

New Working Paper about Progressive Employment Findings (MA UCEDD/LEND)

ICI staffers from the Explore VR project released the Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Progressive Employment Model Replication and Evaluation Report, a working paper discussing preliminary findings of the Progressive Employment (PE) model implementation in Maine.

8/6/2018

Parent Perceptions of Autism Identification and Treatment (MN LEND)

MNLEND Fellow, Pang Chaxiong, has focused her MNLEND project (https://lend.umn.edu/) on better understanding the needs of families from diverse communities on early identification and evidence-based treatments in autism.The specific goal of this research study is to inform the development/improvement of tools and strategies to support parents in seeking earlier identification and evidence-based treatments for their child with autism, with a particular emphasis on reaching to the Hmong and Somali American communities.

8/2/2018

Call for Proposals - Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity

PacRim has been bringing people together for more than 30 years. And PacRim 2019 is no exception. We want individuals with disabilities, their families, service providers, researchers, educators, employers, deep thinkers, change agents, policy makers and entrepreneurs to join us in March 2019. Only by coming together and sharing can we offer individuals with disabilities a better future.

8/2/2018

Change in Leadership for the Oklahoma LEND Program

Oklahoma LEND is excited to welcome our new Program Director, Dr. Ami Bax. She is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician who completed Oklahoma LEND long-term training in 2011 and has served as Instructional Faculty in our LEND program since then. Ami is taking over from the previous Program Director, Dr. Mark Wolraich who has retired after 17 years at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

8/2/2018

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities' Transition Resources Featured by NTACT (MT UCEDD)

From October 2015 through April 2017, Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services contracted with Montana's UCEDD, the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, to support VRBS and school staff to provide quality pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities.

8/2/2018

Sonoran UCEDD's Susan Voirol honored with the Rebecca McDonald Chapter Leader Award!

Susan Voirol, Sonoran UCEDD Program Manager for AZ Employment First Initiatives was presented with the 2018 Rebecca McDonald Award at the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) National Conference this June in Florida. Susan serves as the Arizona APSE Chapter President. Her work in disability, transition, and employment brings together multiple stakeholders - education, state agencies, local government, community provider agencies, advocacy groups, self-advocates, and family members as well as the broader public - to support and promote the belief that community-based, integrated employment should be the primary day activity for working age youth and adults with disabilities.

8/2/2018

The Crip, the Fat and the Ugly in an Age of Austerity: Resistance, Reclamation, and Affirmation Forum

A special June 2018 forum entitled �The Crip, The Fat and The Ugly in an Age of Austerity: Resistance, Reclamation, and Affirmation has been published in the Review of Disability Studies (RDS) Journal. The forum includes a series of articles exploring the processes and politics of austerity upon diverse and marginalized embodiments-how capitalism makes sense of and shapes body-minds; the ways in which austerity both marks and produces bodies and selves, and the means through which these are further shaped by disability, race, class, gender, age, size, sexuality, and nation. Articles for this forum were compiled by RDS Guest Editors, Dr. Jen Slater of Sheffield Hallam University and Dr. Kirsty Liddiard of The University of Sheffield (United Kingdom).

8/2/2018

Vermont UCEDD Staff Recognized by University for Accessibility Work on Campus

The University of Vermont recognized six outstanding staff members with the prestigious President's Our Common Ground Staff Award. This annual award "recognizes six staff members who exemplify the qualities of the University of Vermont's Our Common Ground, the statement of aspirations and shared values for the UVM Community." Benjamin Wimett, Assistive Technology Access Specialist at the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (CDCI) was among the 2018 recipients who far exceed the expectations of their job descriptions to perform work, evoke change, and move our community to embrace the shared values of respect, integrity, innovation, openness, justice, and responsibility.

7/31/2018

AUCD Opposes the Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States

Plain Language Summary Available

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a national organization that supports the right of self-determination for individuals with intellectual and other disabilities, and opposes the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. "The appointment of Judge Kavanaugh threatens civil rights protections for people with disabilities including access to healthcare," said Andrew Imparato, Executive Director of AUCD. "Judge Kavanaugh's record on the D.C. Circuit has failed to support the critical principle of self-determination for people with intellectual disabilities and the importance of access to healthcare for millions of Americans with disabilities."

7/31/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Contacting Congress

This week, Liz shares information about Congress, reminding viewers that they work for you. She also includes some useful tips for contacting your congressional representatives and highlights a relevant tool AUCD has.

7/30/2018

Dr. Nye-Lengerman (MN UCEDD) Testifies Before U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

Unemployment, underemployment, and poverty disproportionately affect people with disabilities and their families, yet research demonstrates that persons with disabilities are highly motivated workers with lower absenteeism and turnover, and higher rates of productivity. On Wednesday, July 18, at the Dirksen State Office Building in Washington, DC, Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman (MN UCEDD) was invited to speak on this issue when the Senate Special Committee on Aging holds a hearing on, "Supporting Economic Stability and Self-Sufficiency as Americans with Disabilities and Their Families Age."

7/30/2018

Institute for Disability Studies Partners with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Free Adventure Therapy Program (MS UCEDD)

Challenge by choice. It is an empowering, yet frightening concept. On one hand, individuals decide whether to take a risk to overcome specific obstacles. On the other hand, they have the daunting task of facing their fears with the possibility of disappointment by not achieving their goal. What if the obstacles and fears were replaced by a low swinging log, a zipline 45 feet in the air, a kayak paddle, or a rock wall? Would the choice still be as challenging?

7/30/2018

New Director and Renewed 5-Year Funding for MN UCEDD

The Institute on Community Integration (ICI), University of Minnesota, has begun its 33rd year of operation with the appointment of a new director, and the award of renewed five-year funding. On July 1, Dr. Amy Hewitt became ICI's director, the fourth to hold that position since it was established in 1985. The Institute also received renewed federal funding from the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which continues ICI's designation as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).

7/26/2018

Resources for Disasters and Disability Directory for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families Experiencing the Effects of Hurricane Harvey

Final Report: September 11-December 4, 2017

The Resources for Disasters and Disability (REDDy) Directory is a dynamic online disaster recovery directory addressing the resources and support needs of individuals with disabilities effected by Hurricane Harvey. The primary aim of the REDDy Directory is to provide case managers (who often have limited knowledge of disability-related needs) with up-to-date information and contact information on disability-related resources available throughout Texas. In addition, the REDDy Directory is assigned to assist long term recovery committees, disability-related organizations, disaster-related organizations, and individuals with disabilities in locating resources and services provided to Hurricane Harvey survivors. REDDy (in the beta phase) is an online searchable guide of disability-related resources, services, and information designed for individuals to search by zip code, key word (e.g. durable medical equipment), or resource type (e.g. Health and Medical Services).

7/26/2018

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD) Announces Recipients of the 2018 Community Investment Fund

To promote community inclusion and provide leadership and advocacy opportunities for Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) members, the University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) established a Community Investment Fund (CIF) in 2015 and invited CAC members to administer the fund. Since that inaugural year, small awards (up to $2000) have been made available annually through the CIF for innovative projects or programs to help Montanans with disabilities live, learn, work and play in their communities alongside people without disabilities.

7/26/2018

Tuesdays with Liz - The Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration

Thursday, July 26, marks the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This week, Tuesdays with Liz presents an ADA Anniversary Special reflecting on the ADA and what it means to different people.

7/25/2018

"Bottom Dollars," an Award-winning Documentary on Inclusive Employment, is Screened Throughout Iowa:

Tammie Amsbaugh, CDD/UCEDD Program Manager, helped the Rooted in Rights documentary tour the state

CDD and the Iowa Department of Human Rights in partnership with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council and Disability Rights Iowa hosted the screening in eight cities around Iowa. This 2016 film calls for the phase out of the sub-minimum wages and sheltered workshops, and offers solutions for fair wages and inclusive employment. The documentary features personal stories and expert interviews with advocates that have been working to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

7/25/2018

IDS' ToTAL Tech Program to Provide Training Webinars and Internships for Young Adults with Disabilities (MS UCEDD)

Youth and young adults completing high school, including young people with disabilities, have many decisions to make: continuing their education, finding employment, deciding to live more independently. The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) new project, Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) Tech Training, should help to ease the employment decision for some young people with disabilities.

7/25/2018

Jennifer Maeverde Selected for GU Leadership Academy for Cultural and Linguistic Competence (ME UCEDD)

Jennifer Maeverde, MA, LCPC, a Research Associate with University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), has been selected to participate in the Fall 2018 Georgetown University Leadership Academy, a component of the Leadership Institute for Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence. The Academy is designed to build the capacity of leaders to "advance and sustain cultural and linguistic competence and respond to the growing cultural diversity among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

7/24/2018

WIHD Appoints Jenean Castillo as Director of LEND Program

The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) has announced the appointment of Jenean Castillo, PhD, as Director of the LEND interdisciplinary training program at WIHD. Dr. Castillo is Assistant Professor of Practice in the Center on Disability and Health in the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College (NYMC) and is the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at WIHD.

7/23/2018

MNLEND 2017-18 Forum: The 'F-Words' in Childhood Disability

In the 21st century, people are embracing new ideas and new paradigms for the healthcare and disability fields. Guiding us are the 6 "F-Words" from the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) Framework: Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, and Future. The "F-Words" have been enthusiastically embraced by families, advocates' and colleagues' around the world.

7/19/2018

HRSA Issues Hurricane Resources for Children with Special Health Care Needs

In collaboration with the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, HRSA has developed a collection of resources informing hurricane response and recovery for families, organizations, and clinicians caring for children with special health care needs.

7/19/2018

Institute for Disability Studies First Self Advocate Coordinator

NIFE MS Deputy Ambassador Taylor Carley is the Institute for Disability Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi first self-advocacy coordinator. Carley works on several of the institute's transition projects, but he is also the host of the weekly video series, Chit Chat Thursday with Taylor.

7/19/2018

Nutrition Advocate Reflects on NIFE MS Workshop Experience

Arteya McGuire served as Nutrition Advocate for the workshop held in Greenwood in the Mississippi Delta. Twelve people attended the workshop. "The NIFE workshop was a great experience," said McGuire, who works for the Mississippi State Department of Health. "The workshop offered a lot of healthy tips that can be used in our communities."

7/18/2018

Georgetown University Certificate in Early Intervention Celebrates the Accomplishments of the Sixth Cohort of Participants! (Georgetown UCEDD)

The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development honored the students who completed the 2017-2018 program with a celebration on June 15, 2018. The event was part of a day-long conference hosted by the Georgetown University Center for Excellance in Developmental Disabilities, the DC Developmental Disability Council, University Legal Services, the P & A for the District of Columbia, and the Quality Trust. Participants included alumni, faculty, and service providers from the DC area.

7/18/2018

The Opioid Crisis: A Child's Fight and a Mother's Gain

Robin Adams tells of the challenges and joys of adopting a baby affected by his birth mother's opioid use. The drug test came back positive for opioids and the needle puncture sites in the young, pregnant woman's arms were infected. At just 92 pounds, neither she nor her unborn child were benefiting from any nutritional intake. She returned to her OB/GYN six weeks later, keeping few prenatal appointments in total. When she returned, she was prepared; she had another person's urine in her purse. But she fooled no one, and her physician offered to help her find treatment and recommended a facility where she could receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and medical care. She denied her drug use and rejected the referral.

7/17/2018

Deputy Nutrition Ambassadors Speak About Teaching Their Peers

People with disabilities hear a lot of "you can't eat this" or "you can't eat that" from health care professionals, but do not receive much nutrition education other than that. The Nutrition is for Everyone Oklahoma (NIFE OK) project allowed us to actually show people which foods are healthy and which foods are not. We also taught some basic cooking skills that most people do not know and demonstrated how it can be cheaper to eat at home instead of fast food. The peer-to-peer teaching was important because everyone was more than willing to listen.

7/17/2018

NIFE TN Intern's Perspective on Working with Students with Disabilities

Nutrition Is for Everyone Tennessee (NIFE TN) focused on reaching out to Postsecondary Education Programs in Tennessee. These are university-based programs for students with intellectual disabilities, where part of their curriculums includes health based learning. The Nutrition Ambassador utilized and encouraged the local university nutrition programs (dietetic interns and senior undergraduate dietetic students) to help teach classes. With an outline for the topic to be covered, the interns/students filled in with lecture, in-class activities, homework assignments, and food tastings. In sharing their nutrition knowledge, the dietetic students/interns also learned about working with people with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

7/17/2018

Tuesdays with Liz - Voting

In this week's Tuesdays with Liz, Liz discusses the importance of voting for all Americans, especially people with disabilities. Liz introduces AUCD's new Voting Tool Guide.

7/16/2018

Deputy Ambassadors Reflect on Experiences Working with Spanish Speaking Families

Nutrition education for people with disabilities is lacking, especially among Spanish-speaking families. The opportunity we had with Nutrition is for Everyone to specifically impact the Spanish-speaking families was unique and we were able to make a positive impact in a short amount of time. We immediately gained the trust of the community because we are Spanish-speaking and also have children with disabilities. We also made connections with health clinics within the community and so we taught classes in locations they were already familiar with.

7/16/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Special Interest Group (SIG) Launch

The Nutrition is for Everyone (NIFE) pilot project (2016-2018) was funded by the Walmart Foundation to provide nutrition education for people with disabilities (PWD). NIFE was launched in four states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Tennessee) where PWD are least likely to consume fruits and vegetables daily and are therefore most in need of nutrition education and support. The state of Mississippi was included in year two (2017-2018) of the project. Between 2016 and 2018, NIFE reached over 300,000 people with and without disabilities through efforts such as social media outreach, television appearances, news articles, workshops, and the NIFE newsletter.

7/16/2018

Support AUCD while Shopping on AmazonSmile

When you shop on AmazonSmile (the same thing as Amazon) and select AUCD as your charitable donation of choice, AUCD receives donations to fund Conference Scholarships for growing network leaders.For all eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to your selected charitable organization, at no cost to you!

7/11/2018

Eight Participants Graduate from University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Project SEARCH (NY UCEDD/LEND)

Project SEARCH, an international program with over 400 sites worldwide, helps young adults with developmental disabilities secure employment by providing employment training and education through on-site internships at various local organizations and businesses. Over 70 percent of interns find competitive employment after participating.

7/11/2018

NEW One Page Informational Flyers for AUCD Councils

The AUCD Board of Directors has established a number of committees and councils made up of experts in the field to help the leadership address emerging trends and issues, and to facilitate communication across and beyond the AUCD network. AUCD has five councils which are open to any AUCD member interested in learning more about these issues. Recently AUCD council chairs created an easy to share resource to describe what each council does. Below are links to each council one-page flyer. Please feel free to share these resources with faculty, staff, and trainees within your center and encourage their participation in council activities with peers across AUCD's national network.

7/10/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - AUCD's Executive Director, Andy Imparato

Supreme Court decisions affect EVERYONE, which is why Liz thought this week, in response to President Trump's nomination of a new Justice, it would be helpful to look back at her interview with AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato from the last time a Court spot needed to be filled. Also see previous In Brief for background on Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement.

7/9/2018

AUCD Strongly Opposes Decision to Let Electric Shock Treatments Continue

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) stands with many other national disability organizations in strongly opposing the recent decision by a Probate and Family Court judge to allow a school in Canton, Massachusetts, to continue administering electric shocks to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

7/9/2018

Coach to Communicate (C2C) (TX UCEDD)

Dr. Jennifer Ganz is the project director for the Coach To Communicate project which provides a webinar and face-to-face/online individual parent coaching sessions at no cost for parents, caregivers, teachers, and service providers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will be instructed in how to improve the communication skills of their own children. This project serves Texas parents, caregivers, teachers, or service providers who have a child up to age 22 with autism spectrum disorder or similar characteristics and who need instruction in communication skills. Coach to Communicate group photo

7/9/2018

The Direct Support Workforce Crisis is Focus of New Impact Issue from MN UCEDD

The direct support workforce is crucial in providing daily supports to people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities in the U.S. as they live and participate in their communities. While demand for these supports has never been higher and will continue to grow, significant challenges exist in finding, keeping, and training Direct Support Professionals.

7/3/2018

Tuesdays with Liz - AUCD's Policy Director, Rylin Rodgers

This week Liz sits down with AUCD's new Policy Director, Rylin Rodgers. Liz finds out what direction Rylin hopes to take the policy department in and how advocates can engage with their elected officials on social media.

7/2/2018

Boston LEND Graduation

May marked the end of another successful LEND Boston program with the graduation of 21 Leadership Fellows from our LEND program. David Helm, LEND Director, reviewed the events of the year and LEND faculty mentors handed out the LEND certificates. The LEND fellows talked about five areas of the program and the lessons they learned over the course of the year.

7/2/2018

International Fellowship Host Application Open

AUCD is actively seeking Fall 2018 hosts for the International Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE). PFP-IDE is a U.S. Department of State-sponsored professional exchange program that will enable inclusive employment advocates from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to study best practices in the U.S. and develop partnerships with AUCD network members. Professional Fellows will learn about inclusive employment at AUCD member host sites, contribute to centers' projects and activities, and develop an inclusive employment project that they will implement in their home countries.

6/29/2018

VT LEND Awarded Green Mountain Self-Advocates Ally of the Year Award

Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA), Vermont's state wide self-advocacy organization, awarded the 2018 Ally of the Year Award to the Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (VT LEND) for their outstanding support of Vermont self-advocates, the mission of self-advocacy, and Green Mountain Self-Advocates. The award was presented at the 20th Annual Voices and Choices Conference on May 15, 2018 with the following statement: "VT LEND is dedicated to inclusion and making sure people from diverse language and cultural backgrounds, including people with disabilities, are part of the VT LEND training program.

6/28/2018

Pavithran Named Policy Director at Center for Persons with Disabilities (UT UCEDD)

The Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University has appointed Sachin Pavithran as its policy director, effective July 1. The center has been involved in policy issues since its inception in the early 1970s, when it secured funding to educate children with developmental disabilities. At the time, schools were turning children with disabilities away. While issues have come and gone, Pavithran said it's important for the CPD to continue giving people with disabilities a voice in public policy. The CPD will bring a data-driven approach to advocacy for civil rights and inclusion at all levels of society.

6/27/2018

Public Health Workforce Competencies Feedback Survey

Deadline: July 13th

The Including People with Disabilities - Public Health Workforce Competencies were designed to increase the capacity of the public health workforce to include people with disabilities in public health planning and implementation efforts. The purpose of survey is to gain insight on the use of the Competencies, their relevance to various segments of public health, potential use and application, and any critical gaps.

6/26/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Kate Mevis Part 2

This week we share part 2 of Liz's interview with Hill Staffer Kate Mevis. In part 2, Liz and Kate continue their chat about the importance of inclusive employment and the influence Liz's presence had on the staff and office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey.

6/25/2018

Exhibit Highlights Waisman Center Collection of Art by People with Developmental Disabilities (WI UCEDD/LEND)

If you walk around the Waisman Center, you might be greeted by Stray Cats or Dogs or even An Emu. You might catch a glimpse of Reindeer or Lions or Two Owls Sleeping, One on Watch. It's not that the Waisman Center doubles as a home for an esoteric group of Animals. It's just that the Road to almost anywhere within the center will take you past art that's part of our Harvey A. Stevens International Collection of Art by People with Developmental Disabilities.

6/25/2018

Family Interaction Training (FIT): A Critical New Tool for Families and Communities

Family Interaction Training (FIT) is a behavioral training program designed to help parents who have children with disruptive behavior. FIT is widely accessible for use by professionals who work with young children but who are not mental health experts. The evaluation feedback thus far has been overwhelmingly positive. With the need for families and communities being so great, the FIT materials are being made available now, while work continues to further refine the content and develop more tools to support families and communities.

6/25/2018

Grassroots Advocacy Strategies in the State of Maine (ME LEND)

The Maine LEND Program hosted an Advocacy and Strategy Forum on April 27, 2018, in Lewiston, Maine. LEND Trainee, Kim Humphrey, a public health advocate, founder of Community Connect ME, and mother of a child with autism, led the charge with key decision makers who work with and/or have children with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) in the state. State Senator Shenna Bellows and former Maine State Legislator Peter Stuckey led one key aspect of the Strategy Forum. Speakers and presenters also included University of Maine professor and Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies Director, Alan Cobo-Lewis; LEND trainee and occupational therapist, Taylor Cahill;LEND trainee and family member, Sanaa Abduljabbar; Coordinator of Education and Autism for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Alan Kurtz. There were approximately 40 leaders and advocates in attendance.

6/25/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) Provides Educators with Mindfulness Tools and Techniques

Special educators have demanding jobs: long hours, few breaks, and countless responsibilities throughout the school day teaching students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The work can be stressful, and that stress and can take its toll if it is not addressed in a timely manner. The need for self-care was the impetus behind the mindfulness training offered through the Spring 2018 Britt Henderson Training Series for Educators at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND).

6/20/2018

AUCD Strongly Opposes Family Separation at Borders, Calls on Lawmakers and the Administration to Take Action

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a diverse, interdisciplinary leadership, research, training, and service network which includes the nation's leading experts on child development, family-centered care, and trauma. Those perspectives and our shared humanity provide the foundation to unequivocally oppose the separation of families as they enter America.

6/20/2018

AUCD Welcomes Public Policy Intern Jillian Odom

Jillian Odom is recently graduated from American University's Master's International program with a MA in Public Anthropology. Through this program she spent two and a half years in The Gambia, West Africa working with deaf populations as a Health Extension Volunteer with the United States Peace Corps. Though her main project was developing a mobile communication resource, it was this experience that allowed her to witness the importance of productive, innovative, human-centered disability policy and effective implementation strategies.

6/19/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Kate Mevis

This week, Liz sits down with Kate Mevis, who works for Senator Bob Casey as the Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee Aging. They discuss Liz's contributions on Capitol Hill during her time as a fellow and Congressional initiatives on inclusive employment.

6/18/2018

Eight Interns Graduate from USM's Project Search Program (MS UCEDD)

In the words of English author A.A. Milne, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." This inspirational message was featured on the third annual Project SEARCH University of Southern Mississippi Class of 2018 graduation invitation.

6/18/2018

Help Teens with Sickle Cell Feel Empowered About Their Health

World Sickle Cell Day is on June 19th

This World Sickle Cell Day, observed each year on June 19th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sharing two resources on transition to help teenagers and young adults with SCD 'step up' and to take ownership of their own health. These resources aim to support and to empower young people with SCD to manage and to prioritize their health and well-being.

6/18/2018

Mailman Center Collaborates with Special Olympics on Youth Leadership Summit (FL UCEDD/LEND)

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Mailman Center for Child Development collaborated with Special Olympics in a youth leadership summit, which took place June 3 at UM's Donna E. Shalala Student Center. The purpose of the summit was to highlight the Unified Champion Schools program, which incorporates Special Olympics' sports, leadership and related activities that empower youth to be change agents in their communities.

6/18/2018

TIPS 4 Kids (Missouri LEND) Hosts Successful Leadership Project Poster Session

TIPS 4 Kids, Missouri's LEND, hosted a poster session of trainee's yearlong leadership projects. Approximately 100 students, faculty, community stakeholders, and practitioners attended. Rep. Sara Walsh, of the Missouri House of Representatives, was also in attendance, and we look forward to future collaboration with her and other members of the Missouri House of Representatives.

6/15/2018

WITH Foundation Award & AUCD's HEAT

AUCD was awarded funding to support the Keep the HEAT On (Health is for Everyone Action Team). The project builds on successful adoption of the American Medical Association's (AMA) resolution to include education about the unique needs of people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) at undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education for physicians. Although 20% of adults in the US have a disability, with 1 in 6+ having DD, there is currently no training standard on DD for physicians at all levels of training. Keep the HEAT On will be a second phase of a multiyear effort to better understand DD competency in medical education, learning from previous efforts, and linking these learnings into a shared action plan to include DD in medical education.

6/13/2018

NIH Leadership Outlines Interdisciplinary FY2018 Research Plan for HEAL Initiative

In a Viewpoint published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health leadership detail components of a newly released research plan for the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative. The HEAL Initiative is a trans-NIH effort launched in April 2018 to advance national priorities in addressing the opioid crisis through science. With a focus on two primary areas - improving treatments for opioid misuse and addiction, and enhancing strategies for pain management - the plan describes a multifaceted program encompassing pre-clinical, clinical, drug repurposing, and community-based approaches.

6/12/2018

AUCD Welcomes Summer Intern Luanjiao Aggie Hu

Luanjiao Aggie Hu is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, with a focus on disability, gender, and education. She identifies as a person with disability herself. She has conducted research and published on disability issues and had been teaching sessions in a core course on disability education. Luanjiao Aggie frequently shares her research on disabilities as a guest speaker at universities across the United States and China.

6/12/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Rylin Rodgers

This week, Liz goes from being the interviewer to the interviewee. Rylin, AUCD's new policy director, stars as a guest host and interviews Liz about her time spent as a fellow on Capitol Hill for Senator Robert Casey.

6/11/2018

Community-Based Interventions: Access to Assistive Technology for Latinos with Disabilities: Success Comes from Collaboration (IL UCEDD/LEND)

Although Hispanics are the largest minority in the U.S., research indicates that there is a significant gap in knowledge about assistive technology (AT). Over the course of three years, I have been collaborating with the Assistive Technology Unit (ATU) located at the University of Illinois at Chicago and The Autism Program of Illinois in order to provide Latinos with disabilities (LWDs) and their families with culturally and linguistically relevant resources about AT.

6/11/2018

Institute for Disability Studies Assisting Young Adults with Job Training, Internships (MS UCEDD)

The transition from youth to adulthood following the completion of high school can be challenging and confusing for any young adult. Further, this transition may be particularly challenging for young adults with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities whose life plans are still unclear.

6/11/2018

Parents Engaged in Policy: A Six-Part Conversation About Restraint and Seclusion in Maine (ME UCEDD and NH-ME LEND)

Two Maine parents of children with disabilities have produced a series of six videos to help educate parents about appropriate and incorrect uses of restraint and seclusion in educational settings in Maine.

6/8/2018

50th Anniversary Open House Celebration (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Join us for refreshments and drinks as we watch short videos, connect with friends, hear from people who've been with the UCEDD from the beginning, and learn more about today's ICI.

6/8/2018

AUCD Welcomes Public Health Intern Salma Tayel

Salma Tayel is joining the AUCD team for the summer of 2018 as a Public Health Intern. Salma is currently majoring in Public Health Studies and minoring in Bioethics at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Her current research interests include maternal and child health, reducing health disparities in order to maximize population health and reducing disparities within communities with disabled peoples. Her previous research experiences range from following up with kidney transplant patients to studying the impact of school based health centers in low income neighborhoods.

6/8/2018

MCDD Public Health Trainee Receives a Distinguished Essay Award (MD UCEDD)

Meredith Nicholson, a trainee at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute, is the 2018 recipient of the MSPH Distinguished Essay Award through The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health. Her essay is titled "Mental Health Disparities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Asexual (LGBTQA) Autistic Adults Compared to Heterosexual & Cisgender Autistic Adults" and was selected for the award out of all submitted master's essays in the department.

6/8/2018

MMI's Marne Iwand Honored by Special Olympics Nebraska (NE UCEDD/LEND)

Marne Iwand, of the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Department of Physical Therapy, received the Golisano Health Leadership Award on May 17 at the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics Nebraska. The award honors health champions and their extraordinary efforts toward fulfilling the goals, values, and mission of the Special Olympics global health program.

6/8/2018

MO LEND Trainees attend AUCD Disability Policy Seminar and Trainee Summit

Missouri LEND trainees, Mark Tapia (self-advocate) and Amy Lake (parent advocate), were able to attend the Spring AUCD Disability Policy Seminar and Trainee Summit. Mark is the Autism Treatment Network's first self-advocate and is graduating this semester with his master's in Special Education.

6/8/2018

SC UCEDD Hosts Screening of Dan Habib's New Film "Intelligent Lives"

The Center for Disability Resources (SC UCEDD) is pleased to share photos and info about our screening last week of Dan Habib's excellent new film "Intelligent Lives". We and our co-sponsor, the SC DD Council, had events with both public school students and the general public with the film maker Dan Habib. A screening of two of his brief transition films and a panel discussion at a local high school in the afternoon was attended by middle school and high school special education students and teachers.

6/8/2018

Suter Appointed Executive Director of Vermont UCEDD

It is with great pleasure we share that Jesse C. Suter, Ph.D., was appointed Executive Director of the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (CDCI), Vermont's University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the University of Vermont (UVM). Dr. Scott Thomas, Dean of the College of Education and Social Services appointed Dr. Suter Interim Executive Director in June 2017 and Executive Director in April 2018.

6/5/2018

In Memoriam: Eldon Schulz, MD

AR Regional LEND

Eldon Schulz, M.D., long-time leader in the LEND network passed away on June 2. He was a state leader and champion for Arkansas children and families affected by developmental disabilities.

6/5/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Proposed changes to the ABLE Act

Welcome back Liz! Liz returns to AUCD full time after working with the Senate Aging Committee. In this week's edition, Liz gives an update about proposed changes to the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act that have recently come out of Congress and tells you how you can get involved in advocating!

5/31/2018

The WITH Foundation Awards 6 Organizations to Promote Comprehensive and Accessible Healthcare

AUCD was awarded funding to support the Keep the HEAT On (Health is for Everyone Action Team). The project builds on successful adoption of the American Medical Association's (AMA) resolution to include education about the unique needs of people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) at undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education for physicians. Although 20% of adults in the US have a disability, with 1 in 6+ having DD, there is currently no training standard on DD for physicians at all levels of training. Keep the HEAT On will be a second phase of a multiyear effort to better understand DD competency in medical education, learning from previous efforts, and linking these learnings into a shared action plan to include DD in medical education.

5/30/2018

SAMHSA Announces $196 Million Funding Opportunity for Opioid Treatment Grants to Hardest-hit States and Tribes

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now accepting applications for $196 million to treat opioid use disorder through its Targeted Capacity Expansion: Medication Assisted Treatment-Prescription Drug Opioid Addiction grant program.

5/27/2018

2016 Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD Program (MD UCEDD/LEND)

Brian Paxton, a rising third-year law student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, was accepted into the 2016 Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD Program, to work 300 hours with Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD.

5/21/2018

Dr. Carol Britton Laws (GA IHDD/UCEDD) Featured on UGA Today

Carol Britton Laws, an assistant clinical professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, is the founding director of UGA's first inclusive postsecondary education program for youth with intellectual disabilities: Destination Dawgs.

5/21/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) Investigators Publish Book on Key Principles of Observational Measurement of Behavior

The systematic observation of behavior is one of the most basic methods of acquiring data and is especially valuable in early childhood assessment and research. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) Investigators Paul Yoder and Blair Lloyd have co-authored, with University of Minnesota colleague Frank Symons, Observational Measurement of Behavior, Second Edition (Brookes Publishing, 2018).

5/15/2018

MNLEND Fellow Leads Creation of Sensory Tents in the Minneapolis Parks

Summer is coming and city parks will soon be filled with crowds, noisy events, excited children, food, and family pets. For most people, this is a celebration of warm weather and a chance to reconnect with family and friends in the great outdoors. But Elise Niedermeier (far right in photograph), a Fellow in ICI's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) program, and the ADA Coordinator for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), knows that for some people -- such as children with autism -- all this stimulation can become sensory overload.

5/14/2018

The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University Announces the 2018 PATHS Graduation

The Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) program at Texas A&M University is honored to announce the 2018 graduates. This year, 18 young men and women successfully graduated from the PATHS certificate program. The PATHS program is an inclusive certificate program to prepare students with and without disabilities for a career as a Direct Support Professional, who will work with the elderly or people with disabilities in the community; as a Direct Support Para-Professional who will work with school districts; or as a Child Care Professional who will work with children. Dr. Dalun Zhang, Director of the Center on Disability and Development welcomed everyone to the 2018 Graduation ceremony, while Ms. Tracy Glass, the PATHS Program Director presented the Director's Address.

5/10/2018

AUCD Seeks Two Emerging Leaders Interns

Applications Due June 22, 2018

AUCD is seeking two current trainees to work as AUCD Emerging Leaders Interns (formerly Virtual Trainees) to work together to passionately represent the trainee network. 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 (i.e., LENDs, UCEDDs, and IDDRCs). The AUCD Emerging Leaders Interns will act as connection points between the national network and each Program/Center by ensuring trainees receive relevant information and opportunities related to leadership, research, grants fellowships, emerging issues, and more.

5/7/2018

Online Professional Development: Photovoice Research Methods (HI UCEDD/LEND)

For 25 years, "Photovoice" has involved people with disabilities, patients, youth, families and communities in representing their lives, point of view, and experience using photos and captions. Photovoice is a participatory approach to communication about health, healthcare, and daily lives in clinical and other settings to encourage dialogue and mutual learning. Photovoice generates powerful data (photographs, captions)thatengage clients, clinicians, evaluators, and the public in identifying opportunities for change, fostering knowledge and awareness, and helping people to feel their 'voices' are heard.

5/7/2018

The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Celebrates Graduation of New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2017-2018

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities hosted a graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2017-2018. New Jersey Partners in Policymaking is a leadership development and advocacy education program for adults with developmental disabilities and family members available through The Boggs Center with funding from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. This year's graduates included 7 self-advocates, 12 family members, and 1 family member/UCEDD Trainee prepared to work toward meaningful change in our state.

5/4/2018

A Founding Member of the AUCD Family Discipline Network Leaving Va-LEND

Just as a bridge in music links two sections of a composition, so it is with Elaine Ogburn, who has been the bridge connecting Va-LEND trainees with mentoring families for 19 years. This type of synergy is worth noting and will not be easy to duplicate when she leaves Va-LEND on June 30th. Elaine is the Family Mentorship Experience (FME) Coordinator and a Family Discipline faculty member of Va-LEND, part of the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University.

5/4/2018

Knowledge Translation in Action: Making Research More Accessible (MT UCEDD)

To translate: to take something written in one language and express it in another. Or, to change something into a new form. This is precisely what RTC:Rural's Knowledge Translation team does.

5/4/2018

Maine LEND & UNE Transdisciplinary Playgroup

The Maine LEND Program supports the University of New England's (UNE) Transdisciplinary Playgroup in Portland, Maine. The University's playgroup continues to demonstrate success as it is in its ninth year. The Transdisciplinary Playgroup promotes a community-based model facilitating the development of children age eighteen to thirty-six months. This program is an inclusive model and welcomes children with and without disabilities to engage in play in a natural playgroup environment.

5/4/2018

USM Institute for Disability Studies Launches Inclusive Quidditch Game (MS UCEDD)

Readers who enjoy fantasy books or movies will be familiar with the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter fans are familiar with the sport of Quidditch. Yes, it's the sport played on brooms in which players throw the Quaffle and attempt to catch the tiny, golden Snitch to end the game.|

5/3/2018

Bitter for Better: former UCCEDD LEND trainee running for State Senate in Ohio

Sara Bitter is a mother, lawyer and leader in advocacy. She and her husband, Kai, are the parents of two children living with a developmental disability. Sara has devoted her entire career to helping improve the lives of people living with disabilities and their families, including her current role as the UCCEDD. She knows that parents of children with special healthcare needs, families who have loved ones living with mental health conditions and communities torn apart by the opioid crisis, do not have lobbyists. Sara would like to bring these voices to the Ohio legislature by creating a Disability, Mental Health and Addiction Caucus.

5/2/2018

Iowa LEND Educates Legislators on the Hill

The Iowa Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) trainees traveled from Iowa City, Iowa to attended the 2018 Disability Policy Seminar (DPS) in Washington, D.C from April 23rd-25th, 2018. Earlier in the year, the trainees spoke with Iowa's State legislators (Representative Ashley Hinson, Representative Bobby Kaufmann, Senator Liz Mathis, and Senator Joe Bolkcom) in Des Moines, Iowa to discuss the importance of LEND and state-level disability issues. The trip to the U.S. Capitol served as the culmination of the Iowa LEND experience, allowing trainees to use the tools they had learned in the past year to advocate and educate on disability rights at the federal level.

5/2/2018

Jeffrey Opaleye received the Diversity Award (TX UCEDD)

Jeffrey Opaleye Sociology Diversity and Inclusion Committee Co-Chair Jeffrey Opaleye received the Diversity Award with the Graduate and Professional Student Council. He serves as a co-chair Diversity and Inclusion committee member on the Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC). As an organization, the GPSC have successfully executed a variety of tasks pertaining to Diversity and Inclusion to advance the campus climate of Texas A&M University and educated members of the student body on issues including but not limited to age, background, citizenship, disability, education, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and work experience.

5/2/2018

LEND Audiology Trainees at EHDI 2018

The 17th annual Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Meeting took place in Denver, CO. The Meeting welcomed around 1,000 diverse stakeholders nationwide to enhance the implementation of comprehensive state-based EHDI programs and expand opportunities for young children who are deaf and hard of hearing. The EHDI Meeting was organized by American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: HRSA, Hands and Voices, and National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University.

5/1/2018

2018 Outstanding Preceptor Award from Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Patricia Miller, MS, RD, Director of Nutrition of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, received the 2018 Outstanding Preceptor Award from Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was nominated for this award by the faculty of Howard University in cognition of work in developing, implementing, and coordinating a clinical LEND experience for nutrition trainees. Ms. Miller is a Clinical Instructor at Howard University.

5/1/2018

CPD's Sharon Weston Honored as Staff of the Year (UT UCEDD)

Long-time CPD Assistant to the CPD Director Sharon Weston was honored April 12 as the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services Staff of the Year. Colleagues who nominated her and have worked with her for years attended a luncheon where she received the award recognizing her outstanding service. Among all who depend on her, the same words come up again and again. Positive, helpful, efficient, pleasant, kind.

5/1/2018

CT LEND Fellows' Projects 2017-2018

12 research projects completed or in progress by the 2017 - 2018 Fellows' of the Connecticut Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CT LEND).

5/1/2018

Dr. Therese Willkomm Receives Award from UNH President's Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities (NH UCEDD/LEND)

Dr. Therese Willkomm received the 2018 Faculty Award from the University of New Hampshire's President's Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. The award is given to people who foster "understanding of the issues, building a community of inclusion, raising awareness through your insight and action, and increasing opportunity and access for people with disabilities and in gratitude for your work."

5/1/2018

Just Released - Responsive Practice: Providing Health Care & Screenings to Individuals with Disabilities (NH UCEDD/LEND)

The New Hampshire Disability and Public Health (DPH) project's Responsive Practice training is now available online, on-demand, and is free for a limited time. Responsive Practice enhances health care providers' ability to deliver disability-competent care that is accessible to people with intellectual, mobility, and other disabilities.

5/1/2018

MCDD's Associate Director Receives Honor from The Daily Record (MD UCEDD)

Maureen van Stone, Associate Director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities and Director of Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute received an award as one of The Daily Record's 2018 Top 100 Women in Maryland. The Daily Record began the recognition program in 1996 to recognize outstanding achievements by women demonstrated through professional accomplishments, community leadership and mentoring.

5/1/2018

New England Regional LEND Programs Present Annual Spring Conference (NH, ME LEND)

The New England Regional LEND Programs are proud to present our annual Spring Conference: Topic: Caring for Diverse Children & Youth with Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Keynote Speaker: Maria Mercedes Avila, Ph.D., MSW Dr. Avila will speak to the importance of understanding the social determinants of health, cultural and linguistic competency, and workforce diversity in promoting health equity for unserved and underserved racially/ethnically and other culturally diverse communities. The session will also highlight the importance of promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural-linguistic responsiveness in every aspect of service provision.

5/1/2018

New Hampshire Adults with Disabilities Are Motivated to Quit Smoking (NH UCEDD/LEND)

New Hampshire adults with cognitive and/or mobility disabilities are more likely to smoke cigarettes than adults without disabilities. The Disability in Focus, March 2018 data brief, released by the NH Disability & Public Health Project (DPH), shows that NH Adults with disabilities are motivated to quit smoking.

5/1/2018

Sara Rainer Receives Rising Star Award at the New Hampshire Public Health Association's Annual Meeting (NH UCEDD/LEND)

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire congratulates Sara Rainer for receiving the Rising Star Award by the New Hampshire Public Health Association at their Annual Meeting on April 11, 2018. "In the past few years, Sara has worked tirelessly to translate best practices in including people with disabilities with public health initiatives," shares Linda Bimbo, Acting Director of the Institute on Disability, "and we are pleased that her hard work is recognized with this award."

5/1/2018

UCEDD at OHSU Supporting Oregonians with I/DD through Sexual Health Trainings (OR UCEDD)

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon has been breaking new ground in sexual and reproductive health education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Recently collected data from the Oregon Healthy Teens Survey tells us that youth with disabilities, when compared to peers without disabilities, are sexually active at earlier ages, are less likely to engage in safe sex practices, and are at a higher risk for pregnancy and contracting sexually transmitted infections.

5/1/2018

UM Student from Rocky Boy Makes National Contribution to Public Health (MT UCEDD/LEND)

After working for several years as a research assistant for the Montana Disability and Health program at the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, and completing her Master's in Public Health at UM, Helen Russette went to work for the Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD). There, she aided in the development of a community health needs assessment (CHA) process that fully includes representatives of marginalized populations. She recently shared this work in February 2018 article published with co-author, Robin Nielson-Cerquone, MJ, MCCHD Accreditation Specialist, on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) website.

4/30/2018

Coffee Talk: Meaningful Inclusion of People on the Autism Spectrum

In partnership with AMCHP's State Public Health Autism Resource Center, ITAC proudly hosted a virtual "Coffee Talk" focused on the Autistic Adults and Other Stakeholders Engage Together (AASET) project, featuring co-leads Drs. Stephen Shore and Teal Benevides, on Monday, April 30. Their PowerPoint slides and an accessible webinar recording are now available; this includes an overview of the AASET project's accomplishments, efforts in progress, and plans, as well as key strategies for meaningful inclusion of people on the autism spectrum across multiple settings. All are encouraged to tune in and share widely!

4/28/2018

Autism CARES Webinar Series: Call for Presenters

In the coming months, ITAC and SPHARC (with support from HRSA-MCHB and a planning committee of Autism CARES grantees) will host a three-part webinar series; the theme is: "Autism in the Context of Ableism: Culture, Identity, and Quality of Life." The committee is currently seeking input for a solution-focused panel of grantees (and representatives from outside organizations) who can share best practices, innovative approaches, and lessons learned with respect to addressing ableism across contexts.

4/27/2018

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the ACCESS Program: A Group Intervention to Improve Social, Adaptive Functioning, Stress Coping, and Self-Determination Outcomes in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The purpose of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to investigate the acceptability and efficacy of the Acquiring Career, Coping, Executive control, Social Skills (ACCESS) Program, a group intervention tailored for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to enhance critical skills and beliefs that promote adult functioning, including social and adaptive skills, self-determination skills, and coping self-efficacy. Forty-four adults with ASD (ages 18�38; 13 females) and their caregivers were randomly assigned to treatment or waitlist control. Compared to controls, adults in treatment significantly improved in adaptive and self-determination skills, per caregiver report, and self-reported greater belief in their ability to access social support to cope with stressors. Results provide evidence for the acceptability and efficacy of the ACCESS Program.

4/26/2018

CDC Releases New Key Findings on Autism Spectrum Disorder

For more than two decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been tracking the prevalence and characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, through a multi-state tracking system focused on school-aged children. Data from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM)* Network help us understand more about the number of children with ASD, the characteristics of those children, and the age at which they are first evaluated and diagnosed.

4/26/2018

Civil Rights Principles for the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965

AUCD joins 50 organizations in support

For children and adults with disabilities and their families, the Higher Education Act is of critical importance. AUCD has joined nearly 50 other organizations in signing onto civil rights principles that we believe must be included in the upcoming reauthorization of that law. The Higher Education Act creates opportunities for higher education for students with intellectual disability through its creation of the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Disabilities (TPSIDs).

4/26/2018

Deconstructing Autism: from unitary syndrome to contributory developmental endophenotypes

A recent generation of family studies has revealed that autism can be predicted from an array of neurobehavioral susceptibilities that are appreciable before the syndrome is diagnosed, and that each may be traceable to partially-independent sets of genetic variation. Some of these liabilities are not necessarily specific to ASD-those that are non-specific could account for a significant share of the �missing heritability' of autism, would (by definition) contribute to pleiotropy, and relate to so-called �co-morbidities', which are inappropriately named if they actually contribute to (or exacerbate) the severity of autism itself.

4/25/2018

Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism in Latino and Non-Latino White Families

This study comparee barriers to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and current ASD-related service use among non-Latino white (NLW) families and Latino families with English proficiency (L-EP) or limited English proficiency (L-LEP).

4/23/2018

Training parents of youth with autism spectrum disorders to advocate for adult disability services: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial

Training parents of youth with autism spectrum disorders to advocate for adult disability services: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

4/20/2018

Changes in Intrinsic Local Connectivity After Reading Intervention in Children with Autism

Most of the existing behavioral and cognitive intervention programs in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have not been tested at the neurobiological level, thus falling short of finding quantifiable neurobiological changes underlying behavioral improvement.

4/20/2018

Changes in Intrinsic Local Connectivity After Reading Intervention in Children with Autism

Most of the existing behavioral and cognitive intervention programs in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have not been tested at the neurobiological level, thus falling short of finding quantifiable neurobiological changes underlying behavioral improvement.

4/20/2018

Review of Autism Screeners for Very Young Children with or at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Screening for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 18 and 24 months has been a standard American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation since 2007. However, research over the last two decades about the early emergence of autism symptoms has prompted a number of researchers and clinicians to create screening instruments and strategies for earlier ages.

4/19/2018

AIR-B Network Activities

The Autism Intervention Research Network for Behavioral Health (AIR-B) provides a free annual community conference to increase awareness of autism services, current research, and evidence-based interventions in the local regions of each of its network partners: University of Pennsylvania, UC Davis MIND Institute, University of Rochester, and University of California, Los Angeles. Experts in the network share their expertise and invite other prominent autism advocates to discuss topics ranging from non-clinical based autism interventions, to parent advocacy, to school-based transition supports for students with autism.

4/19/2018

AIR-P Network Activities

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities.

4/19/2018

Autism Town Hall: Partnering with Primary Care Pediatricians, Meaningful Inclusion, and Gender Differences

The "Autism Town Hall" event, hosted by SPHARC and ITAC, was held at the 2018 AMCHP Annual Conference in Arlington, VA. It provided a platform for current and former Autism CARES grantees, as well as those working at the state systems level and other community members, to dialogue with national partner organizations and each other about priorities and ideas for how to make progress toward a coordinated, comprehensive system of services for autistic individuals. The event was an opportunity to hear from groups working on ASD/DD issues and discuss ways to promote alignment with existing efforts .

4/19/2018

Autism Town Hall: Partnering with Primary Care Pediatricians, Meaningful Inclusion, and Gender Differences

The "Autism Town Hall" event, hosted by SPHARC and ITAC, was held at the 2018 AMCHP Annual Conference in Arlington, VA. It provided a platform for current and former Autism CARES grantees, as well as those working at the state systems level and other community members, to dialogue with national partner organizations and each other about priorities and ideas for how to make progress toward a coordinated, comprehensive system of services for autistic individuals. The event was an opportunity to hear from groups working on ASD/DD issues and discuss ways to promote alignment with existing efforts .

4/19/2018

Better Together: Developmental Screening and Monitoring Best Identify Children who Need Early Intervention

Children at risk of developmental disabilities or delays who receive both monitoring and screening are more likely to receive the early interventions they need than their peers who receive either monitoring or screening, according to a study led by Dr. Brian Barger-a researcher at the Georgia State University and Policy Fellow with the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." team at NCBDD.

4/19/2018

IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research 2017

The 2017 Summary of Advances provides short, plain language summaries of the top 20 research articles selected by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). The studies selected for 2017 have provided new insight into potential biomarkers to predict risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental trajectories of children with ASD, and the impact of the various prenatal exposures on ASD risk. The advances also include studies that investigated treatments and interventions for both ASD and co-occurring conditions, the impact of policy changes on ASD health care spending, patterns of injury mortality, and prevalence differences across demographic groups.

4/19/2018

NJLEND Presents Twice Born: Stories from the Special Delivery Unit

New Jersey's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program (NJLEND) at Rutgers University, hosted Twice Born: Stories from the Special Delivery Unit, a continuing education event highlighting the principles of family-centered care. The session shed light on one family's experience with fetal surgery, the intricacies of navigating the healthcare system, and the complex relationships between healthcare professionals and parents as shown in the Emmy Award-winning PBS series.

4/19/2018

Transitions Over the Life Course For Individuals with Autism

Early identification of and intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have traditionally garnered a significant portion of public attention and spending. However, with an estimated 60,000 youth on the autism spectrum turning 18 years old in 2016*, understanding the factors associated with risk and resilience in adulthood is of significant public health importance. Notably, both research and anecdotal accounts indicate that adults with autism tend to suffer from poor life course outcomes, including but not limited to unemployment, underemployment, and social disengagement. The Health Care Transitions Research Network (HCTRN) was thus designed as an interdisciplinary, multi-center research forum for scientific collaboration and infrastructure-building, with a focus on research designed to improve health care transitions and promote an optimal transition to adulthood among youth and young adults with ASD .

4/19/2018

Update from the Division of MCH Workforce Development

Autism Awareness Month is a perfect time to acknowledge the many ways in which the Autism CARES grantees make a difference in the lives of children with ASD and other developmental disabilities (DD), and their families. This quarter's MCHB Minute is about our gratitude for all that you do!

4/19/2018

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

This cohort has continued participating in monthly technical assistance calls, and through these calls, there has been a lot of discussion around grantee needs for more support and guidance around the Telehealth/education piece of their work. The 2018 Peer-to-Peer Exchange will be held in mid-April in Spokane, WA with a focus on creating connections for children and their families, self-advocates, and providers through Telehealth services. The meeting will feature the Washington State Department of Health team and their partners. During this meeting, participants will learn how the WA team (and others) have collaborated with different partners, addressed challenges around serving culturally and linguistically diverse families, and establishing buy-in to effectively provide Telehealth services in their communities. Stay tuned for the December 2018 Developments issue for our lessons learned from the meeting!

4/18/2018

Language Barriers Impact Access to Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Racial and ethnic disparities in accessing health care have been described in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a retrospective chart review of 152 children with ASD, children of parents whose primary language was English were significantly more likely to have both social skills and communication goals within their individualized education plan (IEP) compared to children of parents whose primary language was not English.

4/18/2018

Transitioning Together: A Multi-family Group Psychoeducation Program for Adolescents with ASD and Their Parents (WI UCEDD/LEND)

Currently there are few evidence-based programs available for families of individuals with ASD during the transition to adulthood. The present study provided a preliminary evaluation of a multi-family group psychoeducation intervention using a randomized waitlist control design (n = 41). Families in the intervention condition participated in Transitioning Together, an 8-week program designed to reduce family distress and improve social functioning for adolescents.

4/16/2018

AUCD2018: You're Invited

Colleagues, I am excited to invite you to join me in Washington, DC, on November 11-14 for the 2018 AUCD Conference - We ALL Belong Here! Achieving Inclusive Communities. This year's theme has a strong message of belonging and inclusion. I cannot think of a time in my life when it was more important to remember, celebrate, and remind others that all human beings have value, and a right to be included in their communities. This means opportunity, access, and equity in education, housing, employment, healthcare, faith communities, transportation, activities, and all aspects of community living. I am very much ...

4/16/2018

Disability Policy News In Brief

FY 18 and 19 Budget; Food Security; Autism Cares; DPS; and more

4/16/2018

Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders: How the Nisonger LEND Program at The Ohio State University Provides Training in Technology Supports

Understanding technology is a critical leadership skill in neurodevelopmental disabilities. Leaders in our field interface with technology in almost all aspects of our work: Electronic Medical Records, telehealth, wearable devises, assistive and environmental technologies. One challenge our LEND program faces is how to provide information and skills about technology to a diverse group of LEND Trainees. To start to address the "technology" issue we have implemented a two-pronged strategy to provide introductory didactic and advanced interdisciplinary clinical experiences to LEND trainees.

4/16/2018

Screening for Autism with the SRS and SCQ: Variations across Demographic, Developmental and Behavioral Factors in Preschool Children.

The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Social Responsiveness Scales (SRS) are commonly used screeners for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Data from the Study to Explore Early Development were used to examine variations in the performance of these instruments by child characteristics and family demographics.

4/13/2018

Android Robot-Mediated Mock Job Interview Sessions for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an android robot-mediated mock job interview training in terms of both bolstering self-confidence and reducing biological levels of stress in comparison to a psycho-educational approach human interview was assessed in a randomized study.Young adults with ASD were randomized to participate either in a mock job interview training with our android robot system or a self-paced review of materials about job-interviewing skills.

4/12/2018

Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD (NJ UCEDD/LEND) to Receive Clement A. Price Human Dignity Award from Rutgers University

Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD, Executive Director and Professor of Pediatrics of The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, has been selected to receive the Clement A. Price Human Dignity Award by the Rutgers Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Committee to Advance Our Common Purposes.

4/12/2018

Do Early Caregiver Concerns Differentiate Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Given that early caregiver concerns may be different for children who go on to receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder versus another developmental disability, early caregiver concerns may differ for girls. Using a community-based sample of children (n = 241), we examined the extent to which gender differences may be related to caregiver concerns prior to a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disability.

4/11/2018

AUCD Network Members Provide Expertise to Develop Inclusion Principles and Guidelines for People with Intellectual Disability

On December of 2017, several members from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) network, along with other professionals from various backgrounds, convened to form the Inclusive Health Project Workgroup. The purpose of this workgroup was to assist in creating inclusion principles and guidelines for implementing health-related activities for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). These principles and guidelines would serve to support national-level organizations to adopt and promote inclusive approaches to health for people with ID, and provide useful information for organizations on how to foster inclusion of people with ID in national organizations. This exceptional workgroup, which encompassed of directors and specialists from University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), used both their professional and individual experiences in the realm of disabilities/ID to develop the Foundational Principles for Sustainable Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities.

4/10/2018

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Lindsey Calhoun, Dietetic Intern & Louisiana Deputy Nutrition Ambassador

Are you wanting to change your eating habits, but are worried about the costs associated with eating healthier? You are not alone. Most us want to eat healthy, we just are unsure of how to go about it without breaking the bank. By following a few quick and easy steps, you will be on the road to a healthier lifestyle in no time.

4/10/2018

Mid-life Social Outcomes for a Population-based Sample of Adults with ASD

Adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) fall short of social outcomes of non‐ASD peers in mid‐life, as documented by currently published research. The aim of the current study was to extend what is known about social functioning, employment, independent living, and use of social services by examining details of the current life status for a population‐based sample of adults with ASD (mean age = 35.5 years, range = 22.2�51.4). We collected outcome data via direct assessment and informant report for 169 individuals. Three‐fourths of the sample had cognitive abilities in the intellectually disabled range. Social functioning outcomes, as a single measure, mirror those reported previously for other samples, including samples with a high proportion of individuals with normal range intellectual abilities, with 20% achieving the most independent outcomes and 46% requiring high levels of support across most life areas. Participant subgroups who achieved maximal outcomes represented a range of social and intellectual abilities for several outcome metrics. Participants used high levels of public and private supports, yet specific areas of clear, unmet need were also identified.

4/10/2018

New! The AUCD Emerging Leaders Map

Showcasing Trainees & Early Career Leaders within the AUCD Network

The AUCD Emerging Leaders Map highlights diverse trainees and early career leaders across AUCD's network. Each person was selected for inclusion on the map based on their contributions to the network, how they have demonstrated leadership, and their values and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect for others. The Map provides an opportunity for you to explore and learn more about each trainee and early career leader. When clicking on a pin from a Program/Center, you'll learn more about each trainee about their passions, how they have leveraged their traineeship, how they are emerging as leaders, and advice for individuals who are interested in joining a traineeship.

4/10/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Arkansas

Nutrition is for Everyone Arkansas (NIFE AR) has been working hard to wrap up the grant in its final month. They've made arrangements with three existing organizations that will continue NIFE AR after the grant ends. Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Arkansas Special Olympics, and Arkansas Disability and Health have all taken on the mission to continue increasing fruit and vegetable intake and overall nutrition education with their programs. They have agreed to continue offering adapted cooking classes throughout the state and also to continue offering NIFE AR adapted nutrition education materials in one-day classes, Live Healthy events, and online video series.

4/10/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Louisiana

Nutrition is for Everyone Louisiana (NIFE LA) project wrapped up its 8-week pilot program with Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) this month called the Unified Fitness Club. Each week, athletes and their families participated in a 30-mintue physical activity session and a 30-minute interactive nutrition lesson developed by the NIFE LA team. Nutrition lessons are currently being compiled into a user-friendly instructor's manual that will be disseminated to SOLA organizations across the state.

4/10/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Mississippi

Nutrition is for Everyone Mississippi (NIFE MS) held three nutrition workshops during March; Tupelo in North Mississippi, Flowood in the Jackson area of central Mississippi, and Greenwood in the Delta. Participants included people with disabilities and high school classes. The hands-on snack health snack preparation activity continues to be a favorite of participants.

4/10/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Oklahoma

The Nutrition is for Everyone Tennessee Oklahoma (NIFE OK) Deputy Nutrition Ambassadors taught a class for Spanish-speaking families on how to add more fruits and vegetables to the diet. They also provided nutrition handouts and advertised for nutrition classes at "On the Road", a one-day conference designed to help people with disabilities and their friends and families find resources. Deputy Ambassadors participated in "People with Disabilities Awareness Day at the Capitol" in Oklahoma City and met with legislators to advocate for better services for people with disabilities.

4/10/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Tennessee

Nutrition is for Everyone Tennessee (NIFE TN) continued distributing NIFE information (including social media connections) at the 1-day workshops for professionals and families related to intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was a good opportunity for them to provide nutrition resources to physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals! Four more workshops were scheduled across the state, with the last one being in mid-April, expanding their reach with health care professionals as well as families.

4/9/2018

Everyone is Raven' About the MAVEN Telehealth Project (FL UCEDD/LEND)

Patients without health insurance frequently face long waits for specialty care. The collaborative MAVEN Project, launched in November at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Mailman Center for Child Development, with the Pediatric Mobile Clinic, aims to cure that problem by connecting patients to volunteer physicians through mobile clinics equipped with telehealth systems. The MAVEN (Medical Alumni Volunteer Expert Network) Project is collaborating with mobile clinics at UHealth-the University of Miami Health System, UHI Community Care Clinic and Florida International University, leveraging grants funded by the United Way of Miami-Dade and Health Foundation of South Florida.

4/9/2018

Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) New Efforts in Cultural Competency (MD UCEDD/LEND)

The MCDD has undertaken a strong focus this year on improving our understanding and practices regarding cultural competency, diversity, and inclusion. A number of activities have contributed to this effort and are described in some detail below.

4/9/2018

Spanish Interpreters Trained in Serving People with IDD in Medical Settings (NY UUCEDD/LEND)

Through funding from the WITH Foundation, Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities partnered with University of Rochester Medical Center Interpreter Services, Ibero-American Action League, and Jeiri Flores and Jensen Caraballo, two Latinx self-advocates, to deliver a training to Spanish medical interpreters, medical liaisons, and Medicaid Service Coordinators to improve the healthcare experience for Spanish-speaking people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Built over a six-month period, the training covered health disparities for people with IDD, disability history, intersections between Latinx and disability cultural values, and communication strategies for working with patients. While interpreters are familiar with many Latinx cultural values, they were able to consider how these cultural values impact Latinx people with IDD in medical settings, and how to act as advocates in ensuring patient understanding.

4/9/2018

SPARK: A US Cohort of 50,000 Families to Accelerate Autism Research

The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) has launched SPARKForAutism.org, a dynamic platform that is engaging thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and connecting them to researchers. By making all data accessible, SPARK seeks to increase our understanding of ASD and accelerate new supports and treatments for ASD.

4/6/2018

Overview and Preliminary Evidence for a Social Skills and Self-Care Curriculum for Adolescent Females with Autism: The Girls Night Out Model

A majority of social skills research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and interventions target school age males and no published studies target adolescent females with ASD or related disabilities. Females with ASD are at risk for internalizing symptoms, and experience greater challenges in socialization and communication as social demands become increasingly complex in adolescence.

4/6/2018

President Donald Trump's Intent to Appoint Personnel to the President 's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID)

The PCPID has 31 members: 18 citizens, and 13 ex officio (federal government) members. A maximum of 21 citizen members is allowed. Citizen members are appointed by the President and serve for a maximum of two years. A variety of individuals are appointed as citizen members, including parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities, scientists and professionals from the field, community and business representatives, and systems advocates.

4/6/2018

Reflection of My Visit to a New LEND Program (WA LEND)

By Courtney Davis, MS RD CD LEND Nutrition Fellow University of Washington

My visit to JFK Partner's LEND program at the University of Colorado began 3 months prior with a simple question, "what do other LEND programs look like?" I was cognizant of the 51 other programs operating around the country, but had little knowledge of their clinical focuses and expertise. I had lived in Colorado while attending college and was curious how their state's program compared to my own. I approached my nutrition faculty member about a potential visit who thought it was be a positive way to immerse myself further into the LEND program.

4/5/2018

Factors Associated with Sustained Community Employment Among Adults with Autism and Co-occurring Intellectual Disability (WI UCEDD/LEND)

Sustaining community employment is a challenge for adults with autism, especially for those who have co-occurring intellectual disability. This study explored the impact of contextual influences, family factors, & individual characteristics on sustained employment.

4/4/2018

10 Things Everyone Should Know About Autism

Check out this AUCD member authored article to kick off #autismAwareness #autismAcceptance month! The article's author, Lisa Shulman, M.D., is a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician and Director of Autism Clinical Services at the Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center, RFK, LEND/UCEDD at Montefiore Health System and Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is also the AUCD/CDC Act Early Ambassador for the state of New York, where she works to raise awareness about the importance of early identification of autism and other developmental disabilities so that children can benefit from early intervention services and achieve a best outcome.

4/4/2018

Thank You to Our 2018 Gala Sponsors!

We are deeply appreciative of the support of our major Sponsors for the March 20, 2018 AUCD for All Gala. Thank you for joining us to honor those who are transforming disability policy and leading the way toward inclusion, opportunity, and social justice for all. And thank you for your leadership every day to ensure sound policies and practices at the state and national levels for people with disabilities and their families.

4/3/2018

Parents taking action: A psycho-educational intervention for Latino parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

Results are promising in the use of a "Promotora de Salud" model of intervention delivery among Spanish-speaking mothers of children with ASD. With input from a community-based organization, researchers found that the culturally derived intervention was both feasible to implement & acceptable to participants.

4/1/2018

April 2018: Autism Awareness & Acceptance

Autism Acceptance: AUCD envisions a future in which all people - including those living with autism and related developmental disabilities - are fully included, participating members of their communities. Autism Awareness: We advocate for equitable access to supports and services that lead to self-determination, independence, productivity, and a healthy and satisfying quality of life.

3/29/2018

Aysenil Belger Named the New Director of Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

Terry Magnuson, Vice Chancellor for Research, has appointed Aysenil ("Ayse") Belger to serve as the new director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For over 50 years, FPG has been a leader in generating knowledge, informing policies, and supporting practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for children.

3/29/2018

Belinda Hardy Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

UT UCEDD / LEND Associate Director and Chief of Social Work Belinda Hardy, LCSW, MPA, was the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

3/29/2018

CT LEND Students Present at the EHDI Meeting in Denver Colorado

In its 17th year the EHDI Meeting has built a strong reputation for bringing together a wide variety of attendees including those who: work in state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs; assist in EHDI efforts on the federal level; provide screening, diagnostic and early intervention support at the state/ local level to young children with hearing loss and their families; champion Medical Home activities within each state; are parents of children with hearing loss; or are deaf or hard-of-hearing adults who are helping to expand opportunities for young children with hearing loss.

3/29/2018

Iowa Lend Self-Advocate Trainee "Makes the Connection" at National Conferences

Iowa LEND's first self-advocate trainee, Ed Esbeck, recently returned from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) national conference where he served as lead presenter on a session entitled "Developing an Inclusive and Accessible LEND Curriculum." It was Esbeck's second trip to Washington in the past three months, having attended the AUCD national conference in November.

3/29/2018

Largest Group of Act Early Ambassadors in History Complete Annual Training at NCBDDD/CDC

Twelve newly selected Act Early Ambassadors joined forces with a veteran cohort of forty-three Act Early Ambassadors representing 50 states and 4 territories on the campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Annual Act Early Ambassador Training on March 14 & 15, 2018 hosted by the Learn the Signs. Act Early. Team at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)/CDC along with project partners from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP).

3/29/2018

Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) Expands Faculty (MD UCEDD/LEND)

The MCDD has recently hired a new Director of Training to coordinate all of the MCDD�s growing training efforts. Mirian Ofonedu, Ph.D. has been hired to provide leadership within the MCDD regarding training. These efforts will include coordinating all of the MCDD�s trainees (law, community health, public health, and others) as well as developing and coordinating training projects in the community. Dr. Ofonedu has a strong history of publications, data and grants management, and training with a focus on mental health, disability, and African American youth.

3/29/2018

Ohio Disability Policy Monthly Calls (OH UCEDD)

It's a busy time for Ohio state-level disability policy. For that reason, The University of Cincinnati UCEDD, along with state DD Network partners, are following multiple Ohio policies that could impact people with disabilities, their family members, and professionals that work in the field and we're hosting monthly calls to talk about these policies.

3/29/2018

Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (NY UCEDD) Spring Webinar Series

The Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (RRCASD), a program within the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, UCEDD, announces its free Spring Webinar Series.

3/29/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Offers Free Resources on Inclusive Higher Education and Stories from Families Living in Rural Counties

Two new resources are available to download free of charge from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEED, LEND, IDDRC). The first, Inclusive Higher Education: Practices and Perspectives from the Southeast, is a compilation of keynote and breakout presentations from the 3rd Annual Southeastern Postsecondary Education Alliance Capacity Building Institute. The second resource is a special edition of Kindred Stories of Disability, which includes the experiences of individuals with disabilities and their families living in rural counties in Tennessee. Both resources are relevant to an audience beyond Tennessee and the Southeast.

3/29/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) TRIAD Study Affirms Effectiveness, Promise of Telemedicine for Autism Evaluations

Researchers at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) have found that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be accurately diagnosed in young children via remote, telemedicine assessments, a method that could significantly increase access and reduce wait times for autism services.

3/29/2018

VT LEND Self-Advocate Fellow receives Dr. Ruth Christ Sullivan Public Policy Fellowship

Ms. Nicole Leblanc, VT LEND Self-Advocate Fellow, has been awarded the Dr. Ruth Christ Sullivan Public Policy Fellowship with the Autism Society. She will assist with federal, state and local key public policy and advocacy issues impacting millions of individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorder.

3/29/2018

Wyoming Institute for Disabilites Launches New ECHO Network to Address Opioid Use in Wyoming (WY UCEDD)

Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, Wyoming's UCEDD at the University of Wyoming, launched a new ECHO integrated care network in February designed to address issues related to opioid use in Wyoming. UW ECHO in Behavioral Health is a collaboration with the Wyoming Department of Health and Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center and brings together professionals from behavioral health, primary care, law enforcement as well as treatment and recovery providers, peer specialists and pharmacists. By sharing promising practices and evidenced-based care, the network provides participants with an opportunity to participate in an online professional community dedicated to preventing opiate addiction and fostering recovery.

3/27/2018

SC LEND and Greenville Health Systems co-sponsor 12th annual Nurturing Developing Minds conference

Over 230 people gathered for the 13th annual Nurturing Developing Minds conference in Greenville SC. These included professionals, family members, self-advocates, and current and past SC LEND trainees. This year's conference theme was Building Resiliency.

3/26/2018

Colorado LEND/UCEDD Fellow Policy Day

Colorado's JFK Partners LEND and UCEDD fellows and faculty visited the state capitol on Feb 28, 2018. JFK Partners collaborated with The Arc of Colorado and Alliance Colorado to host IDD Awareness Day 2018 with nearly 400 participants from each of the three agencies and invited guests from state agencies and the legislature.

3/26/2018

Dr. Nordness named Scottish Rite Professor (NE UCEDD/LEND)

by John Keenan and Micah Evans

One of the Munroe-Meyer Institute's most important collaborations got even stronger on March 19, when the Scottish Rite Foundation of Nebraska announced that MMI's Amy Nordness, Ph.D., director of speech-language pathology, is the holder of the endowed UNMC Scottish Rite of Nebraska Professorship in Speech-Language Therapy.

3/26/2018

New Tools from the CPD Allow Site-wide Web Accessibility Evaluation (UT UCEDD/LEND)

WebAIM has long set the standard for web accessibility, and its WAVE tool has made it possible for people everywhere to find out whether a web page is usable for people with disabilities. Now, new options make it possible to use WAVE across an entire website. "The online version of WAVE and the browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are and always will be free," said Jared Smith, associate director of WebAIM and a developer of the WAVE web accessibility evaluation tool. But the new license options allow users to evaluate more than one page at a time. "People wanted that data that WAVE provides on a page, but they wanted it across an entire website,"Smith said. Users can access these new, more powerful tools in several ways.

3/26/2018

Raising Awareness and Inclusion for Healthy Hearts (KY UCEDD)

The Kentucky CARE Collaborative (Cardiovascular, Assessment, Risk-reduction and Education) is a free blood pressure awareness program that aims to increase the number of people who are taking action to help control elevated blood pressure through appropriate counseling about health behaviors and/or lifestyle changes. Because Kentuckians with disabilities can have higher blood pressure than those without disabilities, HDI is coordinating the Project CHEER effort to provide more inclusive CARE programming.

3/19/2018

CDS Champions Jobs for People with Disabilities (HI UCEDD)

People with disabilities are working, training for jobs, or searching for better jobs. Clearly, work is important for people with disabilities. But in the search for employment, many run into barriers that rarely confront their counterparts without disabilities. Find out why this is so and learn why CDS researchers say a change has got to come--for everyone's benefit.

3/19/2018

Minnesota LTSAE, MNLEND & MN Latino Childcare Providers Collaboration

MNLEND Fellow, Alice Kraiza, housed in the ICI at the University of Minnesota, is collaborating with leaders of the Latino Childcare Providers Network (La Red), a Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN)provider group based out of Richfield and Bloomington, Minnesota. La Red/The Network's Director, Ruth Evangelista, and Alice are developing a new training program on early developmental milestones and signs of Autism using "Learn the signs. Act Early." materials and resources for the wider Latinx FFN network. Per Evangelista, "I believe this training is a good for la Red.

3/19/2018

Portland Maine LEND Holds Annual Family Picnic

"The family picnic is the first step of our family-led experiences for LEND Trainees. We welcomed 5 families during the picnic and solicited more in the process. Each LEND trainee will be matched with a family that fits their learning goals. Host families will teach the trainees about everyday life with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Trainees will play, eat, and enjoy family life with their host family and in the process they will learn deep lessons that they will carry through into their leadership. Trainees may also accompany children to appointments, school planning, activities, and family experiences," explains LEND Training Coordinator, Clinical Professor and occupational therapist Dr. Kathyrn Loukas.

3/19/2018

Texas A&M System Creates Collaborative Learning Center (TX UCEDD)

The Texas A&M University System wants to bring together children and older Texans in a place where everyone can learn and thrive. The Texas A&M University System and private developers broke ground Tuesday on an intergenerational care facility in College Station. The first part of the project will focus on children and will provide educational experiences in a new preschool. Later, as part of a broader complex, an assisted living center for older adults will be added to the site.

3/19/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Explores the Right to Make Choices

Noted disability public policy advocate Jonathan Martinis, J.D., senior director for Law and Policy at the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, delivered the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Lecture "Supported Decision-Making: Protecting Rights, Ensuring Choices" in January 2018.

3/14/2018

AUCD Network Leadership in State Policy

States are often the catalysts for innovation, and AUCD members are engaging with policy makers and coalition partners in every state and territory by presenting research, conducting training, and developing and advocating for policies that will improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities. View our new online map to see examples of just some of the ways AUCD members are working in partnership to advance state-level policy for people with disabilities.

3/12/2018

CDS asks Lawmakers to Open Welcome Mat for Accessible Housing (HI UCEDD)

A comprehensive CDS research report shows that Hawaii has a severe shortage of accessible housing to accommodate people with disabilities, including a large segment of the elderly who are prone to mobility challenges. The CDS report is at the center of two legislative bills that take aim at solving the problem. Both measures were introduced in the House and Senate in January and are moving along for further consideration by lawmakers. Find out more about why supporters of these initiatives say that taking action now to increase the supply of affordable and accessible housing is critical to the health and well-being of Hawaii's families.

3/12/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Arkansas

Arkansas (AR) appeared on a local TV Station, KATV 7 News, to promote Nutrition is for Everyone (NIFE) AR and demonstrate a healthy adapted recipe that used in their classes. Nutrition advocate Carly Luck, created Veggie Wraps on live TV and did a fantastic job! KATV 7 News is excited to have her back on air very soon.

3/12/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Louisiana

In February,Senior Program Manager Tanisha Clarke from AUCD visited the Louisiana Nutrition is for Everyone (NIFE LA) in New Orleans to observe activities and meet & greet the team members. Additionally, the NIFE LA project wrapped up its fourth Unified Fitness Club class offered through its partnership with Special Olympics Louisiana. At each weekly class, athletes and their families engaged in 30 minutes of guided physical activity and 30 minutes of interactive nutrition education.

3/12/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Mississippi

Nutrition is for Everyone Mississippi (NIFE MS) held the project's second nutrition education workshop last month. Seventeen students and their instructors from transition classes at Gulfport and Pass Christian high schools participated. The workshop was held at the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) office in Long Beach at The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Park campus. Deputy Ambassador LaShaundrea Crook, MS, RDN, LD, led the workshop and hands-on snack activity, and Deputy Ambassador Taylor Carley provided workshop support.

3/12/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Oklahoma

The Deputy Nutrition Ambassadors at Nutrition is for Everyone Oklahoma (NIFE OK) are teaching a class this month for Spanish-speaking families on how to meet the dietary guidelines using MyPlate. NIFE OK has also partnered with the LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) program and is in the process of developing a curriculum for healthy meal planning and food safety for people with disabilities and their friends and family.

3/12/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Tennessee

Nutrition is for Everyone Tennessee (NIFE TN) was able to distribute Nutrition is for Everyone information (including social media connections) at a 1-day workshop for professionals and families related to intellectual and developmental disabilities. This was a great opportunity to provide some nutrition resources to physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals! There are several more workshops scheduled in upcoming months across the state, expanding NIFE TN's reach with health care professionals as well as families.

3/12/2018

The Center for Leadership in Disability Co-Hosts 10th Annual Georgia Positive Behavior Support Conference (GA UCEDD/LEND)

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University (GSU), co-hosted the 10th-annual Georgia Association of Positive Behavior Support (Georgia APBS) conference on November 28-29, 2017. The 2017 Georgia APBS Conference had over 100 presentations and 1,400 registrants. Georgia APBS is a network state under the national Association for Positive Behavior Support (www.apbs.org). According to the Association for Positive Behavior Support, positive behavior support is defined as "a set of research-based strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease problem behavior by teaching new skills and making changes in a person's environment.

3/12/2018

Vanderbilt Consortium LEND

The Vanderbilt Consortium LEND program has provided far reaching opportunities for trainees to gain expertise in family-centered care, to become familiar with community resources, and to develop an interprofessional problem solving mindset. In addition to providing rigorous leadership training and an intensive 24-week core series on topics ranging from life course to ethics, from specific diagnoses to medical home, from newborn screening to policy, the core curriculum and leadership seminars have reinforced the importance of interprofessional and family-centered care within the healthcare setting. These learning experiences have aided our understanding of our role as part of a healthcare team and have helped expand our knowledge of the roles of other professionals we work alongside.

3/12/2018

WAVE Assists in Web Accessibility (UT UCEDD)

WebAIM is a project out of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. While WebAIM began in 1999 as a FIPSE-funded grant to assist those in higher education with the task of "Keeping Web Accessibilty In Mind", it has since grown to help almost every sector of society with their digital accessibility challenges.

3/9/2018

Dental Health Care Challenges and Barriers for Persons with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (MN LEND)

In our January 25th MNLEND cohort session, we had the honor to hear Katie Anderson, DDS 4th year dental student at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, 2nd year LEND Fellow, present information on "Common Dental Challenges and Preventive Dental Care for Persons with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

3/7/2018

Autism CARES/LEND Act Funding Alert

The President's FY 2019 Budget Request eliminates funding for the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Autism CARES Act programs. This $47 million cut includes the $31.3 million appropriation for LEND programs. The national network of LEND programs would be eliminated. LEND directors, health professionals, trainees, families and allies must educate their Members of Congress about why this training program is important and why it must not be eliminated.

3/7/2018

Emergency Preparedness Efforts to Reach Disability Community in Territories with Support from Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies to Association of University Centers on Disabilities

AUCD expands its emergency preparedness efforts with the creation of action steps toward building capacity of Territory emergency preparedness and response made possible by a grant from Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies. Five AUCD-member centers will participate in interviews with territory leaders from Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose of these interviews is to get insights on the emergency and disaster role of the Centers in all 5 territories and how to better serve children and adults with disabilities before, during and after disasters.

3/7/2018

UCEDD Funding Alert

The President's FY 2019 Budget Request cuts the funding for UCEDDs by $6 million from $39 to $33 million, or more than 15%. In fact, a $5.5 million increase over the expected FY 2018 level is needed to meet the growth of scope of work as related to assisting states to effectively implement recently enacted Federal laws, and the growth of need around autism, Zika, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. UCEDD directors, health professionals, trainees, families, and allies must educate their Members of Congress about why this training program is important, how it serves your state, and why increased funding is needed.

3/6/2018

Partnership Expands Resources Around School Mental Health (IN UCEDD/LEND)

Indiana University's Indiana School Mental Health Initiative (ISHMI) has partnered with The Lutheran Foundation to provide online resources to support schools and community partners as they address students' social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs.

3/6/2018

Spectrum Learning Community To Connect Texas A&M Students On Autism Spectrum (TX UCEDD)

By Maggie Rians Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs

The Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs will launch a learning community in fall 2018 that will connect students on the autism spectrum.

3/5/2018

Montana UCEDD RTC:Rural Shares Rural Disability and Solution-Focused Research

The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) at the University of Montana has produced two research summaries that provide an overview of their community-based research. Both documents can be downloaded as accessible PDFs here: Rural Disability and Solution-Focused Research.

3/4/2018

New Gopen & Crocker Fellows (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The 2018 Gopen Fellow, Ashley Quick, joined ICI in early July. She will spend the year focusing on how to help law enforcement better understand and work with people with disabilities. Raquel Quezada, the 2018 Crocker Fellow, continues her work at the ICI in this new capacity after having been a 2017 LEND Fellow. Raquel has developed a radio program dedicated to helping the Latina population learn more about disability resources. Her program is heard weekly on La Mega 95.1FM (or 1400AM) each Saturday at 11am, and will be expanding soon.

3/2/2018

Continue to Educate your Members of Congress on the importance of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program

Help people living in nursing facilities and other institutional settings move back into their community!

We applaud all advocates for their continued engagement around the important MFP program. This week is crucial for advocates to continue educating Members of Congress on the positive impact this program has had on the lives of people with disabilities. It is AUCD's hope that MFP will be included in the March 23 omnibus appropriations package. Contact your senators and representatives to educate them on the importance of MFP in order to increase co-sponsors: 03/07: call. 03/08: social media. 03/09: email.

3/1/2018

Spread the Word to End the Word

Join us on March 7

The R-word hurts. It's offensive. It's derogatory. This worldwide campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people. Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions. Pledge today to use respectful, people-first language.

3/1/2018

Welcome 2017-2018 Diversity Fellows!

The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), in the Administration on Community Living (ACL), awarded National Training Initiative grants to 13 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) to support the recruitment and retention of trainees from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to participate in a fellowship experience at the UCEDD with opportunities to make systemic change through a capstone project and community-based activities.

2/28/2018

South Dakota LEND Trainees Experience the State Legislative Process

Leadership is the first word in the full definition of LEND. Underlying leadership are a dozen MCH competencies. The South Dakota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND), housed at the Center for Disabilities in the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, takes one of those competencies-Policy and Advocacy-and engages its LEND trainees in an immersion experience with the policy makers and influencers in the state.

2/26/2018

AUCD Network Involvement in Public Health

Take Survey by March 6

AUCD is working on a summary of the Network's involvement in public health activities. Please take this 10-minute survey as soon as possible, and no later than March 6. This will help us as we wrap up our current CDC cooperative agreement and make plans for our competitive application for the next cycle.

2/25/2018

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

See Me for Me!

During this month, we want people to share their stories, photos, and resources far and wide to expand the conversation of inclusion and accessibility. This year's theme is "See Me for Me!" To us, this means looking beyond someone's disability and seeing them as a person and not just a person with a disability.

2/20/2018

President's Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

Analysis of the Impact on People with Disabilities

President Donald Trump on February 12 released his budget proposal to Congress for Fiscal Year 2019, which will cover October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019 (FY19). The entire budget can be found on the White House homepage. In general, President Trum's budget, titled "Efficient, Effective, Accountable: An American Budget," would dramatically impact Americans with disabilities, with cuts far deeper than any ever enacted. The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) examines the budget's cuts to the national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs, key disability programs, research, and a broad set of public services critical to the lives of people with disabilities.

2/15/2018

In Memoriam: Gordon Richins (UT UCEDD)

Gordon Richins, Consumer Liaison at the Center for Persons with Disabilities in Utah and former 2-term COCA Co-Chair, passed away on February 11. He leaves a hole at the CPD, and in many other places where his influence was felt.

2/14/2018

PCPID Releases Report on Direct Support Workforce

President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) chaired by and includes several AUCD members

The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) has released its 2017 report, America's Direct Support Workforce Crisis: Effects on People with Intellectual Disabilities, Families, Communities and the U.S. Economy. Direct support professionals (DSPs) provide services and supports that empower people with intellectual disabilities to live in the community. In the report, PCPID notes that DSPs promote participation in the U.S. economy "by helping people with an (intellectual disability) get jobs and by enabling family members to work." The report describes the current state of the DSP workforce as a "crisis," noting that the average DSP wage is $10.72, most work two or three jobs, and the average annual DSP turnover rate is 45%.

2/12/2018

AUCD Trainee Updates: News from the North (AK LEND)

Submitted by LEND Trainee Kelly McBride

Alaska's LEND Without Walls, part of the Center for Human Development at the University of Alaska Anchorage, is building capacity. 2017-2018 LEND trainees have had a variety of experiences so far, including time with host families, field experiences, and clinical observations.

2/12/2018

Easi-CRISPR Recipe Outlined in Nature Protocols (NE UCEDD/LEND)

By Elizabeth Kumru

Earlier this year, Dr. Gurumurthy, associate professor of developmental neuroscience at UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute, announced his breakthrough in genome engineering with his up to 100 percent accurate way to genetically alter a mouse. The method is called Easi (Efficient additions with ssDNA inserts)-CRISPR. The highly efficient knock-in and gene replacement method uses long single-stranded DNA donors in mice to genetically custom engineer animal models. Scientists can now create these much-needed animal models at previously unheard of rates rapidly and at significantly lower cost.

2/12/2018

Mobility Aid Invention by Gilson and DePoy in Access+Ability Exhibit at Smithsonian Design Museum (ME UCEDD)

The AFARI Mobility Device, co-invented by University of Maine and Maine UCEDD professors Stephen Gilson and Elizabeth DePoy, is part of the current Access+Ability exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City. The exhibition, which runs through September 3, 2018, features over 70 innovative designs and �explores how users and designers are expanding and adapting accessible products and solutions in ways previously unimaginable.�

2/12/2018

Registration Open for 2018 Disability Policy Seminar and AUCD Trainee Policy Summit

The Disability Policy Seminar hosted by The Arc, UCP, AUCD, AAIDD, NACDD, and SABE is the premier opportunity to cultivate champions on Capitol Hill and advance the grassroots movement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event is packed with informative sessions from experts in the field, and opportunities to discuss key issues with others from your state. Armed with valuable information, attendees then converge on Capitol Hill to speak directly to their representatives about the issues that affect them most. All AUCD trainees are invited to a pre-DPS Trainee Summit on Sunday afternoon. Attendees will have exclusive access to Hill staffers and former trainees now working in policy, and learn from the experts how to best craft your message for Wednesday's Hill visits. An evening reception will provide a comfortable background for trainees to meet and network with over 200 peers from around the country.

2/9/2018

AUCD is Hiring: bilingual (English/Spanish) Program Specialist

Applications now being accepted

This early career position will contribute to the full range of AUCD TA initiatives, with specific emphases on monitoring scholarly research, supporting efforts to identify and address gaps in disability research relevant to underrepresented groups, and developing content for communications emphasizing the impact of AUCD.

2/9/2018

Senior Research Fellow Advising MA Commission for the Blind (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Dr. Susan Foley, a senior research fellow at the ICI, has been appointed to the statutory advisory board of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, or MCB. According to the MCB e-newsletter, "The Statutory Advisory Board [...] consists of five people, qualified by training, experience, or demonstrated interest in the services for individuals who are blind.

2/9/2018

Stephanie Porter Receives Allen C. Crocker Award at Boston Children's Hospital (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Stephanie Porter, MSN, RN, a long-time ICI faculty member, has received the Allen C. Crocker Award from the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital. Ms. Porter works with the ICI's LEND Program, a multidisciplinary training initiative focused on disability inclusion and based at Children's. The Crocker Award is presented annually to honor an individual whose work within the Division of Developmental Medicine demonstrates clinical excellence and advocacy.

2/6/2018

APHA Disability Section Call for 2018 Awards Nominations

Do you have a colleague who has made an outstanding contribution to advance disability and health? Submit a nomination! Nominators do not need to be members of the APHA Disability Section. See the attached eligibility criteria for each award listed to determine the nominee's membership requirements associated with each particular award.

2/2/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Arkansas

Nutrition is for Everyone Arkansas (NIFE AR) hosted their third large-scale training, Train the Trainer's course, in Texarkana, Arkansas. During this course, NIFE AR educated disability facility employees on how to host and teach a 6-week adapted Cooking Matters class series. Each employee plans to begin offering a class in their facility. NIFE AR have now trained over 100 employees to teach the adapted Cooking Matters class! See a video of their training here. NIFE AR also began its first six-week adapted Cooking Matters class at Pathfinders, a local disability facility, in Jacksonville, AR.

2/2/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Louisiana

Special Olympics Louisiana has partnered with Nutrition is for Everyone Louisiana (NIFE LA) to begin a new program for their athletes and families. The 8-week pilot, running January to March, invites participants to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity and 30 minutes of nutrition education during weekly evening classes. Participants are encouraged to track their health behaviors at home in between classes.

2/2/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Mississippi

"Making my own snacks" was reported most often by participants as their favorite activity at Mississippi's first Nutrition is for Everyone education workshop. The nutrition workshop was held on January 25, at the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center in Hattiesburg. Thirty participants attended, including members of the Institute for Disability Studies' TRIAD AmeriCorps project and Project SEARCH Southern Mississippi as well as members of LIFE of Mississippi, the state's independent living organization.

2/2/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Oklahoma

The Deputy Nutrition Ambassadors taught a class in Oklahoma City in Spanish for families with children with disabilities focused on making mealtimes a priority with tips for planning and prepping meals. They have a class scheduled next month focused on ways to add fruits and vegetables to the diet. Deputy Ambassadors also led a cooking demonstration and nutrition class for people with disabilities in Shawnee and participants prepared a healthy snack (Greek yogurt and banana parfait).

2/2/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Tennessee

The Post-Secondary Education programs were all on break between semesters and came back to ice and then snow at the start of the semester, with multiple days where universities were closed because of hazardous roads. Note the photo of the snowman with not only a carrot for a nose, but cashews for the smile, and dried apricots for eyes, which shows a creative use of food! Meanwhile, the program directors, along with the Nutrition Ambassador and are getting reorganized to begin planning nutrition education dates for the spring semester, and looking into further outreach.

2/1/2018

Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study Highlighted on Today Show

Featuring work by Dr. Susan Bookheimer, Director of the UCLA Semel Institute IDDRC

Parents and researchers alike wonder about the effects of everything from homework to screen time to stress to friendships on teenagers' brains. To understand more, the NIH has launched the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study tracking over 11,000 kids. New from the Today Show, AUCD member Dr. Susan Bookheimer, Director of the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior IDDRC, and the role she's playing in this study are highlighted in this piece from Maria Shriver.

2/1/2018

Compounded Disparities: Health Equity at the Intersection of Disability, Race, and Ethnicity

Authors include several AUCD members

Anyone can become disabled in a flash. Furthermore, across the life span, almost all persons live with disability at some time, especially in their later years. Thus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), disability is "a continuum, relevant to the lives of all people to different degrees and at different times in their lives,"virtually a "universal phenomenon" and a "natural feature of the human condition." As the Institute of Medicine stated: If one considers people who now have disabilities..., people who are likely to develop disabilities in the future, and people who are or will be affected by the disabilities of family members or others close to them, then disability affects today or will affect tomorrow the lives of most Americans.

1/30/2018

Camp Munroe Theater 'Flawless' (NE UCEDD/LEND)

"Fractured Fairy Tales," held at the Scottish Rite Masonic Hall in Omaha, was the culmination of a three-day theater workshop for children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The 23 participants, ranging in age from 6 to 30, also created the sets and some of the props for a skewed look at some classic children's tales.

1/30/2018

Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila, VT LEND Director, Appointed Health Equity Inclusive Liaison at the University of Vermont College of Medicine (VT LEND)

Maria Mercedes Avila, Ph.D., an associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (VT LEND) Program, has been appointed Health Equity Inclusive Excellence Liaison in the University of VT (UVM) College of Medicine's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Avila also serves as adjunct faculty in the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

1/30/2018

Dr. Nettles appointed by TN Governor Haslam as Chair of DIDD Advisory Council (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND)

Arie Nettles, Ph.D., associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) member, has been appointed by Governor Haslam as chair of the Statewide Planning and Policy Council of the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). Dr. Nettles has served as a member of the Council since 2014.

1/30/2018

New Tools Allow Site-wide Web Accessibility Evaluation (UT UCEDD)

WebAIM has long set the standard for web accessibility, and its WAVE tool has made it possible for people everywhere to find out whether a web page is usable for people with disabilities. Now, new options make it possible to use WAVE across an entire website. "The online version of WAVE and the browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox are and always will be free," said Jared Smith, associate director of WebAIM and a developer of the WAVE web accessibility evaluation tool. But the new license options allow users to evaluate more than one page at a time. "People wanted that data that WAVE provides on a page, but they wanted it across an entire website," Smith said.

1/30/2018

Rett Syndrome Research of Baylor IDDRC Director Dr. Huda Zoghbi Highlighted on TODAY Show

NBC News's Richard Engel's son diagnosed

This morning on the Today Show: When NBC News's Richard Engel learned his son had Rett Syndrome, he called AUCD's Dr. Huda Zoghbi at the Baylor College of Medicine Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), one of 14 Centers funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to advance research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in order to contribute to the resolution of many issues encountered by individuals with IDD and their families.

1/30/2018

South East Early Intervention Program Receives Award (UT UCEDD)

The South East Early Intervention Program at the Center for Persons with Disabilities was recently honored as the Community Partner of the Year by the Moab Valley Multicultural Center (MVMCC) for its efforts in "building bridges across language and culture through family support, community collaboration, and education." The program, which began in 2011, is a home-based program serving children from birth to 3 who are at risk of having developmental delays, or are diagnosed with a disability.

1/30/2018

The Tarjan Center at UCLA (UCEDD) Staff Member Appointed to the California State Rehabilitation Council for the Department of Rehabilitation

Kecia Weller, is the Self Advocate and Community Liaison at the Tarjan Center at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). At the Center, Kecia assists with recruitment and ongoing support of members of the Tarjan Advisory Committee. She also represents the Tarjan Center on the State Self Advocacy Network.

1/30/2018

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC)TRIAD's Juarez now President-Elect of TABA

Pablo Ju�rez, M.Ed., BCBA, has been chosen as President-Elect of the Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis (TABA). Ju�rez is director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), and is a behavior analyst in Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. He will serve as President-Elect until TABA's annual conference in 2018, and he will go on to serve as President for one year and Past President for the subsequent year.

1/29/2018

AUCD Welcomes Brett Enneking as the 2018 Assistant Virtual Trainee

Brett Enneking is the 2018 Assistant Virtual Trainee for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), where she will participate in efforts to engage trainees across the AUCD network. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in clinical psychology and a second-year trainee with Indiana's LEND program, the Riley Child Development Center (RCDC).

1/29/2018

Educate your Senators on the importance of the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program

Help people living in nursing facilities and other institutional settings move back into their community!

The future of a program that has helped more than 75,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities move out of nursing homes and institutions is in jeopardy. Enacted in 2005 with strong bipartisan support, Money Follows the Person (MFP) is one of the longest running, most successful Medicaid demonstrations. Join AUCD and other national organizations in contacting Congress to talk about the impact of this important and money-saving program.

1/26/2018

IL LEND Hosts Autism Community Screening Events for Families in Illinois

On October 1st, IL LEND post-doc, Robin Dodds, and Clinical Training Director, Ann Cutler, organized and supervised the first autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community screening event of the fall semester. The event was held at the Spectrum Toy Store in the north side of Chicago. Six LEND trainees - in a variety of disciplines - provided screenings and discussed steps for further diagnostic evaluation, when indicated. In collaboration with Grupo Salto, a family advocacy and support group for Latino families, a second screening event was held on October 21st for Spanish speaking families in the west side of Chicago. A third screening event was held in Urbana, Illinois in December.

1/23/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Kara Ayers

This week on Tuesdays with Liz, Kara Ayers discusses the rights of parents with disabilities and discriminatory state laws that interfere with these rights, while also exploring why parents with disabilities face discrimination. Kara is the Associate Director at the UCEDD at the Cincinnati University and Co-Founder of the Disabled Parenting Project.

1/19/2018

Expert Autism Reviewers Needed

The National Clearinghouse for Autism Evidence & Practice, NCAEP) are launching the update to the 2011 systematic review on evidence-based practices for children and youth on the autism spectrum. Please consider serving as a reviewer as well as passing this email and flyer along to your colleagues and graduate students.

1/17/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Arkansas

Nutrition is for Everyone (NIFE) in Arkansas (AR) hosted their second large-scale train-the-trainers course in Jonesboro. During this course, NIFE AR educated disability facility employees on how to host and teach a 6-week adapted Cooking Matters class series. Each employee plans to begin offering a class in the new year, this will reach over 30 disability facilities in the North-East portion of the state.

1/17/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Louisiana

The Nutrition is for Everyone Louisiana ( NIFE LA) welcomes Jenry Schorling, LDN, RD, as a Deputy Nutrition Ambassador. Jenry will help with the development of accurate and appropriate nutrition education materials disseminated through the project. She will also consult with the NIFE LA team on nutrition education curriculum being developed in partnership with Special Olympics Louisiana which is piloting an 8-week nutrition and physical activity curriculum starting later this month.

1/17/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Mississippi

Nutrition is for Everyone Mississippi (NIFE MS) has scheduled its first recruitment event and nutrition training for January, where the first events will be held in Hattiesburg. The recruitment event will be held in mid-January where interested local participants can stop by to receive information. Individuals with disabilities and their family members can sample trail mix snacks and take home the recipe, watch a demo video of the preparation, and sign up for upcoming trainings.

1/17/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Oklahoma

The Nutrition Ambassador for Nutrition is for Everyone Oklahoma (NIFE OK) attended the annual Oklahoma Autism Conference and provided resources to participants. Over 200 people attended and were provided with healthy recipes and ideas for incorporating healthy foods for children with texture aversions. This deputy ambassadors will be providing training on the Healthy Living module at an upcoming Oklahoma Self-Advocacy Network (OKSAN) retreat and will also be teaching a cooking class in Shawnee, OK for people with disabilities and their families and friends.

1/17/2018

Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassador Updates - Tennessee

Healthy eating over the holiday is always a challenge, so with help from the students, the Nutrition Ambassador from Nutrition is for Everyone Tennessee (NIFE TN) put together a guide, "Easy Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen", with instructions for fruit and vegetable related treats and meals.

1/16/2018

AUCD Welcomes Rylin Rodgers as Director of Public Policy

Both as a parent and as a professional, Rylin has extensive expertise on topics including maternal and child health, special education, public and private health care financing and family/professional partnerships. Her personal and professional experiences combine to provide a unique perspective on the impact of policy and of systems issues on the "end users."

1/16/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Judy Huemann

This week on 'Tuesdays with Liz,' Liz sits down with Judy Heumann, a Senior Fellow at the Ford Foundation and a long-time disability advocate. She talks about her early educational experiences as someone with a disability, and the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

1/15/2018

Lifting My Voice: An Advocate Reflects on MLK Day

By Denise Prehay, Mailman Center LEND Trainee

Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement have taught us in the Disability Rights Movement to advocate. As a self-advocate trainee at the University of Miami's Mailman Center for Child Development's LEND program, I am lifting my voice, not only for myself, but for others.

1/12/2018

Disability Rights and Sexual Health

By Tanisha Clarke, MPH

Sexual and reproductive health are important parts of overall health; however, people with disabilities are not always given the resources they need to achieve it. For many, this topic is addressed in schools, at home, in doctors' offices, or in the care of other human service professionals. Are people with disabilities asked about their sexual needs, or does society assume that they cannot or do not have sex?

1/12/2018

Former Trainee: Dianey Leal, Bush School of Government an Public Service (TX UCEDD)

Dianey Leal served as a 2016 Diversity Fellow with the Center of Disability and Development at Texas A&M University, where she researched policies on disability-related issues. Dianey graduated from St. Edward's University in 2015 with a double major in political science and English writing and rhetoric. She graduated from The Bush School of Government and Public Service in May with an M.A. in Public Service and Administration. During the summer, she worked as a program aide compiling data for the Bush School's annual diversity accountability report, and also helped Dr. Frank Ashley create a syllabus for his course on Diversity in the Workplace.

1/11/2018

MCDD's (MD UCEDD) Associate Director Joins a National Advisory Committee for COPAA

Maureen van Stone, the associate director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute was selected to be on a national advisory committee for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA). COPAA was awarded a grant from the National Council on Disability (NCD) to write a Report on Charter Schools, Choice, & Vouchers - Implications for Students with Disabilities. COPAA has partnered with Center for Law and Education (CLE) to do the research, focus groups and drafting. COPAA invited a cross section of stakeholders, including Ms. van Stone, to participate on the national advisory panel.

1/11/2018

New Videos Focus on Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability (MA UCEDD/LEND)

A new video series highlights the growing success across the country of postsecondary education programs that include students with intellectual disability.

1/11/2018

Project HEAL Attorney Honored as a Leading Woman (MD UCEDD)

Mallory Finn, a staff attorney for Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute, received the 2017 Leading Women award from The Daily Record. The Leading Women award honors women who are 40 years old or younger for the tremendous accomplishments they have made so far in their careers.

1/11/2018

Revised Transportation Voucher Toolkit available FREE (MT UCEDD)

Transportation, especially in rural areas, continues to be one of the main issues that people with disabilities deal with on a daily basis. To help address this barrier to community participation, RTC:Rural and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) developed the Rural Transportation Voucher Program. This Toolkit was recently updated and can now be downloaded for free from the APRIL and RTC websites

1/11/2018

Rose F. Kennedy UCEDD Supports First Bronx Special Olympics Polar Plunge

The day was cold but spirits were high as the Rose F Kennedy UCEDD staff joined in the First Special Olympics Polar Plunge on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at the Bronx Zoo. The event raised over $17,000. in funds to support Special Olympic Athletes in their quest for the "Gold"!

1/9/2018

"Learn the Signs. Act Early." Project Updates

The Act Early Ambassadors project is designed to develop a network of state-level experts who promote developmental monitoring and screening and improve early identification of DD/ASD practices. It is a collaborative effort on behalf of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP).

1/9/2018

Center for Leadership in Disability Investigates HIV Prevention for Individuals with Disabilities (GA UCEDD/LEND)

Over the past year, faculty and staff from the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University worked with community partners to conduct a research project identifying the availability and accessibility of HIV prevention resources and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the Atlanta Metropolitan Region.

1/9/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Dan Habib

This week, Liz interviews Dan Habib about the shortcomings of assessing intelligence through IQ tests and his upcoming film, 'Intelligent Lives.' Dan Habib is a documentary film director who focuses on disability-related topics and a Project Director at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire.

1/8/2018

Abused and Betrayed: People with Intellectual Disabilities and an Epidemic of Sexual Assault

A NPR Special Series

At a moment of reckoning in the United States about sexual harassment and sexual assault, a yearlong NPR investigation finds that there's little recognition of a group of Americans that is one of the most at risk: adults with intellectual disabilities. The series starts on Monday, January 8 and runs through January 18th.

1/8/2018

In Memoriam: Rebecca Carman, MSW

We are deeply saddened to share the sudden passing of a former trainee (NH LEND) and former AUCD staff member, Rebecca Carman. Many of you will remember Rebecca's ready smile and laugh, and her desire to do whatever she could to help. Please keep her family in your thoughts during this very difficult time.

1/8/2018

Indiana Debuts Disability History Website (IN UCEDD)

Through a collection of oral history interviews and related digital material, the website documents and preserves the memories and experiences of people with disabilities, family members, professional service providers, educators, and public officials. The site's growing collection highlights the history of advocacy for disability rights in Indiana, and features over 80 fully-captioned videos.

1/8/2018

Kaiser Health News - Running On Empty: CHIP Funding Could Run Out Jan. 19 For Some States

Some states are facing a mid-January loss of funding for their Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) despite spending approved by Congress in late December that was expected to keep the program running for three months, federal health officials said Friday.

1/5/2018

Impact in Education: Cynthia Ellis, M.D.

Cynthia Ellis, M.D., is one of the recipients of an Office of Academic Affairs 2017 Impact in Education Award. She will receive the Interprofessional Education Scholar Award.

1/2/2018

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Patti Killingsworth

In this week's edition of 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All', Liz interviews Patti Killingsworth, (Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of TennCare) about long term supports and services, and the Federal Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Rule.

12/26/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: 2017 Holiday Special

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz shares with the viewers which 5 interviews were her favorite to film this year, and why.

12/20/2017

AUCD Emerging Leaders Map

Showcasing Trainees & Early Career Professionals within the AUCD network

The AUCD Emerging Leaders Map aims to highlight trainees and early career professionals, and their contributions to the AUCD network, while demonstrating the diverse backgrounds and professional orientation of trainees. AUCD is currently seeking emerging leaders to spotlight on the map. Selected individuals will be contacted for additional information and the AUCD Emerging Leaders Map will offically launch in February 2018.

12/20/2017

NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program Releases Report on Barriers to Breastfeeding (NH UCEDD/LEND)

In New Hampshire 8 out of every 10 mothers initiates breastfeeding after birth, however only 3 mothers continue breastfeeding the full 12 months as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This and other findings are highlighted in a new report from the New Hampshire Occupational Health Surveillance Project (NH OHSP).

12/19/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Tom Sannicandro

In this week's edition of 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All', Liz interviews Tom Sannicandro, (Director of the Institute on Community Inclusion) about the connection between his job as a director of a UCEDD and his experience as a state legislator in the Massachusetts legislature.

12/18/2017

Announcing 2018 FAST Projects: Five Programs that Increase Diversity, Improve Program Evaluation or Leverage Technology to Provide Statewide TA and Training Awarded Supplementary Project Funds

In July of 2017, AUCD indicated an ability to provide supplementary funding and targeted assistance to programs working to address these identified areas of need in ways that could be replicated by other programs or could benefit the broader network. After careful review of a diverse pool of program proposals, five programs were selected to receive Focused Assistance to Support Training (FAST) Projects which includes up to $8,000 in supplemental funding.

12/18/2017

Training Focused Summary of Federal Transition Report

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2017 Report to Congress: Young Adults and Transitioning Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which found that there is a critical need for research and better coordinated services targeted to youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are transitioning to adulthood. �ITAC staff developed a brief summary of the HHS report that pulled out items relevant to the LEND and DBP training programs.

12/18/2017

Transition Bootcamp (OH UCEDD)

This year's Transition Bootcamp event was our largest and most successful to date. Thank you to all of our 65+ vendors and sponsors for your financial contribution, making the event so successful; to our 300+ attendees for taking the time of out your busy schedules to increase your knowledge; to our 40+ committee members and volunteers for selflessly doing whatever was asked; and to our 50+ presenters for sharing your expertise and wisdom with the group.

12/18/2017

Update on Tax Bill and Action Needed

Vote on Tax Bill Tomorrow Contact your Members Today!

It is imperative that you continue to call your Members of Congress TODAY to educate them on the devastating impact this bill will have on people with disabilities as well as on Medicaid, Medicare, and other critical programs that support people with disabilities.

12/14/2017

Beyond Accessibility: Why Employment Is The Next Benchmark For Disability Advocates

AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato Speaks at Wyoming UCEDD

Recently AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato visited Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) to discuss the benefits of grassroots advocacy. He spoke with Wyoming Public Radio & Media's Caroline Ballard about why having real people tell their stories to policymakers results in better laws.

12/14/2017

Elise McMillan and Gov. Bill Haslam receive 2017 Freedom Awards (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC)

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) UCEDD co-director Elise McMillan and TN Governor Bill Haslam were both honored with the 2017 Freedom Award from Disability Rights Tennessee (TN Protection and Advocacy). The Freedom Award honors Tennesseans who through their leadership have advanced the rights of people with disabilities.

12/13/2017

Would you like to be a CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Ambassador? The RFA is Available Now!

Do you live and work in Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Northern Mariana Islands, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming? AUCD, the CDC, and HRSA are excited to announce the RFA for a new 2018-2019 cohort for the Act Early Ambassadors: State and Territorial Liaisons to CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Program.

12/12/2017

National Survey Provides New Directions for Expanding Inclusion of People with Disabilities in the Workplace (NH UCEDD/LEND)

Kessler Foundation released the results of a new national survey that shows that employers are striving to recruit, hire, train, and retain people with disabilities, and reveals areas of opportunity for even greater successes in the workplace. The 2017 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Supervisor Perspectives is the first survey to look at the effectiveness of these practices from the perspective of supervisors of employees with and without disabilities. Results of the 2017 Survey, which was commissioned by Kessler Foundation and conducted by the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD), were presented by experts today on Capitol Hill.

12/12/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Amina Shaaban and Angie Stone MacDonald Discuss Disability in Tanzania

In this week's edition of 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz interviews Amina Shaaban who is a ADA Professional Fellow from Tanzania, about her work in Tanzania with the Save the Children, along with Angie Stone-MacDonald, Amina's project mentor at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts-Boston .

12/11/2017

AUCD Appreciates our Conference Sponsors

Thank you to our top AUCD 2017 Conference Sponsors! Your support helped to make the conference a success and we appreciate your partnership and commitment to the AUCD network throughout the year.

12/7/2017

2018 OAR Scholarship Program

Deadline: May 7, 2018

The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) will accept applications for the "2018 OAR Scholarship Program" starting Monday, December 4, 2017 through Monday, May 7, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000 scholarships to students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM-IV or 5 criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United States.

12/7/2017

ADOS Training at NJLEND

New Jersey LEND Fellows, faculty discipline coordinators, administration and staff, as well as pediatric clinicians from Children's Specialized Hospital, a NJLEND clinical partner, participated in a two-day ADOS-2 Clinical Workshop. The workshop was led by Dr. Whitney Guthrie, ADOS-2 Independent Trainer. Dr. Guthrie is an author of the ADOS-2 Toddler Module and works at the Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The training took place at The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, NJ's UCEDD and LEND, and part of the Department of Pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

12/7/2017

Cripping Care: Care Pedagogies and Practices Special Forum (HI UCEDD)

From Canada to India, Guatemala to Germany, this special issue includes a research forum on �Cripping Care: Care Pedagogies and Practices,� as well as multimedia, creative works, and a selection of the latest in disability studies� dissertations & abstracts.

12/7/2017

Dr. Therese Willkomm Receives the 2017 New Hampshire Governor's (NH UCEDD/LEND)

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu presented Dr. Therese Willkomm with a 2017 Governor's Accessibility Award. This award honors those who embody the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Dr. Willkomm received it for her work as the director of the Assistive Technology in New Hampshire program.

12/7/2017

Fran Goldfarb, USC UCEDD Core Function Director

It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Fran Goldfarb as the USC UCEDD Core Function Director in Community Education and Information Dissemination. Fran was one of the first Family Support faculty in the LEND network and had an instrumental role nationally in the development of this LEND discipline.

12/7/2017

Improving Family Centeredness Together - New York State Early Intervention Initiative (NY UCEDDs)

The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD; Valhalla, NY), in collaboration with Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (Rochester, NY) and Rose F. Kennedy UCEDD (Bronx, NY), will assist the New York Bureau of Early Intervention in implementing a portion of the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP).

12/7/2017

In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (MN UCEDD/LEND)

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living for People with Intellectual Disabilities (RTC/CL) (90RT5019) has released a report, In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2015.�

12/7/2017

Larson and Hewitt (MN UCEDD) Appointed to AAIDD Advisory Committee

Dr. Sheryl A. Larson and Dr. Amy Hewitt of the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, were appointed to serve on the advisory committee of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) for the next iteration of the association's terminology and classification manual: Intellectual Disability: Definition, Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports, 12th Edition. The manual is the foundation upon which clinical, policy, and legal standards are built, and the forthcoming 12th edition will contain the most current and authoritative guidance on intellectual disability, including best practices in diagnosing and classifying intellectual disability as the basis for supports for people with intellectual disability.

12/7/2017

MNLEND Seeking Postdoctoral Fellowship Applicants

Deadline: March 1, 2018

University of Minnesota (UMN)-based MNLEND is seeking talented postdoctoral applicants (including those completing doctoral degrees by June 30, 2018) with an interest in interdisciplinary research and practices in the neurodevelopmental and related disabilities field.�

12/7/2017

New Cooperative Agreement to Improve Early Childhood Workforce (CT UCEDD)

UConn UCEDD Awarded $10M Cooperative Agreement to Improve Early Childhood Workforce Development through Early Childhood Personnel Center The Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC), funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education, will continue and build on the work of the current Early Childhood Personnel Center to increase the capacity of State IDEA Part C and B/619 administrators, along with administrators in other early childhood service sectors and early childhood faculty teaching at institutions of higher education to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families across the country.

12/7/2017

New Edition to MI-DDI's (MI UCEDD) Award-Winning Possibilities Video Series

The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) at Wayne State University in Detroit is excited to share the latest addition to its award-winning Possibilities video series. Possibilities focuses on the lives and accomplishments of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

12/7/2017

New Grant: Parent-Directed Comprehensive Language and Literacy Supports (L2): Providing Universally Designed Community-Based Literacy Experiences for Children with Autism (TX UCEDD)

The purpose of this project is to establish sustainable, parent-directed, comprehensive community supports for literacy and language (L2) of children with ASD, prioritizing those with limited spoken language. The strain on parents of children with ASD are already great without adding the burden of continuously creating novel literacy experiences for their children.

12/7/2017

Partnership Spotlight: Iowa's UCEDD and Title V CYSHCN Program

The Iowa UCEDD has a long history of collaboration with the Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC), which administers Iowa's Title V Maternal and Child Health Program for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health. Being co-located for many years has enabled the UCEDD and CHSC to forge formal and informal partnerships from collaborating on grants to convening informal brown bag lunches to discuss emerging state and federal policy issues.

12/7/2017

Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment

The deadline for host applications is January 12.

AUCD is excited to announce that the host application for the International Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE) is now open. PFP-IDE is a new U.S. Department of State professional exchange program that will enable 20 emerging leaders in inclusive employment from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to participate in a five-week Fellowship in the U.S. where they will learn about disability rights and inclusive employment.

12/7/2017

RI-UCEDD Staff Present on Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT) Work

FEAT was created at the University of Kansas by Judith Gross and Grace Francis (now at the University of Indiana and George Mason University respectively) to address barriers to employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).�

12/7/2017

Tips, Trust, and Humor: Connecting with Indiana Teachers and Employment Specialists

What do taking your accounting department to lunch, baking cookies, and Julie Andrews have to do with audience outreach? Each of those notions were components of messages delivered this past year to Indiana employment professionals.

12/7/2017

Updated Educator's Guide Available from OAR

The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) prides itself in the evidence-based information resources it shares with self-advocates, their parents, educators, and paraprofessionals. Among these materials are the eight "Life Journey Through Autism" guidebooks that OAR has published since 2003. The ninth and newest guide in that set is "Life Journey Through Autism: An Educator's Guide to ASD (Level 1 Supports)," a revision and update of the "Educator's Guide to Asperger Syndrome."

12/7/2017

Using Dance To Build A Community (TX UCEDD)

Written by: Ashley Green

Movement is a form of communication. For Courtney Kalaher, using that movement to create relationships and community among people with disabilities is critical. Kalaher joined the Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) Program in 2014. She brought her skills in dance and developed the Communication Through Movement course. Through the course, students develop paths of inquiry and response approaches to learning and cognitive development. "Movement is such a powerful form of communication.

12/7/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) members appointed to new TN Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) faculty members Beth Malow and Emelyne Bingham have been appointed by Governor Bill Haslam as Middle Tennessee representatives on the newly created Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

12/7/2017

Young Adults with ASD talk about life Beyond High School (Co UCEDD/LEND)

JFK Partners, Colorado's UCEDD and LEND is very pleased to announce a new video, "Young Adults with ASD talk about life Beyond High School." This video documents a conversation between two young women with ASD as they discuss their transition from high school, as well as topics such as gender and sexuality, relationships, and what has helped them over the years.

12/5/2017

2018 EHDI Meeting Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

Application deadline: January 21, 2018.

AUCD has made available six (6) scholarships of up to $500 each to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Meeting on March 18-20, 2018 in Denver, CO. All current LEND audiology trainees, including those in their externship year, are eligible to apply. However, priority will be given to trainees from programs that do not currently receive supplemental funding and trainees that have not attended the EHDI Meeting in previous years.

12/5/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire

TodayIn this week's edition of 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz interviews Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire. Liz talks with the Senator about her agenda for this Congress.

11/28/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - AUCDs Roadmap

With Celia Feinstein

Today on 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz talks with Celia S. Feinstein, the Director of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. Celia has just recently completed her term as President, and she describes the work on AUCD's new strategic map.

11/27/2017

AUCD is Hiring: Director of Public Policy

Applications now being accepted

AUCD is seeking a Director of Public Policy: a creative, collaborative, & highly-skilled policy professional who seeks to play a role in empowering people with disabilities while raising the agency's profile in the federal policy making process.

11/23/2017

The Student "Draft IEP" Tool at WIHD UCEDD/LEND

WIHD has updated its popular Student "Draft IEP" Tool (http://hvsepc.org/student-draft-iep-interactive-tool/). The tool, developed by Naomi Brickel, helps students to prepare information for IEP development and generate their own "draft IEP" to share with the rest of the IEP team. This serves to increase student understanding of the IEP process and facilitates student participation in IEP discussions. Research indicates that students who are involved in their special education program planning are more successful in school. However, many students do not even attend their IEP meetings, and of those who do, few participate in a meaningful way.

11/21/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: ADA Fellow Fiorella Guerrero on Disability Advocacy in Peru

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Fiorella Guerrero Calle, who was an ADA fellow from Peru and works for World Vision, about life for children with disabilities in Peru.

11/15/2017

GAO Report - Voters with Disabilities: Observations on Polling Place Accessibility and Related Federal Guidance

GAO examined a nongeneralizable sample of 178 polling places during early in-person voting and on Election Day 2016. At these polling places, GAO examined a number of features outside and inside the voting area. Outside the voting area, GAO was able to examine features at all 178 polling places and found that 60 percent (107) had one or more potential impediments. The most common were steep ramps located outside buildings, lack of signs indicating accessible paths, and poor parking or path surfaces.

11/15/2017

IHD 50 years of Service (AZ UCEDD)

After five decades of service to the state of Arizona, the Institute for Human Development is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Throughout its history, the Institute has emphasized services, research and training. These focus areas continue today as the Institute celebrates its past and focuses toward the future to provide positive changes in the public's perception of persons with disabilities. We hope that through our efforts there will be greater changes in access, attitude, and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

11/15/2017

Position Opening: Assistant Virtual Trainee

The Assistant Virtual Trainee (AVT) is a trainee who has a strong desire to learn more about project management and the importance of engaging others to advance the mission of a national nonprofit and its broader network. The position spans one Spring semester and is paid a $500 stipend as well as appropriate travel costs associated with attending the 2018 Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C.

11/15/2017

Submissions Requested - Inclusive Approaches to Health for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Due November 20th

Special Olympics International (SOI), in collaboration with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), is working to support national level organizations to adopt and promote inclusive approaches to health for persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) with an eye to creating the tipping point for a health system that is inclusive of all people, including people with ID.

11/15/2017

Watch the AUCD2017 Plenary Archives

Watch the full sessions from Labor Secretary Acosta, Gallaudet President Cordano, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, and others

Nearly 900 people from around the country joined us at the 2017 AUCD Conference in Washington, DC, as we realized the power of our collective voices working to sustain vital supports and services for people with disabilities and their families cannot be denied. Over the course of four days, speakers discussed the strategies, innovations, and systems that will allow us to continue to move the needle forward. AUCD recorded the three plenary sessions of the conference for you to continue to watch and learn, so that all may hear the critical importance that communication and advocacy, both collective and personal, have in our public lives.

11/14/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Tim Shriver

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Tim Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics, about leadership and people with disabilities.

11/13/2017

10 years of the LEND Family Trainee in Oregon

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Family Trainee fellowship in the Oregon Health & Science University's LEND program. The Alumni gathered on September 28th for happy hour on the OHSU campus to celebrate and look back at their many accomplishments.

11/13/2017

American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children with Disabilities - A Resource You Should Know About!

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Children with Disabilities (COCWD) is comprised of over 600 diverse physician members (eg, neurodevelopmental pediatricians, developmental and behavioral pediatricians, geneticists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, physical medical and rehabilitation pediatricians, and general pediatricians) who care for or have an interest in children and youth with disabilities, including those with complex needs.

11/13/2017

Family Engagement Quality Improvement: A "How-To" Implementation Toolkit

The National Center for Medical Home Implementation conducted a nation-wide family engagement quality improvement project to enhance family engagement in the pediatric medical home. As a result of this project, a Web-based toolkit was developed; it provides tools and resources needed for implementing family engagement quality improvement projects in clinical practice or through multi-site learning collaboratives.

11/13/2017

FCIC (FL UCEDD) Receives National Center Award from OSERS

Florida Center for Inclusive Communities at the University of South has received $5.5 million from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education to establish a national technical assistance center focused on positive social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes for young children with, and at risk for, disabilities. The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations will assist states, early childhood programs, and professionals in their implementation of a promotion, prevention, and intervention model to improve young children's social emotional competence and reduce challenging behavior.

11/13/2017

Latino Community of Practice at Georgia State University

The consortium co-leads bilingual community education and engagement for and with Spanish-speaking and limited English-proficient families, in a partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Learn The Signs Act Early (LTSAE) campaign. And provides technical assistance to co-founding and core consortium partners on how to best serve, including the use of our Community Health Workers/Promotoras de la Salud model, the ever-growing Latino population of Georgia.

11/13/2017

Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies - Home of Your Own housing program celebrating 20th Year Anniversary (MS UCEDD)

By: Cassie Hicks, IDS Director of Housing

2017 is a milestone year as the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS)' Mississippi Home of Your Own (HOYO) program celebrates its 20th year anniversary. The quote from John Lewis "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?" stood out to me several years back when I came to work for IDS, hoping to make a difference in our state for this underserved population.

11/13/2017

Pavithran (UT UCEDD) Named to United States Commission on Civil Rights Utah Advisory Committee

Sachin Dev Pavithran, Utah Assistive Technology Program director and Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University policy expert was recently appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights Utah Advisory Committee. The Committee is composed of citizen volunteers familiar with local and state civil rights issues. The members assist the Commission with its fact-finding, investigative, and information dissemination functions. Pavithran received bachelor's degrees in business information systems and marketing, a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, and recently completed his Ph.D. disability disciplines from USU.

11/13/2017

Self-Determination Inventory System (SDIS) Data Dashboard (KA UCEDD)

The Self-Determination Student Inventory System (SDIS) is comprised of two new validated measures created by researchers Karrie A. Shogren and Michael L. Wehmeyer at the University of Kansas: the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR) and the Self-Determination Inventory: Parent/Teacher Report (SDI:PTR). The SDI:SR asks students questions about how they feel about their ability to be self-determined; that is to make choices, set and go after goals, and make decisions. The SDI:PTR measures a teacher's or parent/family member's perception of a young person's self-determination.

11/13/2017

The Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities (TN UCEDD) Welcomes Its First Child Neurologist

Dr. Gipson is a child neurologist and neurodevelopmental disabilities specialist. She completed her LEND training/residency in child neurology/neurodevelopmental disabilities at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute. After joining the faculty there, she founded the first TSC Center of Excellence at Kennedy Krieger Institute and established an interdisciplinary model of care for children and adults with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-associated neuropsychiatric disorders.

11/13/2017

Va-LEND Welcomes New Co-Training Directors

Jacqueline Robinson Brock and Meera R. Mehtaji have joined Va-LEND as the new Training Co-Directors for the program. They will be bringing their complementary skills into the Training Director position which they will share. Va-LEND is in the process of implementing its revised curriculum that incorporates increased universal design and student engaged learning with a more diverse group of trainees.

11/13/2017

Women Investing in Nebraska invest in Munroe-Meyer Institute (UCEDD/LEND)

An $85,000 grant from Women Investing in Nebraska (WIN) will boost efforts to help infants who spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit get needed medical assessment and treatment through the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI).

11/13/2017

Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WY UCEDD) Launches ECHO Network for Families of Children with Autism

For Wyoming families that have a child with autism, large geographic distances and a shortage of resources limit the availability of providers, care, and support. UW ECHO for Families: Autism is bridging the gap. The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) recently launched a new ECHO network to support families of children with autism. This virtual community was built by and for families of children with autism and meets weekly using videoconferencing technology.

11/9/2017

Tell Us Your Thoughts About #AUCD2017

Conference Survey due 11/20

Let us know your favorite moments, things you'd change, and ideas for future AUCD Conferences by completing our online survey, or through the link in your conference app. Your responses are vital as we begin planning for AUCD2018.

11/9/2017

Thank You for a Great AUCD2017!

It was truly wonderful to see all of you who came to Washington, DC, this past week! The AUCD Family was in full effect as together we lifted our voices in solidarity for inclusion and equality. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your passion, expertise, and enthusiasm in the important work you do every day.

11/8/2017

US Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta at #AUCD2017

Review the event through Twitter Moments

The Secretary joined us to talk about the importance of meaningful work for all Americans, how work is tied to dignity, and described ways we can work together to increase disability employment in the US.

11/7/2017

Opening Plenary with Galludet President Bobbi Cordano

Review the event through Twitter Moments

Roberta "Bobbi" J. Cordano, JD., is President of Gallaudet University. She joined the AUCD Conference to discuss how we can use our leadership positions in academia to achieve better outcomes and greater equity moving forward.

11/1/2017

AUCD Trainee Orientation Modules

The AUCD Trainee Orientation Modules will help Trainees become more familiar with AUCD: who we are as an organization, our network's history and membership, how trainees can make the most out of their experience, and most importantly: how Trainees "fit" in the network and why their contributions are so important.

10/31/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Emily Ladau

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Emily Ladau (author of the blog Words I Wheel By) about dating and people with disabilities. Please also see Emily's piece in the New York Times titled Playing the Online Dating Game, in a Wheelchair.

10/26/2017

The Autism CARES Partnership Network ​Our Journey Toward Collaboration

By bringing together organizations that all care deeply about improving outcomes for individuals with autism and their families across the lifespan, this Partnership Network hopes to be an example of collaboration and alignment at many different levels.

10/25/2017

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Partners with Cincinnati LEND Program to Improve Access and Inclusion for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (CZBG), in partnership with the Cincinnati Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program, was recently awarded a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to advance its goal of becoming one of the nation's most welcoming, accessible, and inclusive zoos for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The Anchor for Access and Inclusion project was one of 132 projects selected from 558 grant applications nationally.

10/25/2017

Graduate Highlight: Sandy Smith (TX UCEDD)

Sandy Smith has been in education for over 20 years and has had the pleasure of being involved with teaching behavior management at the elementary, secondary, and adult level. Currently she is pursuing her doctorate in Special Education (Academic and Behavioral Supports) at Texas A&M.

10/25/2017

Stephen Gilson Awarded University of Maine Trustee Professorship (ME UCEDD)

Stephen F. Gilson, Ph.D., Coordinator and Professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies and Professor of Social Work, has been awarded a University of Maine Trustee Professorship for 2017-2018.

10/24/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Amie Lulinski, Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Amie Lulinski, Research and Development Coordinator at the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities. Liz talks with Amie about the States of the States in Intellectual Disabilities.

10/23/2017

AUCD is Hiring: Data Support Manager

Applications now being accepted

AUCD is seeking a highly-qualified, full-time Data Support Manager to perform and enhance the operations of federally-funded, university-based disability training and research centers in collecting, organizing, analyzing, displaying, and reporting data utilizing a proprietary online database. This position will provide leadership to the AUCD staff and network on the effective utilization of existing and new data to highlight the work and impact of individual Centers and Programs, as well as the overall AUCD network.

10/19/2017

AUCD Summary and Analysis: Young Adults and Transitioning Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

In September 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publicly released a report to Congress focusing on young adults and transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as mandated by the Autism CARES Act of 2014. The report summarizes existing federal initiatives (across agencies) focused on transition and identifies gaps in research, programs, and services. AUCD has developed this abbreviated summary of key findings as a resource for the LEND and DBP networks.

10/19/2017

Support Hurricane Recovery in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Financial donations now being accepted

AUCD is currently accepting monetary donations to help support our Centers and DD networks in Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to meet the needs of people with disabilities in their Territories in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. All contributions will be funneled directly to the Territory or Territories that you designate.

10/18/2017

Disabilities expert David Mank Featured Speaker at Bipartisan Congressional Briefing (IN UCEDD)

David Mank, former Indiana Institute on Disability and Community director and Indiana University School of Education professor emeritus, was one of four featured speakers at a congressional briefing in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month held on Monday, October 2, 2017, in Washington D.C.

10/18/2017

Project SALT Team Presents at Family Cafe 2017 (FL UCEDD/LEND)

The University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development sent six members from the Project Self-Advocate Leadership Training (SALT) Team to the Family Cafe, from June 16th to June 18th of 2017: Shelly Baer, LCSW and founder of Project SALT, Joanne Palenzuela, co-founder of SALT; Damian Gregory, advocate and speaker; Denise Prehay, advocate and SALT Trainer; Tracy Seaton, advocate, Special Olympics athlete and assistant SALT Trainer; and Jairo Arana, advocate and SALT Trainer.

10/13/2017

AUCD Welcomes Jalyn Marks as Administrative Assistant

Jalyn Marks is the Administrative Assistant at AUCD. She provides a variety of supports for the office, as well as for specific departments, including the Operations and Development, Web Services, Finance & Grants, Marketing & Public Engagement, and Public Health & Leadership teams.

10/12/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Lee Page

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Lee Page, Senior Associate Director of Advocacy at the Paralyzed Veterans of America. They discuss the American Disabilities Act Education Reform Act (HR 620).

10/12/2017

WI UCEDD Hosts National SOFT Conference

The Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison hosted part of the 31st annual Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13 and Related Disorders (SOFT) conference. SOFT provides "support and understanding to families...surrounding the diagnosis and care in trisomy 18, 13 and other related chromosomal disorders." SOFT conferences include educational workshops, access to specialty health care providers, and an opportunity for parents and families of children diagnosed with these genetic conditions to engage in a variety of social activities.

10/11/2017

Research Connections in Japan (MT UCEDD)

Dr. Sumi Kato, a Professor from Aomori Chuo Gakuin University and the Research Center for Child Mental Development at the Hirosaki University School of Medicine, visited the Montana and Idaho UCEDDs in September. She is seeking U.S. research partnerships to investigate the similarities and differences of linguistic behavior in autistic children and adults.

10/11/2017

Unifying the TA System for Maine's Early Childhood Workforce (ME UCEDD)

Seventy technical assistance (TA) professionals from a wide range of disciplines who support Maine's diverse early childhood workforce recently gathered in Hallowell, ME for the rollout of Technical Assistance Competencies for Maine's Early Childhood Workforce: The Process, the Product and the Plan. A technical assistance professional is an individual who provides targeted and customized supports to recipients of TA services through specific strategies or approaches, such as mentoring, coaching, consultation and peer-to-peer networks. These TA professionals adhere to varying regulations and standards and work within multiple settings with early childhood practitioners throughout Maine.

10/10/2017

AUCD Welcomes Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester to AUCD2017

Lisa began her professional career as a problem-solver and an advocate. A caseworker for then-Congressman Tom Carper, Lisa helped people during challenging times with their Social Security benefits, disability insurance claims, IRS disputes and housing needs. She served in the cabinets of two Delaware governors as the first female African-American Secretary of Labor and the first African-American Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services and State Personnel Director. Lisa once again made history in 2016 when she was elected to Congress. She was the first woman and the first person of color to represent The First State in such a role.

10/10/2017

AUCD Welcomes Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to AUCD2017

We are delighted to host the 27th US Secretary of Labor, R. Alexander Acosta. Acosta is the son of Cuban refugees, a native of Miami, and a first-generation college graduate with undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard. He served in three positions in the George W. Bush Administration, including as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. In that role, he was a strong champion for increasing competitive employment for Americans with disabilities. He looks forward to using his new role as Secretary of Labor to accelerate progress in disability employment and elevate this issue in the national consciousness.

10/10/2017

AUCD Welcomes Senator Maggie Hassan to AUCD2017

AUCD is honored to have New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan as a guest speaker at our Tuesday evening AUCD Honors Celebration. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, Senator Hassan was drawn to public service as an advocate fighting to ensure that children like her son Ben, who experiences severe disabilities, would be fully included in their communities and have the same opportunities that all parents want for their children.

10/10/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Liz King

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Liz King (Senior Policy Analyst and Director of Education policy at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights). They discussed race and disability.

10/9/2017

AUCD2017 Speakers: Upload Your Materials

The AUCD Conference will have over 900 attendees viewing over hundreds of presentations on all things disability. We are thrilled to have so many people with us in DC, however we don't want to limit the sharing and knowledge to just those individuals. Many more people are anxious to learn from what will be presented at the conference. We ask you to continue dissemination of your research and projects by posting your handouts, materials, and/or slides from the conference on the AUCD website using the instructions provided.

10/9/2017

RTS Event at the Cincinnati Zoo (OH UCEDD/LEND)

RTS (Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome) is a genetic multi-system disorder characterized by facial abnormalities, broad thumbs and great toes, and developmental disability. The condition was first described in 1963 by Dr. Jack Rubinstein and Dr. Hooshang Taybi and it is estimated that 1 out of 300,000 people have this syndrome

10/6/2017

Announcing the REDDy Directory

The REDDy Directory is designed for case managers and individuals with disabilities seeking resources and services provided to Hurricane Harvey survivors. Please visit the REDDy Directory at http://disabilityresources.tamu.edu/

10/6/2017

AUCD Welcomes Ingrid Jernudd as Program Specialist

Ingrid U. Jernudd is the Program Specialist for the Promise TA Center. At AUCD, in addition to her work for the Promise TA Center, Ingrid also works on �Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' which is a weekly video series highlighting current issues in disability policy hosted by Liz Weintraub.

10/5/2017

Employment Webinar Series for Iowa's Regional Staff (IA UCEDD)

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD). Iowa's UCEDD, in partnership with Iowa's Division of Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) produced and presented a webinar series on Employment First Concepts and practice. Last winter, a survey was sent to the regional leadership asking what training or information was needed to continue to make progress towards Employment First for Iowan's with Mental Illness and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The needs expressed ranged from understanding basic concepts and communication around Employment First to information on evidence based practice, data, and outcomes reporting.

10/5/2017

New Leadership: Meet Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Director Jeffrey Neul

On August 1, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) welcomed a new director to lead the Center in addressing its mission of facilitating discoveries and best practices that make positive differences in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Jeffrey Neul, M.D., Ph.D., comes from the University of California San Diego where he was the division head of Child Neurology and vice chair for Developmental Neurosciences.

10/5/2017

Ronda Jenson named as the new Arizona University Center on Disabilities (AzUCD) Research Director

Ronda Jenson, PhD accepted the offer to a tenured, Associate Professor position with the AzUCD, Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University. With that academic rank, she also accepted the title of Research Director. Dr. Jenson comes to the AzUCD from the Missouri UCEDD where she served most recently as the Associate Director of University Partnerships. She has also served in the positions of Director of Research and Director of Interdisciplinary Training while at the Missouri UCEDD.

10/5/2017

Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities Welcomes Jonathan Payne to Our Team (NY UCEDD)

Jonathan recently joined the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities staff after a successful year in Project SEARCH. Jonathan splits his time between the University of Rochester UCEDD and the Levine Autism Clinic in the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Besides general office work, in his time with the UCEDD Jonathan serves as a peer mentor for both our Project SEARCH class at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Job Club pilot through the Rochester Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

10/5/2017

UCEDDs Collaborate on Webinar Series With Focus on Honoring Spiritual Needs and Gifts

The National Collaborative on Faith and Disability (TN, KY, TX, NJ, GA, VA, UT, MN, MO, CO, OR, CT, IL, & ME UCEDDs) will host the 2017-18 webinar series: Honoring Spiritual Needs and Gifts: From Inertia to Collaborative Action by Providers and Congregations. The series will run monthly, from October 2017-May 2018, and will be free and available for viewing via Zoom.

10/3/2017

Interdisciplinary Genetics Competencies for LEND Trainees

As recommended by the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Genetics Workgroup

The purpose of this document is to serve as resource for LEND programs for those programs desiring to strengthen their genetics content. It is not intended to serve as a mandate or requirement, but rather to provide specific guidance in achieving basic and advanced competencies in genetics.

10/3/2017

Join Us for a Party!

All conference attendees are invited to take a walk down Beale Street in Memphis immediately following the awards ceremony. Our Conference Chair, Bruce Keisling, will bring us a taste of his southern town with a fun, themed party that celebrating the rich history and music of Memphis. We will have yummy food, a DJ to mix some old and new tunes, and some fun opportunities for photographs and festivities. Join your colleagues and friends for a night of celebration and fun! No extra ticket or fee is required for this fun event.

10/3/2017

Tuesdsays with Liz - National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and to celebrate NDEAM, this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Richard Davis, who is the Policy Advisor at the U.S. Dept. of Labor in the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). Liz and Richard talked about the Employment First efforts in states.

9/29/2017

Dr. Dianne McBrien Named LEND Director of Iowa's UCEDD

On July 1, Dianne McBrien, MD assumed the directorship of the University of Iowa's LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) training program. She succeeds Lenore Holte, PhD, who directed the interdisciplinary program for the past 10 years.

9/28/2017

AUCD Welcomes Vanita Gupta to Speak at AUCD 2017 Conference

Vanita Gupta is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She has been working to advance civil rights her entire career. Before joining The Leadership Conference in June 2017, Gupta served as Acting Assistant Attorney General and head of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.

9/27/2017

Bruce Keisling and #AUCD2017 Featured on #Policy4All

Dr. Bruce Keisling, AUCD2017 Conference Chair, AUCD President-Elect, and Director of the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities in Memphis, TN, was interviewed this week on 'Tuesdays with Liz, Disability Policy for All.' Watch the 8 minute interview to learn more about what to expect at the upcoming conference, why everyone will find something to enjoy when they attend, and Dr. Keisling's vision for AUCD during his upcoming year as President of the AUCD Board of Directors.

9/27/2017

Conference Hotel is Sold Out

The block of rooms under AUCD's contract with the hotel is currently SOLD OUT.
A list of hotels within walking distance of the Renaissance is available on the AUCD conference website. (Note that AUCD has not negotiated room rates with any of these hotels.)

9/26/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - AUCD2017

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Bruce Keisling, Director of the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities and chair of this year's AUCD conference. Liz and Bruce talked about what to expect at the upcoming conference.

9/25/2017

Speak Up Speak Out: An Inclusive Speech Event Making a Difference (MS UCEDD)

By: Dr. Jerry R. Alliston

Speak Up Speak Out was an inclusive self-advocacy program for youth and young adults with and without disabilities. Each morning we began with a few icebreakers allowing each participant to become more comfortable sharing about themselves with the group. Then we moved on to tongue twisters which were a crowd favorite! Everyone got the opportunity to try out the tongue twisters individually which led to a lot of laughs and an easy-going atmosphere. Next, we would go outside for warm ups, which are just short activities to get everyone moving and loosened up. Afterwards, we returned indoors and then split into two groups to develop skits. Each skit was completely original and came from the ideas of everyone in the group. We had a lot of fun creating our scripts and both groups selected the theme of superheroes and using your self-advocacy powers. Everyone enjoyed developing their names for their heroes, and of course, we had to have villains, too. The rest of day one and two focused on finalizing, refining and learning the skits. On the third and final day, we performed the skits for a full house of peers and IDS staff. When the performances were finished, each participant was given a certificate for participating in the Speak Up Speak Out event. All agreed that this experience was a hit!

9/25/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Investigator Develops Initiative to Focus on Empowering Young Adults with Autism

by Tom Wilemon

A new initiative, developed by Beth Malow, M.D., M.S., Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development; professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, and a Vanderbilt Kennedy Center investigator, aims to improve the lives of young adults with autism spectrum disorders who often end up socially isolated once they leave school.

9/19/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Conchita Hernandez

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Conchita Hern�ndez, the chair of METAS - Mentoring Engaging and Teaching all Students. Liz and Conchita spoke about METAS and what blindness skills means

9/18/2017

Derrick Willis named Associate Director of Iowa's UCEDD

On August 1, Derrick Willis, MPA, became the Associate Director of Iowa�s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) at University of Iowa Health Care. For the past twelve years, Derrick was a Research Associate and directed urban mission work for the Institute for Human Development, Missouri�s UCEDD, working under the leadership of Dr. Carl Calkins, who has directed Missouri�s UCEDD since its beginning.

9/18/2017

New Release - #RDSJ Volume 13 Issue 3 of Review of Disability Studies

We are excited to announce the publication of Volume 13 Issue 3 of Review of Disability Studies, an international, peer-reviewed journal. Discover diverse voices in this issue ranging from Self Advocates, Rehabilitation Counselors, Creative Writers, Influential Bloggers, and Education Experts.

9/18/2017

Nick Nucci Appointed Assistant Director for Administration at The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND)

Nick Nucci recently joined The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers University as Assistant Director for Administration, directing financial and administrative operations. Mr. Nucci has over thirty years of experience in state government with the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

9/15/2017

Order Your "Lift Your Voice" AUCD T-Shirt

Deadline: October 12

Order your AUCD t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, or hoodie today and pick it up at the 2017 Conference, or have a conference attendee bring it home for you. Hand-designed by Jessica Irwin, Psychology Fellow at the University of Rochester Strong Center, this shirt is one you'll be proud to wear again and again.

9/14/2017

Black Girls Viewed as Less Innocent Than White Girls, Research Finds: Dr. Jamilia Blake (TX UCEDD)

Biases revealed in a new report may shed new light on why black girls are disciplined more harshly than their white peers. The report, Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls' Childhood, focuses on adult perceptions of black girls and finds adults view black girls as less innocent and more adult-like than their white peers.

9/12/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Meg Grigal

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Meg Grigal, Co-Director of Think College, about the importance of educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities - specifically post-secondary education. In case you missed last week, Liz interviewed Jerry Alliston (Community Education Director at the Mississippi UCEDD) about his experience and lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as well as the importance of emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.

9/12/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) UCEDD Co-Director Leads Study on Reducing Social Isolation and Loneliness Using a Telehealth Intervention

By Jan Rosemergy

A telehealth intervention has been developed and is being tested that is aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness in young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). This Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) pilot study is the first to address a major risk factor in health and mental health problems experienced by persons with PWS.

9/11/2017

Colleen McLaughlin, MEd Appointed Associate Director of The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND)

Colleen A. McLaughlin, MEd was recently appointed the Associate Director of The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers University. Ms. McLaughlin is responsible for directing the Center's Disability Policy and Community Training and Technical Assistance initiatives. In collaboration with the Executive Director, Ms. McLaughlin coordinates the Center's UCEDD related functions and strategic planning.

9/8/2017

Call for Papers: Special Forum Fall 2018 (HI UCEDD/LEND)

This Call for Papers proposes a forum on the subject of shame and disability, broadly conceived. It is hoped that through critical discourse addressing the historical and current contexts, contributing factors, effects, and responses to shame, greater understanding of this phenomena will diminish discrimination and violence

9/8/2017

Call for Proposal - Dismantling Ableism: The Moral Imperative for Leaders - Volume 14 Issue 3

How do we prepare leaders to address both institutional ableism and racism in systems such as discipline and disability classification? How do educational leaders take on activist roles for inclusion and social justice? What does the future of leadership look like when exploring issues through an intersectionality lens? What do other professional university preparation programs, such as Health, Policy, Human Services do to cultivate the moral and ethical leadership necessary to change existing systems?

9/8/2017

Dan Habib Screens Mr. Connolly Has ALS at a Washington, DC Event Hosted by NH Congresswoman Annie Kuster and Sen. Maggie Hassan (NH UCEDD/LEND)

Dan Habib travelled to Washington, DC to screen his film Mr. Connolly Has ALS at an event hosted by New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster along with New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan and Washington Senator Patty Murray (not in attendance). The event also included a panel discussion of the role of Medicaid funding to support inclusive K-12 education for students with disabilities. Last year, New Hampshire schools received $29 million in Medicaid funding.

9/8/2017

Dr. Therese Willkomm Is Keynote Presenter at Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology Conference in Qatar (NH UCEDD/LEND)

Therese Willkomm, Ph.D., a Clinical Associate Professor at the Institute on Disability was a keynote presenter at the 2017 Gulf Region Education Assistive Technology (GREAT) Conference in Doha, Qatar.

9/8/2017

Jenness Roth (TN Boling) named to Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Jenness Roth, Family Faculty Coordinator at University of Tennessee Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, was one of the nine "citizen" gubernatorial appointees to this Council. She will serve a three-year term alongside the heads of a variety of governmental agencies. She is the parent of a 31-year-old son with ASD.

9/8/2017

Nutrition Efforts Reaching the Disability Community

AUCD is proud to continue its health efforts with "Nutrition is for Everyone" for a second year, made possible by a grant from the Walmart Foundation. AUCD-member centers in Arkansas (AR), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), Oklahoma (OK), and Tennessee (TN) will work to provide nutrition education for an estimated 25,000 people with disabilities. During the first year of the project. "Nutrition is for Everyone" reached over 85,000 individuals in the disability community across the country. Current efforts will continue to impact nutrition behaviors, ultimately decreasing the rate of obesity for people with disabilities.

9/6/2017

Gallaudet President Bobbi Cordano to Keynote AUCD 2017

Join us for the AUCD 2017 Conference opening plenary featuring keynote speaker Roberta "Bobbi" J. Cordano, JD., President of Gallaudet University. Cordano is a dynamic leader who became the 11th President of Gallaudet University in January 2016. She will discuss how we can use our leadership positions in academia to achieve better outcomes and greater equity moving forward.

9/5/2017

Tuesdays with Liz - Jerry Alliston

In light of the devastating and emotional impact of Hurricane Harvey, this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All is dedicated to the importance of emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. Liz interviews Jerry Alliston (Community Education Director at the Mississippi UCEDD) about his experience and lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In case you missed last week, Liz interviewed Lael Mohib, who is the wife of the Afghanistan Ambassador. Liz and Lael spoke about what life is like in Afghanistan for people with disabilities.

9/4/2017

Diversity Fellows Impact Entire Campus Community (TX UCEDD)

Three students from diverse backgrounds with a common goal - make life better for people with disabilities. That's the idea behind the Graduate Fellows Program with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M. Over the course of a year, three graduate students participate in interdisciplinary training, work on projects with CDD researchers and attend several workshops and conferences related to diversity and disability issues.

9/4/2017

UCCEDD's Healthcare Advocacy Strategies Engage New Advocates and Allies (OH UCEDD)

Like many UCEDDs across the Network, the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) was actively involved in educating individuals with disabilities, family members, professionals, and policy-makers about the healthcare changes proposed during this spring and summer. It was a fast-paced time of advocacy, an opportunity for seasoned advocates to teach others about legislative action, and a chance for new advocates to find their passion. The importance of raising voices and awareness has been and continues to be critical in this fight. Throughout the ongoing process, UCCEDD identified a need for healthcare policy education and activation and we'd like to share what that has looked like for us.

9/1/2017

Post-Harvey Assistance: Preparations needed for AT/DME to Houston

A need for Assistive Technology (AT) - especially the subset of AT referred to as "Durable Medical Equipment (DME)" exists in areas hard-hit by Hurricane Harvey. As homes and neighborhoods flooded, many people were rescued without their AT/DME, or their equipment was lost or damaged in the flood. In addition, people may have developed new needs for AT/DME as a result of injuries sustained in the emergency. Currently, efforts are underway to assess people in shelters to identify their needs for AT/DME, identify a warehouse to store donated equipment, and identify safe transportation routes for delivering donated equipment.

8/31/2017

Post-Hurricane Rescue and Recovery Efforts for People with Disabilities

As government officials continue to assess the damage and community needs left in the catastrophic wake of Hurricane Harvey, AUCD staff is actively engaged to ensure that people with disabilities are included in all phases of the rescue and recovery process. AUCD network members in the affected areas also have been communicating with local agencies and participating in disaster integration efforts.

8/31/2017

Tips for First Responders (TX UCEDD)

TIPs for First Responders provides disability-related information for first responders and shelter workers via an online app: http://disabilitytips.tamu.edu/

8/30/2017

AUCD Welcomes LaKesha Pettigrew (WI LEND) as the 2017-2018 Virtual Trainee

LaKesha Pettigrew is a parent of a young child with autism from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has her sights set on transforming her local community by increasing early identification of developmental delays and autism in underserved children.

8/29/2017

Tuesdays wit Liz: Lael Mohib

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Lael Mohib, who is the wife of the Afghanistan Ambassador and passionate about work with people with disabilities. Liz and Lael spoke about what life is like in Afghanistan for people with disabilities. Last week, Liz interviewed Eve Hill, an attorney at Brown, Goldstein & Levy who previously worked for the Division of Civil Rights during the Obama administration. Liz and Eve spoke about Civil Rights during the current time.

8/28/2017

ICI Staffer Karen Flippo Wins Lifetime Achievement Award from APSE (MA UCEDD/LEND)

Karen Flippo, a program director at the ICI, received a lifetime achievement award from APSE, a national organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work at competitive jobs in their communities. Flippo was a founding board member of APSE (which stands for the Association of People Supporting Employment First).

8/28/2017

Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) (ME UCEDD)

Does your state's self-advocacy organization have questions about things like fundraising, getting people involved or leadership development? The Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) can help: its mission is to strengthen the self-advocacy movement by supporting self-advocacy organizations to grow in diversity and leadership. SARTAC is a one-stop resource for organizing and supporting self advocacy groups!

8/28/2017

UW-Madison Supports Scholarship Fund for Children with Special Needs (WI UCEDD/WECP)

The Athletic Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison designated the Waisman Center's Early Childhood Program as the recipient of proceeds from the Spring Football Game in April. Game receipts were directed towards the Scholarship Fund to provide tuition assistance for children enrolled in WECP, an inclusive program for children ages 1 through 5 located in the Waisman Center's UCEDD.

8/22/2017

Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Curriculum

Using the free Moodle learning management system platform, Vanderbilt LEND has worked with experts from across the country to create a set of curriculum resources (readings, assignments, discussion prompts, case studies, additional resources, etc.) on more than 30 different Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) topics - from early identification of Autism and hearing in children to positive behavior support, Special Education Part B Services, and sexual health for individuals with disabilities. These modules, which can be updated and added to as needed, are housed on a central Moodle site and pushed out to individual programs / centers for customization.

8/22/2017

Spring 2017 ADA International Fellowship Hosts Selected for International Inclusive Education Travel

AUCD is excited to announce that four network members have been selected to travel to Kenya, Tanzania and Brazil through the ADA International Fellowship Program, an inclusive education professional exchange initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by AUCD and ICI-UMass Boston. Dr. Martin Blair, Director of the Montana UCEDD, Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson, Director of the South Dakota UCEDD, Dr. Evan Borisinkoff, Director for Research and Evaluation at the North Dakota UCEDD, and Amy Starble, Augmentative Communication Consultant at the Vermont UCEDD, will support local ADA International Fellows who studied inclusive education at their UCEDDs in April and May as they implement projects designed with their guidance earlier this year.

8/22/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Eve Hill

8/21/2017

IU's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Receives Funding to Advance Policy and Practice (IN UCEDD)

Indiana University's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community has been awarded a five-year, $2.7 million grant to develop and advance the transfer of research and new knowledge in the field of disability studies from the university setting to communities around Indiana, the nation and the globe.

8/21/2017

Sandy Root-Elledge is Recognized by the Wyoming Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

Congratulations to Sandy Root-Elledge, Executive Director of the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities. Sandy was honored with the Bright Star Award for a professional by the Wyoming Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. The Bright Star Award is presented annually and recognizes a professional within the state who has made significant contributions to the field of disabilities.

8/21/2017

Work And College Opportunities (WACO) Project (TX UCEDD)

Student Voices | Summer 2017

Cekevia Degrate participated in the Leadership, Employability, and Advocacy Project (LEAP) during the summer of 2015 while she was about to be a Junior in High School. This year she has graduated from high school and is participating in the Work and College Opportunity (WACO) project at Texas A&M University. She describes how the programs helped her grow and prepare to achieve the goals she has set for her future.

8/15/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Bob Bacon

Bob Bacon talks about his recent retirement from the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, the accomplishments he's seen in the disability movement, and his future plans.

8/14/2017

AUCD Statement in Response to Violence in Charlottesville

AUCD joins with many in the disability and civil rights communities to condemn the hate and violence that were on display this weekend at the University of Virginia campus and in Charlottesville, VA. We stand in solidarity with all who have been and may be targeted by these hate groups and call on bipartisan elected officials at every level of government to condemn the racism and hate that we witnessed this weekend. We recognize the important role that we can play as leaders in higher education to help create campus environments where all can learn, all are welcomed, and no one experiences harassment, bullying, or violence because of who they are.

8/14/2017

Bacon Receives Special Retirement Message from Senator Harkin

Robert Bacon, MA retired from Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) after 19 years as director. Bob joined the Center for Disabilities and Development at the University of Iowa in 1979, initially hired as the Coordinator of the Instructional Technology Unit back when the University of Iowa housed the University Hospital School.

8/14/2017

Using Improv to Teach Advocacy: RTC:Rural Advocacy Skill Building Toolkit now available Organization: RTC:Rural, at the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana (MT UCEDD)

RTC:Rural is excited to release the Advocacy Skill Building Toolkit, a new set of resources for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and others to facilitate workshops to develop the advocacy skills of emerging Independent Living leaders and youth with disabilities.

8/14/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) What we know about disability identity development

Author: Courtney Taylor

A new model of psychosocial identity development from a Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) researcher may provide a better understanding of the fluid processes that individuals with disabilities go through as they ask the question "Who am I?"

8/9/2017

Priorities for the new Assistant Secretary on Aging and Administrator of the Administration for Community Living Lance Robertson

ACL's mission of maximizing "the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families and caregivers" is critical. ACL currently serves more than 140 million Americans and this population continues to grow.

8/8/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: ABLE Accounts!

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz talks to Heather Sachs, Senior Advisor for the National ABLE resource Center, about the ABLE Resource Center's month-long campaign to increase the knowledge about opening ABLE accounts.

8/7/2017

New Research Explores Disability at the Household Level (MT UCEDD)

A new RTC:Rural Research Brief by RTC:Rural partner Christiane von Reichert, Ph.D., Professor of Geography at the University of Montana, presents research on disability rates at the household level. The brief, titled "Prevalence of Disability: Individual and Household Context" is available for download on the Geography and Rural Disability page on the RTC:Rural website.

8/7/2017

Reducing Relapse Focus of New Study at MMI (NE UCEDD/LEND)

The Munroe-Meyer Institute's Brian Greer, Ph.D., will be the site PI on a new grant written with principal investigator Timothy Shahan, Ph.D., of Utah State University, that will explore ways to reduce relapse in children who engage is severe problem behavior.

8/4/2017

Michael Knox, PhD Retires from The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD)

Michael Knox, PhD, deputy director and assistant professor of pediatrics, retired after 33 years with The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

8/4/2017

VIUCEDD Appoints New Executive Director

Join us in thanking Dr. Yegin Habtes for his tireless work as the founding and Executive Director for the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Developmental since 1994. Since its inception to now, we have seen VIUCEDD grow to serve as a community partner around issues pertaining to developmental disabilities. It has served as a resource for the VI community, and has provided many workshops and speakers addressing exemplary and evidence-based approaches for individuals with disabilities.

8/3/2017

AUCD Welcomes Daphnee Guillaume as Public Health Program Manager

Daphnee Guillaume is the Public Health Program Manager at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager, Disability and Public Health.

8/2/2017

USM Institute for Disability Studies Honored with Above and Beyond Award (MS UCEDD)

The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) has been presented with the Above and Beyond Award by the Mississippi Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office.

8/1/2017

AUCD 2017 Registration is Open!

Deadline: October 20

The power of our collective voices working together to sustain vital supports and services for people with disabilities and their families cannot be denied. Whether you're a newcomer to the field or a seasoned professional, the AUCD Conference provides countless opportunities to share with and learn from colleagues across the network and beyond.

8/1/2017

AUCD 2017 Scholarships Available for Network Trainees

Deadline: September 27

AUCD is pleased to announce the availability of 20 trainee travel scholarships of up to $500 each AND 4 trainee volunteer scholarships of up to $500 each to support AUCD Trainees in attending the AUCD Conference. Scholarships are available to (a) current trainees and (b) former trainees presenting work conducted while a trainee. The AUCD Conference is an amazing learning and networking opportunity, and we're excited to support you in attending.

8/1/2017

Tuesday with Liz: How Might Healthcare Funding Cuts Affect People with Disabilities?

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Michael Gamel-McCormick, Disability Policy Director for Senator Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, about the importance of Medicaid.

8/1/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: How Will Budget Cuts Affect People with Disabilities?

In this week�s edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, today Liz interviewed Rebecca Vallas, managing director at the Center for American Progress, about the President's budget and the implications for people with disabilities.

7/31/2017

Dreams Do Come True

By Jonny Thomas Emeron (with help by Judy Warth, Iowa's UCEDD)

Jonny Thomas Emeron is a 19 year old man with Asperger's, high functioning autism, depression, anxiety, a sensory integration disorder and a delightfully wicked sense of humor and a passion for Zelda. He is participating in a transition program through the Iowa City Community School District. Jonny works at Wild Bill's Coffee Shop at the University of Iowa's School of Social Work

7/28/2017

Southeastern Postsecondary Education Alliance Holds Third Annual Capacity Building Institute at Vanderbilt University (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND)

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) and Next Steps at Vanderbilt hosted the third annual Southeastern Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) Capacity Building Institute on June 26-27, 2017. The annual event was created to collaborate around the support, creation and expansion of inclusive postsecondary education programs (IPSE). IPSE is a national movement to support students with intellectual disabilities in attending college.

7/28/2017

We did it! Thank you! Update on Health Care Vote

For any health reform proposal to be successful, especially one attempting to dramatically change nearly one-fifth of the nation's economy, it must include people with disabilities in the process. Members on both sides of the aisle have suggested a return to a more open and deliberative conversation to address parts of the Affordable Care Act. AUCD strongly supports this, and has consistently advocated for a more transparent and consultative approach.

7/27/2017

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD)

Dr. Rosemary Hughes was invited to serve as faculty at the 2017 Montana Victim Advocate Academy. It was the first time in the Academy's history that the topic of victims with disabilities has been a stand-alone session. The 40-hour academy provides training to dozens of law enforcement officers, attorneys and victim advocates from across Montana and neighboring western states.

7/26/2017

27th Anniversary Commemoration of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, the landmark civil rights legislation expressing the nation's commitment to end discrimination against people with disabilities. At an event on the steps of the United States Supreme Court, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reflected on the increased opportunities for people with disabilities made possible by the ADA. They also voiced concerns over the ongoing healthcare debate in the US Senate. In Sen. Hassan's words, the proposed cuts to existing programs like Medicaid "could take us back to the status quo before the ADA."

7/26/2017

Celebrate the 27th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July 26, 2017 marks the 27th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

7/25/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: 27th Anniversary of the ADA

In celebration of the 27th anniversary of the ADA, in this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Mark Johnson, one of the leaders of ADAPT, about the history and the future of the ADA and the potential cuts to Medicaid.

7/24/2017

Diversity Fellowship Capstone Project (ND UCEDD)

By Bailee Laducer, North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, Minot State University

My name is Bailee Laducer and I have spent the last six months as the diversity fellow at NDCPD. I am an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) and am from the reservation located in Belcourt, North Dakota. As the diversity fellow, I identified one of the biggest needs we have is encouraging young people from my community to get training to work in disability related fields. The Director of the Native American Cultural Center at Minot State University (MSU) and I came up with the idea of hosting a Spring Bridges event where we invited 9th through 12th graders from the Turtle Mountain Community High School to visit the MSU campus for an entire day with the purpose of learning about disability studies and human service degree programs. We wanted to expose students to a field they probably would not otherwise consider, meet various faculty members, tour the small campus, and introduce them to the supportive environment of the Native American Cultural Center.

7/19/2017

Kickoff of the PEERS for Young Adults Certified Training Seminars (CA UCEDD)

Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, director of the UCLA PEERS Clinic, recently held the first 3-day PEERS for Young Adults Certified Training Seminar at the University of Maryland on June 14th - 16th, 2017. Over 65 mental health professionals and educators attended the training seminar sponsored by The University of Maryland Autism Research Consortium (UMARC) and the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences.

7/19/2017

Southern Miss IDS Community Education Director Elected to Regional Board (MS UCEDD)

Dr. Jerry R. Alliston, community education director at The University of Southern Mississippi's (USM) Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), has been elected to the board of directors for the Southeastern Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA).

7/18/2017

New Learning Module! Communicating the Value of Developmental Screening

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) has released a new learning module focused on communicating the value of developmental screening. This easy-to-use learning module incorporates evidence-based practices with perspectives from physicians, parents, and the director of a Title V program for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN).

7/18/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Why LEND Matters

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Wanda Felty, family faculty at the Oklahoma's LEND, about why family support and LEND programs are so important and how they relate to Medicaid.

7/17/2017

CT-LEND and UCEDD Celebrate the success of their first Diversity Fellows!

The University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and LEND program were thrilled with the participation of the Human Services and Family Studies Diversity Fellows from partner Goodwin College this past year. Goodwin participants enthusiastically engaged in weekly seminars, special presentations, observations, and legislative and advocacy events.

7/17/2017

Indiana LEND Awarded Grant to Study Needs and Service Utilization of Children Following Neurodevelopmental Diagnosis

Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD, HSPP, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, has been awarded a grant to study the needs and service utilization of children following neurodevelopmental diagnosis, as a quality improvement initiative of the Riley Child Development Center, the Indiana LEND's interdisciplinary evaluation clinic.

7/17/2017

Justice System and People with Disabilities Focus of New MN UCEDD Publication

The newly-released "Impact: Feature Issue on the Justice System and People with Intellectual, Developmental, and Other Disabilities" (ici.umn.edu/products/impact301) from the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) offers justice professionals, disability professionals, people with disabilities, and their families leading-edge articles that help communities work together to support equal access to justice for all. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities can face unique challenges, with potentially serious consequences, when involved with the juvenile or criminal justice systems.

7/17/2017

Va-LEND Launches New Distance Learning Module

For the past year, Va-LEND has been focusing on ways to expand training opportunities statewide and beyond. Zipporah Levi-Shackleford, former outstanding LEND trainee and current faculty member, has used material from the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (VCL) Moodle and other on-line resources to develop a module on the "Early Identification of Autism".

7/14/2017

Video: House Education Committee Roundtable on Access to Higher Education for Students with Disabilities

On July 13, Democrats on the House Committee on Education & the Workforce held a panel discussion on the Improving Access to Higher Education Act. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act and bolster students with disabilities' access to and completion of postsecondary education programs. Watch video of the event >

7/13/2017

#DoNoHarm --> #SaveMedicaid!

The time to act is NOW

The US Senate majority leadership unveiled the revised Better Care Reconciliation Act (BRCA) on 7/12 and a vote is expected on July 20.
Don't let up. Tell your Senators that the Better Care Reconciliation Act is BAD POLICY that will cause great harm for millions of Americans.

7/12/2017

Julie Christensen Named Director of Iowa's UCEDD

On July 1, Julie Christensen, MSW, PhD, assumed the leadership of Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) at University of Iowa Health Care. For the past year, she has served as Associate Director of the Iowa UCEDD, working under the mentorship of Bob Bacon, who directed the Iowa UCEDD since 1998 and is set to retire on July 17.

7/11/2017

Why is Patient Centered Research Important?

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Sara Van Geertruyden about the importance of Person-Centered Research.

7/10/2017

CT UCEDD Co-sponsors CPTV Documentary "Building A Great Life"

Connecticut Pubic Television and the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities (CCDD) produced a dynamic documentary in support of CT's "2020 Campaign: A Plan to Close Connecticut's Institutions for People with Intellectual Disabilities by 2020". The May 10th premiere began with an opening ceremony of the "The Pennhurst Story - from Tragedy to Disability Rights traveling exhibit" at the Legislative Office Building, organized by UCEDD Training Director, Molly Cole. Later that evening, a well-attended reception and advance screening of the documentary was held at the New England Center for Assistive Technology at Oak Hill School in Hartford.

7/10/2017

Meet the Center on Disability and Development 2017 Leadership Training for Diversity (LTD) Fellows

In the Diversity and Inclusion Survey that AUCD conducted in 2015, UCEDD and LEND Directors from across the network stressed the importance of addressing diversity issues and training to ensure cultural competence and diversity goals. UCEDDs and the disability community benefit from trainees from diverse backgrounds as an important need within the disability service system are professionals who are racially, ethnically, and linguistic diverse (Clark & Majewski, 2013). The Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) similarly recognizes the importance of growing leaders in the field of developmental disabilities who are prepared to deliver culturally competent services and who are themselves representative of diverse backgrounds. The goal of the Leadership Training for Diversity (LTD) Fellows Program at the CDD will be to produce a formal cultural competence fellowship that supports Fellows from diverse backgrounds.

7/10/2017

The OHSU UCEDD Hosted Five Youth with Disabilities in Salem for a Leadership Training (OR UCEDD)

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) successfully piloted their Empowered Youth Leaders (EYL) Program on June 20 and 21 in Salem, Oregon. Five youth with disabilities and special health needs from around Oregon joined five peer mentors and four staff for a two-day training on leadership, self-advocacy, disability history, and how to get involved in their communities.

7/6/2017

The Latest Issue of #RDSJ is Out

Volume 13 Issue 2

The latest issue of the Review of Disability Studies is out! Dive into this issues' topics ranging for Disability Studies in Physical Recreation, Social Participation of Children, Immigrants in Australia, Anxiety as a Tool for Critical Disability Studies, Film Genre and Mental Illness and much more.

7/5/2017

Dr. Elizabeth Lewis Elected to the SDS Board of Directors (TX UCEDD)

The Texas Center for Disability Studies is pleased to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Lewis has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Society of Disability Studies (SDS). Dr. Lewis will serve a three-year term. The SDS Board Members understand and represent diverse experience in all its complexity, and have fundraising and development experience, strong leadership qualifications and experience, and creative ideas for the future of SDS.

7/5/2017

Drs. Tomlin and Sturm Promoted (IN LEND)

Angela Tomlin, PhD, Director of the Riley Child Development Center (Indiana LEND) has been promoted to Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. Lynne Sturm, PhD, a psychologist at RCDC, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics. Please join us in congratulating them on their well-deserved promotions!

7/5/2017

Georgetown UCEDD Annual Conference a Success!

The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities along with their partners the DC Developmental Disabilities Council, University Legal Services Protection and Advocacy Services of DC, the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program, the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies and the DC Developmental Disabilities Administration Health Initiative held their annual GUCEDD conference on transition through the life span. Opening for the program was Shileta Gorham of the Independent Center for Living and our 2015 Geraldine P Waldorf Making A Difference Award winner talking about her lived experience and support for others.

7/5/2017

Nutrition Efforts Reaching Disability Community with Support from Walmart Foundation to Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expands its health efforts with the launch of "Nutrition is for Everyone," made possible by a $420,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. Five AUCD-member centers will implement a one-year project providing nutrition education for an estimated 25,000 people with disabilities living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Based on available public health data, these states are areas where people with disabilities are least likely to be consuming fruits and vegetables and, therefore, in the most need for nutrition education and support.

7/5/2017

Standards for Systems of Care for CYSHCN Streamlined and Updated

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs just released an updated version of the National Standards for Systems of Care that strive to serve the nation's 11 million children and youth with special health care needs. Version 2.0 of the National Standards for Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, produced in partnership with the National Academy for State Health Policy with support from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, sets the core components for the structure and process of effective systems of care while streamlining content for easier use by states and stakeholders.

7/5/2017

Susanna Miller-Raines wins the 2017 Tools for Life Assistive Technology Innovation Award at the Institute Designed for Educating All Students (IDEAS) Conference (GA UCEDD)

St. Simon's, Georgia | June 2017 - Susanna Miller-Raines, with the Center for Leadership in Disability was presented with the prestigious 2017 Tools for Life Assistive Technology Innovation Award on June 9, 2017. Susanna won the hotly contested prize over other nominees throughout Georgia.

7/3/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) TRIAD pilot works to provide ASD Diagnostic Services in Primary Care Setting

Team members within the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Treatment & Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) are piloting a project to see if embedding a trained behavioral health provider within the traditional primary care setting such as a pediatrician's practice, would improve the likelihood of earlier diagnosis for children who show signs of an autism spectrum disorder and would streamline the intervention process.

6/30/2017

Congressional Budget Office Estimate on the Better Care Reconciliation Act

An updated report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) verifies what we already knew - that the cuts to Medicaid proposed by the U.S. Senate are going to get much worse after the first decade.

6/27/2017

Belinda Hardy Appointed Associate Director of the UTHSC Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities (TN UCEDD)

Belinda Hardy, LCSW, MPA, has been appointed the associate director of the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Ms. Hardy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been employed at the Boling Center as the Chief of Social Work since 1996.

6/27/2017

GU Certificate in Early Intervention Celebrates 5th Successful Year! (Georgetown UCEDD)

The GU Certificate in Early Intervention program honored the students who completed the 2016-2017 s program with a gala luncheon on June 16, 2017. The event was part of a day-long conference hosted by the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

6/27/2017

OHSU UCEDD Hosted its 4th Annual Transition Fair

The OHSU UCEDD hosted their 4th annual Transition Fair: Passport to a Healthy Future on May 20th, 2017 at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro. Families and providers from the area came out to learn more about community resources to help navigate the transition from pediatric to adult services.

6/27/2017

The Power of Partnership: Project HEAL and RE/MAX Preferred (MD UCEDD)

RE/MAX Preferred hosted its third annual fundraiser to benefit Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Project HEAL attorneys provide advocacy and legal services to Kennedy Krieger patients and their families, primarily in special education matters. RE/MAX Preferred hosted The Power of Partnership event at their waterfront office in Fells Point, MD. The event included food, beverages, and entertainment for more than 200 attendees. Advance registration, donations at the door, and raffle prize monies raised $5,630 of unrestricted funds to benefit Project HEAL.

6/26/2017

Eliminating Barriers to Refugees Accessing Developmental Disabilities Services in Rhode Island (RI UCEDD)

Accessing Services from the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH) is currently impossible for refugees, especially adult refugees. The policies that enable a person to access such benefits and services place refugees with developmental disabilities at a disadvantage. This project therefore seeks to create awareness and make a case for policy change so that refugees can apply for/and receive services.

6/26/2017

Making Assistive Technology Accessible to Latino Families (IL UCEDD)

Latinos are becoming the largest minority group in the United States. The City of Chicago is made up of 28.9% of people of Latino heritage/descent (e.g. Mexican, Guatemalan, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc). Many Latinos in Chicago are Spanish speakers and understand little to no English. Although the Latino community continues to grow, they have limited access to assistive technology (AT) resources and support because of the language barrier. Unfortunately, the majority of AT materials and training is targeted towards English speakers. Collaborating with the Assistive Technology Unit (ATU) at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Autism Program of Illinois has allowed us to reach out and provide AT support to Latino families who otherwise may not have had the ability to obtain AT support.

6/26/2017

WI MCH Programs Team Up to Increase Diversity (WI UCEDD/LEND)

The Division of Maternal Child Health (MCH) Workforce Development created the 2017 Diversity and Health Equity Peer Learning Collaborative (DHEC) for MCH Training Programs interested in addressing issues related to diversity, linguistic competence and health equity. Wisconsin was selected as one of seven MCH peer groups to be a part of this national effort.

6/23/2017

Introducing AUCD's 2017 Summer Interns

AUCD is proud to welcome our summer interns to our team. We are excited to have them join us and contribute their skills and talents to the office and network.

6/22/2017

AUCD Celebrates the Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision

Urges the Senate to Oppose any Bill that would threaten community-based services

Today is the 18th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision which declared that people with disabilities have a right to live and participate in their communities. Unfortunately, on the same day of the anniversary of this landmark decision, the Senate released a health care bill that threatens this right by fundamentally altering the Medicaid program.

6/20/2017

AUCD Welcomes Edward Suggs as Director of Finance and Grant Administration

Edward Suggs is the Director of Finance and Grant Administration at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). He manages the financial operations and plays a key role in developing the organization's budget and oversight of the year-end audit. Edward joined AUCD in June 2017.

6/20/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Advocacy and Leadership and Dreams

Today on 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz interviews Xian (She-ahn) Horn, a self-proclaimed "joyful half-Asian woman with Cerebral Palsy, who serves as teacher, speaker, beauty advocate, and blogger." Xian traveled to Washington, DC, in the spring courtesy of the AUCD DREAM Fund where she met with staffers of her members of Congress and attended the 2017 AUCD4all gala. In this interview, Liz and Xian talk about leadership, advocacy, and the beauty within us all.

6/19/2017

SELN Systematic Instruction Series: A three-part online series for employment specialists (MA UCEDD/LEND)

This spring, the State Employment Leadership Network hosted a 3-part online series on systematic instruction (SI) taught by nationally-known trainer, Teri Johnson. SI uses task analysis preparation, design, and strategies to help individuals with disabilities improve job performance and increase autonomy. Johnson shared original videos and stories to demonstrate the ways employment specialist can engage SI when the complexity of a task presents challenges to the learner.

6/16/2017

Embedding Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence: A Guide for UCEDD Curricula and Training Activities

A new project and website from the UCEDDs at Georgetown, Georgia State, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and in collaboration with AUCD

This project and website is designed to research, develop, and disseminate a set or resources for the national network of UCEDDs to embed cultural diversity and cultural and linguistic competence in their curricula and training activities.

6/16/2017

ICI Partners with AUCD to Host ADA International Fellows from Tanzania and Kenya (MA UCEDD/LEND)

AUCD partnered with ICI-UMass Boston to host the ADA International Fellowship Program on Inclusive Education, which is sponsored by U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to host Fellows from Tanzania and Kenya. Heike Boeltzig-Brown and Miwa Tanabe worked with AUCD to identify and recruit 20 mid-career professionals from Brazil, Kenya, Peru, and Tanzania, who have come to the US for 5 weeks and are working with faculty and staff at UCED's around the states. The Fellows learned about best practices in inclusive education in the U.S. and then will apply what they learned in an individualized inclusive education project or initiative that they will implement upon return to their home countries.

6/15/2017

Stories Needed on the Impact of Potential Medicaid Cuts

Tell Congress your story

Personal stories have great power. They help to create a shared understanding of who we are and how we live our lives. They help us celebrate our successes and document our challenges. Stories bring policies to life.
Medicaid and health care for people with disabilities is currently under threat. AUCD is collecting stories from you to share with policy makers. Help us put a face on the issue and tell lawmakers about the devastating implications if Medicaid funding is cut or capped.

6/14/2017

Conference Sponsorship, Exhibit, and Advertising Opportunities Available

Share your project or product at AUCD 2017! Committment Deadline: September 1

Sponsors and exhibitors of the conference will have direct access to AUCD's $650 million national network of directors, researchers, practitioners, and advanced-level Fellows representing university based programs from every state and territory. Best of all, you'll join an increasingly dynamic conversation focused on the support, inclusion, and well-being of people with disabilities, and demonstrate your organization's commitment to this population.

6/13/2017

Diversity Fellows Grant Project Leads to Leadership Opportunity for Self Advocates (NM LEND)

As a New Mexico LEND Self-Advocacy trainee, Daniel Ekman worked with faculty mentor Phyllis Shingle to create a document with leadership competencies, objectives and activities for people with disabilities. The idea was to develop a document that organizations could use and adapt as part of their own leadership curriculum for individuals with disabilities.

6/13/2017

The Boggs Center Celebrates Graduation of the Inaugural 2016-2017 NJLEND Cohort

The inaugural cohort of fellows graduated from The Boggs Center's New Jersey Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NJLEND) program. The NJLEND Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium was held at Children's Specialized Hospital, New Brunswick, and featured a keynote address from Sue Swenson, MBA, Vice President, Inclusion International and former Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, US Department of Education.

6/13/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Deaf Culture & the Workplace

Today on 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz interviews Christine Liao, a program specialist at AUCD and a deaf woman. In this interview, they discuss Christine's experience growing up and entering the workforce as a deaf professional, deaf culture, and some of the accommodations deaf people might need to fully participate in the community and workplace.

6/12/2017

Armenian Delegations Visit MN UCEDD

Two delegations from Armenia visited the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) in April as part of a project funded by UNICEF Armenia focusing on inclusive education. The collaborative project between ICI and Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) is titled, Enhancing the Inclusion of Children and Youth with Disabilities in Armenia: University of Minnesota/Armenian State Pedagogical University Partnership. The nine visitors spent two weeks in Minnesota, meeting with Renata Ticha and Brian Abery, who are ICI's co-directors on the project, and visiting other sites related to inclusive education. "Self-advocacy and advocacy for people with disabilities were two important concepts the delegations wanted to learn about and to explore with ICI colleagues and with self-advocates," says Ticha. The delegations included Karine Harutyunyan, the Deputy Minister of Education of Armenia; Mher Melik-Bakhshyan, the Pro-rector of Special Education at Armenian State Pedagogical University; as well as additional ASPU faculty and several education officers from UNICEF Armenia.

6/12/2017

Melissa Ortiz Appointed New Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities

Melissa describes herself as a compassionate conservative who is enthusiastic about working with both sides of the aisle on behalf of Americans with disabilities. Throughout her life, she has been an active advocate for people with disabilities, working to ensure people with disabilities have the opportunity to fully participate in society. She is particularly passionate about improving employment opportunities and eliminating barriers - such as a lack of accessible transportation - that can prevent people with disabilities from being able to work.

6/12/2017

The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University announces the 2017 PATHS (TX UCEDD)

The Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) program at Texas A&M University is honored to announce the 2017 graduates. This year, 36 young men and women successfully graduated from the PATHS certificate program. The PATHS certificate program was developed in 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Grenwelge, Director of Transition Service Programs, Associate Professor, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension while working with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. The PATHS program is an inclusive certificate program to prepare students with and without disabilities for a career as a Direct Support Professional, who will work with the elderly or people with disabilities in the community; as a Direct Support Para-Professional who will work with school districts; or as a Child Care Professional who will work with children.

6/12/2017

What Works for Youth? Tracking Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes (MA UCEDD/LEND)

The Institute for Community Inclusion's Meg Grigal was on an invited panel of presenters and discussed The Role and Impact of Vocational Rehabilitation in Inclusive Higher Education for Students with Intellectual Disability and Autism. The inclusion of Think College on a national panel helps to increase the visibility of the the ICI, and the topic of inclusive higher education for people with intellectual disability. Photo caption: Meg Grigal presenting on the impact of vocational rehabilitation in inclusive higher ed.

6/8/2017

David R. Johnson to Step Down as MN UCEDD Director in 2018

After 20 years at the helm of the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD), David R. Johnson will step down as Director in September 2018. Far from slowing down, he will transition to full-time faculty within the University of Minnesota's Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD), where he currently holds a 50 percent appointment. "I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Director for the past 20 years," Johnson said in an internal announcement to his staff. "It has been my privilege to be a part of this organization and you should all be proud of what we have accomplished, and will continue to accomplish."

6/7/2017

Autism Myths on Public Radio for Kids (MT UCEDD)

In partnership with Montana Public Radio, the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities is co-sponsoring several episodes of "Kids Like You and Me." This series is broadcast across Montana and focuses on helping kids learn about each other. The Autism episode features a son and her mother (a former LEND trainee).

6/7/2017

OHSU & UW Study Genetic Contributions to Autism

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the University of Washington (UW) are conducting a study on genetic contributions to autism, involving identical twins. The study is funded by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) and seeks to better understand how genetic changes that occur early in development might lead to autism. In particular, the researchers are seeking pairs of identical twins who are discordant for autism (that is, one has any autism spectrum diagnosis and one does not) to help answer this important question.

6/6/2017

AUCD Joins Thousands of Civil Rights and Disability Advocates to Protect Medicaid Health and Home and Community Based Services

"Voters did not ask for cuts to Medicaid and the President promised not to make cuts to Medicaid," said Andrew Imparato, Executive Director of AUCD. "Radically restructuring and cutting Medicaid puts the entire national support system for our community at risk."

6/6/2017

Mailman Center Demonstrations Projects Address Disruptive Behavior in Students with Disabilities (FL UCEDD/LEND)

Students with disabilities have high rates of disruptive behavior and reduced school readiness. However, there is limited capacity of school staff to effectively address behavior concerns. The Mailman Center for Child Development department of pediatrics was awarded a grant from the Children's Trust for a research based demonstration project to reduce child disruptive behaviors, enhance teacher-student relationships, increase effective discipline and reduce teacher stress/burnout.

6/6/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: What is Managed Care?

In today's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews John Tschida, Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy, about Managed Care and its importance.

6/3/2017

Jennifer's Story (NE UCEDD/LEND)

This story was written by Janet Miller, a respite care associate at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

My daughter, Jennifer, is a lovely 40-year-old woman with Down syndrome. For many years, she excelled in both school and employment. She was fortunate to have had many opportunities to participate in regular education classes. Additionally, she began her work career at age 17 at a Wendy's restaurant - her job choice was due in part for her interest in Dave Thomas and adoption.

6/2/2017

Meet the 2017 ADA International Fellows

AUCD, in partnership with the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, implements the ADA International Fellowship Program to support mid-career professionals from Brazil, Kenya, Peru, and Tanzania to learn inclusive education policies, strategies, and resources. The ADA Fellows each identified a project to implement in their home countries, and have spent the last month at an AUCD network center or partner to develop their action plans. The first cohort of 10 ADA Fellows is just finishing their fellowship, and developed this video of their experiences with AUCD's network members and partners.

6/1/2017

Financial Empowerment: Focus on People with Disabilities (MS UCEDD)

The University Of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies' (IDS) (IDS) housing staff member, Heather Steele, was invited to Washington, D.C. on May 8 - 9, to collaborate with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The CFPB and FDIC were convening to provide the opportunity for individuals from and serving the disability community to meet in person to learn about and share ideas for using the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit and the supplemental Focus on People with Disabilities Guide, as well as theFDIC's MoneySmart Program to empower people and communities in how they get, plan for and use their money.

5/31/2017

AUCD Seeks Program Manager for Public Health Team

Come join an awesome office in a job that makes a difference! AUCD is seeking a dynamic individual to provide technical assistance to AUCD's Inclusive Health Program and work with the Inclusive Health Learning Community to develop content, facilitate meetings, develop webinars and other communication tools, evaluate programs, and disseminate information. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in human services, project management or provision of technical assistance. MPH, MS or MA in public health, disability, clinical or human services related field.

5/31/2017

No Cuts, No Caps to Medicaid!

Press & Photos from June 6th

The new American Health Care Act (AHCA) cuts over $800 billion from Medicaid. The proposed per capita caps and cuts will have devastating and deadly consequences for people w/disabilities & seniors.

5/30/2017

California Speech Language Hearing Association's (CSHA) 2017 Diversity Award Recipient (CA UCEDD/LEND)

This past March, Sonia Konialian Aller, Ph.D., CCC, was honored by the California Speech Language and Hearing Association (CSHA) with its Diversity award at its annual convention held in Pasadena, California. The award recognized her broad-ranging career contributions and excellence in service, teaching, mentoring, research, and community outreach. Dr. Aller holds a Ph.D. (Indiana U.) in psycholinguistics and is a licensed, multilingual, speech-language pathologist. She has served as the Communication Disorders discipline Director over the past 25 years at the California LEND (CA-LEND) at the University of Southern California (USC) UCEDD at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

5/30/2017

Fellow from the IHD/NAU Wins Student Poster Presentation

Diana Del Cid, a first year graduate student in the School Psychology, Educational Specialist program became the Institute for Human Development's first trainee to be offered a Diversity Fellowship. The Fellowship program recruits and prepare scholars from underrepresented groups to the field of developmental disabilities. The goal of the fellowship is to engage the fellow in experiences designed to teach them skills to become leaders in their chosen discipline for the benefit of individuals with developmental disabilities.

5/30/2017

Fellow from the IHD/NAU Wins Student Poster Presentation (AZ UCEDD)

Diana Del Cid, a first year graduate student in the School Psychology, Educational Specialist program became the Institute for Human Development's first trainee to be offered a Diversity Fellowship. The Fellowship program recruits and prepare scholars from underrepresented groups to the field of developmental disabilities. The goal of the fellowship is to engage the fellow in experiences designed to teach them skills to become leaders in their chosen discipline for the benefit of individuals with developmental disabilities.

5/30/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Medicaid Toolkit for Self Advocates

This week on Tuesdays with Liz, Liz interviewed Julia Bascom, Executive Director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, about a new toolkit to help self-advocates, particularly self advocates with intellectual disabilities, better understand Medicaid.

5/28/2017

AUCD Statement on Release of President's Budget Request

Current federal investments do not meet the needs of a growing and aging population of Americans with disabilities. Instead of investing to address this gap, the President's proposed budget represents an aggressive retreat from a decades-long, bipartisan commitment to supporting the health and independence of people with disabilities.

5/26/2017

Melissa Mandrell named New Hampshire Social Worker of the Year (NH UCEDD/LEND)

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire congratulates Melissa Mandrell, MSS, MLSP on her selection as the Social Worker of the Year by the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

5/26/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) Addressing Needs of Family Caregivers of Aging Adults with Down syndrome

In a paper published in the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities*, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LIDDRC, LEND) investigators explore the growing issues of family caregiving for aging adults with Down syndrome. Robert Hodapp, Ph.D., Vanderbilt professor of Special Education, Richard C. Urbano, Ph.D., Vanderbilt research professor in Pediatrics, and Meghan Burke, Ph.D., BCBA-D, assistant professor of Special Education at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (and former VKC trainee!) report.

5/26/2017

Your Input Needed for Sex Ed Resource

Deadline: June 15th

OAR is developing a new resource tool to help people with autism navigate sex education and understand sexuality. This subject can be daunting and is often overlooked. At the same time, it is important in terms of personal growth, development, and safety. We are excited to create a resource on this topic that is specific to the needs of people with autism. Please help us address those needs by filling out the survey below and sharing with your connections in the autism community.

5/25/2017

'Resilience' Study Examines How People with Disabilities Live Successfully in Rural Areas (MT UCEDD)

Living in a small town can be challenging for anyone - but for people with disabilities, rural areas can create even more serious barriers to accomplishing the things they want to do. However, with the help of a trait known as resilience, many people with disabilities who live in rural areas have achieved a good quality of life and are able to participate in their communities.

5/25/2017

AUCD Statement on Introduction of the Raise the Wage Act

AUCD applauds the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act, which will raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 an hour by 2024. This measure will help many Americans with disabilities move towards self-sufficiency and economic stability.

5/25/2017

AUCD Statement on Introduction of the Raise the Wage Act

AUCD applauds the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act, which will raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 an hour by 2024. This measure will help many Americans with disabilities move towards self-sufficiency and economic stability.

5/25/2017

Celebration of Diversity, Teamwork, and the Future! (AZ UCEDD)

Northern Arizona University celebrated the accomplishments of the 2017 Hispanic, Latino and Chicano graduates at the 24th Annual Hispanic Convocation. Ms. Valeria Chase, bilingual specialist at the Institute for Human Development (IHD), served as member of the committee and put together a spectacular and energetic evening with distinguished guest, Mr. Claudio Sanchez, and a keynote address from Dr. Monica Brown who is a known for her bilingual children's books.

5/25/2017

GPS - Guiding People Through Systems, Online Care Notebook (OH UCEDD/LEND)

GPS, Guiding People Through Systems, is an online care notebook designed to help families organize medical and school records in one convenient, online resource. The tool was developed through a partnership between The University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD), Ohio Department of Health, Family Voices of Ohio, Ohio Medical Home and the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

5/24/2017

2017 Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD (MD UCEDD)

Moyo Koya is a rising second-year law student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, who has been accepted into the 2017 Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD Program to work 300 hours with Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Project HEAL is medical-legal partnership that provides advocacy and legal services to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are patients at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Moyo earned a bachelor of science in neurobiology and physiology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

5/24/2017

2017 recipients of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities (IA UCEDD)

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) is very proud to announce that Jessica Gallegos, Matthew O�Brien, PhD, BCBA-D and Caitlin Owens, MSW are the 2017 recipients of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities. The purpose of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities is to nurture in recipients a life-long commitment to leadership in developmental disabilities that will carry on Dr. Healy�s legacy for future generations. Dr. Healy, who passed away in April of 2012, was a world-renowned pediatrician and educator who devoted his life to caring for children with developmental disabilities. He served as the director of the Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowa�s nationally designated University Center for Excellence on Disabilities, from 1977 until he retired in 1998.

5/24/2017

Boston LEND Graduation (MA LEND)

The Boston LEND Faculty and Fellows celebrated the 2016-2017 LEND Fellows' Graduation with convocation speaker Valerie Bradley, President Emerita and co-founder of the Human Services Research Institute (HRSI). Also in attendance was the new ICI Director, Tom Sannicandro.

5/24/2017

KU Disability Researchers Edit Special Journal Issue

A new special issue of the Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community explores various aspects of this topic. Two researchers at the University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTC/IL) edited the thematic issue, "People with Disabilities and Community Participation."

5/24/2017

KU Disability Researchers Edit Special Journal Issue (KS UCEDD)

By Allison Crist

A new special issue of the Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community explores various aspects of this topic. Two researchers at the University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTC/IL) edited the thematic issue, "People with Disabilities and Community Participation."

5/24/2017

RTC: Rural Research Associate Awarded Prestigious Research and Policy Fellowship (MT UCEDD)

Dr. Jennifer Wong, RTC:Rural Research Associate, has been awarded a Training Fellowship in Rehabilitation Policy Research with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Healthy Aging & Physical Disability at the University of Washington (UW). The two-year fellowship consists of a year of rehabilitation research at UW, followed by a year of policy research in Washington, D.C. Wong will join one other postdoctoral researcher to make up the fellowship's second cohort. The fellowship will begin in October 2017.

5/24/2017

Texas Center for Disability Studies Welcomes Nina Zuna! (TX UCEDD)

The Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin is pleased to welcome Dr. Nina Zuna as the Associate Director. Dr. Zuna comes to TCDS after working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at UT-Austin. Dr. Zuna has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families in a variety of roles including, professor, researcher, certified special education teacher, and in-home/in-school behavioral skills trainer.

5/24/2017

Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) LEND Trainees present final projects to New York State Department of Health

On April 27th, WIHD LEND trainees were in Albany, NY to present their research projects to the Department of Health and other stakeholders as part of their final project for the course "Seminar in Evidence-based Methods (SEBM)". In addition to 22 in-person trainees, two trainees from the University of Puerto Rico and two trainees from the U.S. Virgin Islands also participated via distance technology.

5/23/2017

Tuesday with Liz: How Might Healthcare Funding Cuts Affect People with Disabilities?

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Michael Gamel-McCormick, Disability Policy Director for Senator Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, about the importance of Medicaid.

5/22/2017

Va-LEND Welcomes Second Generation Director

By Jennifer M. Drummond

This past March, Jennifer Accardo, MD, officially stepped into her role as the new Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Va-LEND) Director, a job previously held by her father, Pasquale Accardo, MD. Dr. Accardo is a pediatrician board certified in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

5/17/2017

IN LEND and LEAH Programs Host Trainee Poster Session

The Riley Child Development Center (IN LEND) hosted the 7th annual MCH Poster session and professional networking reception on Friday, April 21, 2017. Trainees from both the IN LEND and LEAH programs shared their research and leadership projects. The posters were well received, with good discussions and future connections made!

5/17/2017

IN LEND Collaborates on Project to Develop Training for Family Leaders

The Riley Child Development Center is excited to share this free training that was guided by MCH leadership competencies. Indiana families now have access to a new web-based training which will help them build knowledge and skills in the area of family leadership! Building Family Leaders will give families access to the tools they need to be empowered to lead, advocate and engage as partners in the systems that serve their children. The idea for the Building Family Leaders modules was born during a statewide meeting of the Family Leadership Council.

5/16/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: See Amazing with Liz & Leslie!

On this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz, Liz interviews Leslie Kimmelman. Leslie Kimmelman is the author of the first Sesame Street book about Julia, a muppet with autism, called 'We're Amazing 1, 2, 3!'

5/15/2017

Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center (AT) visited South Africa (IA UCEDD)

Tracy Keninger, Director of the Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center (AT) visited South Africa in March to provide consultation relating to implementation of new legislation that is similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act. During her week long stay, she visited several child care centers, residential facilities, and rehabilitation facilities for individuals with disabilities. She also spoke with many organizations, families, and individuals with disabilities regarding current challenges and needs. In response to the overwhelming lack of basic assistive technology to support mobility, activities of daily living, and recreation, Keninger will be returning to South Africa in August with a group of Occupational Therapy students and volunteers to design assistive technology and modify devices from locally available materials and supplies.

5/15/2017

In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (MN UCEDD)

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living for People with Intellectual Disabilities (RTC/CL) (90RT5019) has released a report, In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2014.

5/15/2017

Mailman Center Receives Grant for Women and their Babies (FL UCEDD/LEND)

The Mailman Center was awarded a one year grant in the amount of $223,000 from The Children's Trust. Julieta Hernandez, PhD, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor and Director of Social Work Programs and Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, Occupational Therapist & LEND Fieldwork Program Coordinator, will be leading this new project, The Wellness Outreach for Mothers and Babies (WOMB). This program will implement and evaluate an evidence-based intervention to address the social-emotional well-being of infants and mothers in high need Miami-Dade County communities.

5/15/2017

New Online Traning Platform Enhances Living Well with a Disability Program (MT UCEDD/LEND)

RTC:Rural is thrilled to announce an exciting update to the Living Well with a Disability Program with a new online Facilitator Training. The new program updates make it easier for organizations to train staff and peers, prepare workshop materials, and receive technical support from both RTC:Rural and fellow Living Well with a Disability Program Providers.

5/12/2017

Va-LEND Trainee Receives 2017 OAR Research Grant

by Jennifer M. Drummond

Heather Coleman, who received her certificate of completion from Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Va-LEND), Program this past May also received a $2000 Research Grant from The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) to support her dissertation research. Coleman's was among 26 proposals submitted to OAR, a national non-profit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism and Asperger Syndrome. A doctorial student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Coleman's study is titled Parent Implemented Communication Intervention for Young Children with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. She has 18 months to complete her research and will work directly with parents and their children with autism.

5/11/2017

2017 Inclusive Health Forum

AUCD joined the Special Olympics International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), and several other health, health care, and public health partners, at the 2017 Inclusive Health Forum in Washington D.C. The goal of the May 9 event was to create inclusive access to quality health promotion and care for people with intellectual disabilities. The vision is that inclusion of all people with disabilities becomes the norm for health promotion.

5/11/2017

Individual Healthcare Plans: Developing and Implementing Effective Schoolwide Practices (SD UCEDD)

Emily Meier, MA and Wendy Parent-Johnson, PhD

Individual Healthcare Plans (IHP) are written plans used in the school setting to communicate students' health conditions and their care/accommodation needs. They are written for a variety of health conditions and make it easier for school teams to determine appropriate healthcare interventions. The Heartland Genetic Services Collaborative conducted a focus group in which many parents, school nurses, healthcare professionals, school administrators and advocates recognized that a consistent, standardized practice was not in place for healthcare plan development or implementation. This prompted Heartland to team with the University of South Dakota (USD) Center for Disabilities to design a project to improve the IHP process.

5/10/2017

Linking Refugees with Disabilities to Employment in Illinois (IL UCEDD)

Transnational refugees with disabilities are left out of many social service provisions typically provided to refugees. The Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) at the University of Illinois at Chicago has received a three year grant funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to address the support needs of refugees with disabilities.

5/10/2017

Position Opening: Virtual Trainee

For the 2017-2018 academic year

As a part of AUCD's initiative to increase trainee involvement across the network and build future leaders, AUCD is seeing the next Virtual Trainee for the 2017-2018 academic year! This is a paid leadership opportunity with AUCD.

5/9/2017

GAO Report: Youth with Autism

Federal Agencies Should Take Additional Action to Support Transition - Age Youth

According to GAO's nationwide survey of school district special education directors, GAO estimates that about 85 percent of districts in school year 201516, provided youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services such as instruction on life, social, and behavioral skills, as they transition from high school to adulthood. ASD is a group of complex developmental disorders characterized by difficulties with social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors.

5/9/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: RAISE Family Caregivers Act

On this edition of Tuesdays with Liz, Liz interviews Rhonda Richards, a senior legislative representative at AARP about respite care and the new RAISE Family Caregiver's Act.

5/8/2017

Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disability (WY UCEDD)

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) is pleased to announce the recent publication of Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disability, published in February 2017 by Temple University Press. WIND is Wyoming's UCEDD, and the Disability Studies Minor is a key component of our pre-service education core function.

5/8/2017

John Tschida Receives the NARRTC Special Contribution Award

At the recent annual conference of the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (NARRTC), John Tschida, Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy at AUCD, received the Special Contribution Award. Given for leadership activities and major accomplishments on behalf of NARRTC as an organization, "Special Contribution Awards recognize diligence, service, commitment, and leadership in the context of organizational affairs or related spheres of activity," said NARRTC President Marianne Farkas.

5/8/2017

New Tool Available to Access Disability Data (MT UCEDD)

Finding big data about rural America is challenging. Finding big data about disability in rural America can seem impossible. Meanwhile, access to current information about disability in rural areas is important as these areas consistently experience higher disability rates than their urban counterparts.

5/6/2017

2017 Leadership Training for Diversity (LTD) Fellows (TX UCEDD)

In the Diversity and Inclusion Survey that AUCD conducted in 2015, UCEDD and LEND Directors from across the network stressed the importance of addressing diversity issues and training to ensure cultural competence and diversity goals. UCEDDs and the disability community benefit from trainees from diverse backgrounds as an important need within the disability service system are professionals who are racially, ethnically, and linguistic diverse (Clark & Majewski, 2013). The Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) similarly recognizes the importance of growing leaders in the field of developmental disabilities who are prepared to deliver culturally competent services and who are themselves representative of diverse backgrounds. The goal of the Leadership Training for Diversity (LTD) Fellows Program at the CDD will be to produce a formal cultural competence fellowship that supports Fellows from diverse backgrounds.

5/4/2017

2017 Coleman Conference Call for Proposals

Deadline: June 1, 2017

The 17th Annual Coleman Institute Conference on Cognitive Disabilities & Technology, will be held on November 2, 2017 in Broomfield, CO. The call for proposals is now open. This call for proposals includes submissions for breakout sessions and poster presentations. We are seeking proposals that reflect areas pertinent to Applied Cognitive Technologies, including; research, development, and practice.

5/4/2017

2017 Coleman Conference Call for Proposals

Deadline: June 1, 2017

The 17th Annual Coleman Institute Conference on Cognitive Disabilities & Technology, will be held on November 2, 2017 in Broomfield, CO. The call for proposals is now open. This call for proposals includes submissions for breakout sessions and poster presentations. We are seeking proposals that reflect areas pertinent to Applied Cognitive Technologies, including; research, development, and practice.

5/4/2017

AUCD Statement on the House Passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA)

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities is disappointed by the vote in the House of Representatives today on the America's Health Care Act (AHCA). The House passed the AHCA on a close vote of 217-213.

5/4/2017

New Bachelor of Science Degree in Disability and Human Development at IL UCEDD

The NEW Bachelor of Science in Disability and Human Development offers an innovative interdisciplinary program designed to train students on the complex social, cultural, political, historical, and economic factors that shape the lives of people with disabilities locally, nationally, and internationally.

5/3/2017

2017 Youth Transitions Fellowship (YTF)

The HSC Foundation, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), is now accepting applications for a paid fellowship position with the organizations' disability youth transition and collaboration work. This fellowship is ideal for a person with a disability who has an interest in youth career transitions and employment solutions. The fellowship starts in June 2017, and continues for 12 months. Under the supervision of NCIL's Operations Director, the Youth Transitions Fellow (YTF) will gain exposure to youth programs serving people with disabilities and will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration among internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship programs based in the Greater Washington, DC area.

5/2/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Congressman Jim Langevin

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) about the Lifespan Respite Care Act and the bipartisan Disability Caucus, which he chairs.

5/2/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND) CAC Chair at the Disability Policy Seminar

My name is John Shouse. I am the chair of the Community Advisory Council for the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND). I count myself very fortunate to have been able to attend the annual Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C., again this year, March 20-22, and to make visits to our Tennessee Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill. As we chanted at the Seminar: "This is what democracy looks like."

5/1/2017

Bronx NY UCEDD Co-Director Writes and Marches for Science

In support of inclusive evidence-based science and funds to support it, Dr. Karen Bonuck published an article in Huffington Post (see link below). The article appeared days before the nation's historic Marches for Science. Karen marched in Washington DC with thousands of others, just after the UCEDD Director's meeting

5/1/2017

Dr. Jesse Suter Named Interim Director of CDCI (VT UCEDD)

We are proud to announce that Dr. Jesse Suter has accepted the position of Interim Director at the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion. He will be stepping into the role currently held by Dr. Susan Ryan, who is retiring after an impressive career spanning more than 30 years in Special Education and Inclusion.

5/1/2017

Linda Alsop receives 2017 Exemplary Advocate Award (UT UCEDD)

Linda Alsop received the Exemplary Advocate Award for 2017 at from the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Visual Impairment and Deafblindness at their annual convention held in April. Alsop is a project director at the Ski*Hi Institute, operating in the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University.

5/1/2017

Linda Labas, Early Childhood Coordinator, Recognized for 25 Years of Service (ME UCEDD)

Linda Labas, M.Ed., Early Childhood Coordinator for the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD), was recently recognized for 25 years of service to the University of Maine. From 1992 to early 1995, Linda served as the assistant director/child care admissions coordinator at UMaine's Children's Center. In February 1995, she joined the Center for Community Inclusion (UAP) as a research associate in early childhood and was promoted to early childhood coordinator in 1998.

5/1/2017

Northeast Regional LEND Programs Co-sponsor Annual Spring Conference

The NH-ME LEND Program at Dartmouth College,"Geisel School of Medicine; The Child Psychiatry Autism Program at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in partnership with The Maine LEND at the" University of New England; The LEND Program at Boston Children's Hospital" and Eunice Kennedy Shriver LEND Program at University of Massachusetts Medical School will host a conference at the Southeastern Regional Education Center in Bedford, NH on May 15, 2017.

5/1/2017

SC LEND Year End Meeting

On April 27, the SC LEND trainees presented their research/ leadership projects to faculty and staff. Project topics included the effects on exercise on children with ADHD, screening for anemia in children with Down Syndrome, and working with families on how to provide language rich environments for their children. All in attendance were very impressed with the projects.

4/26/2017

Better Hearing and Speech Month Coffee Break Webinars

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! In celebration, OSEP's Early Childhood Assistive Technology Model Demonstration grantees and Center on Technology and Disability is partnering with the Office of Head Start's Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative to join the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in celebrating this year's theme "Communication: The Key to Connection." Throughout the month of May, ASHA partners with national and local stakeholders to engage in a multifaceted public education campaign to raise awareness about the critical need to intervene early when young children are identified with communication disorders. The Coffee Break Webinars will focus on raising awareness about the use of assistive technology and the importance of frequent hearing screenings. Please join the Coffee Break webinar series to learn more about assistive technology and hearing screening. There is no pre-registration to join the webinars.

4/25/2017

New Report: Effective Solutions to South Carolina's Juvenile Justice Crisis

The report provides a blueprint to build a model juvenile justice system in SC--one that reduces repeat criminal activity by rehabilitating child offenders in smaller facilities, keeping children and juvenile justice staff safe, providing mental health services to children in the juvenile justice system, and more efficiently spending tax dollars.

4/25/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Medicaid Matters and the DREAM Fund

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Maggie Winston, who is a LEND trainee from Alaska and a DREAM fund recipient about her experience in DC when she came for Disability Policy Seminar.

4/24/2017

Accessibility for all Aggies (TX UCEDD)

Students weigh in on lack of accessibility

For the majority of college students getting to their classes is a feasible everyday routine. However, some members of the Aggie family who are physically disabled face a larger challenge. Jordan Cox, environmental design and Spanish senior who has a disability, said after her disability progressed freshman year she began receiving services but did not necessarily feel comfortable using her wheelchair on campus.

4/24/2017

RTC:Rural Researchers Featured in The Conversation Article Highlighting Rural/Urban Divide (MT UCEDD/LEND)

The Conversation featured the work of RTC:Rural's geography project in the article "Six charts that illustrate the divide between rural and urban America." Lillie Greiman, M.A., and Andrew Myers, M.A., RTC:Rural Research Associates, with Christiane von Reichert, Ph.D., Professor of Geography at the University of Montana, contributed to an article about the rural/urban divide that was recently published on The Conversation. The article was a collaboration among the UM researchers and sociologists, economists, and historians at universities around the country

4/19/2017

NCD Study on Sexual Assault with Disabilities on College Campuses

The National Council on Disability is in the process of collecting data for a report on sexual assault of students with disabilities on college campuses. The report will provide a national overview of college services and supports regarding sexual assault on campus - from prevention to reporting, to post assault support, and how survivors with disabilities fare within those structures. The findings in this report primarily serve to assist policymakers with insight needed to make informed policy that improves the ability of colleges to provide services, supports, and improved outcomes for students with disabilities who have experienced sexual assault on campus. Thank you for participating in this important work.

4/18/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Why Medicaid is Important

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Evan Nodvin about why Medicaid is important in his life. In case you missed it last week, Liz interviewed Timotheus Gordon, LEND fellow in Illinois, about the development of an online study that he developed about people with Autism and who are also people with color.

4/17/2017

'Just Kids' Photography-based Exhibit Features Children with Disabilities (GA UCEDD)

Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS) exhibits its first photography-based art exhibition - "Just Kids", a documentary and portraiture style look into the lives of families and their loved ones who have an intellectual or developmental disability. The "Just Kids" exhibit, created by photographer Ryan Johnson, who served as community support specialist at the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD), includes 18 portraits, five of which are of families that are members of the Chattahoochee Valley Down Syndrome Association.

4/17/2017

AgrAbility Receives USDA Grant to Educate Vets, New Farmers (TX UCEDD)

By Rachel Knight, The Battalion

Texas AgrAbility, a part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, received a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to help educate 725 military veterans and first-time farmers about how to start farming.

4/17/2017

Johnson and Thurlow (MN UCEDD) Among Authors of New NLTS2012 Report

Director David R. Johnson and Martha Thurlow of the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) are among the authors of the newly-released report of findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 (NLTS 2012). The NLTS 2012, which is part of the congressionally-mandated National Assessment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, is based at Mathematica Policy Research, and the research team for the study consisted of key staff from Mathematica and from the Institute on Community Integration.

4/16/2017

#AUCD4ALL Sponsors - Thank you!

Thank you for a fantastic evening! We are deeply appreciative of the support of our sponsors at the March 22nd 2017 AUCD for All Gala. Your support and leadership to expand employment opportunities will go a long way to ensuring change.

4/14/2017

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth

A short film about autism, robots and dinosaurs

The story is about C.J., an 8-year-old boy with autism who lives in an imaginary world of dinosaurs. He spends every lunch and recess alone because he has no friends and so plays with dinosaur games or puzzles. With the aid of a 2-foot tall robot named KIWI, his life is going to change.

4/11/2017

New 2017 Transition Coding and Reimbursement Tip Sheet Available

Got Transition and the American Academy of Pediatrics released a new 2017 Transition Coding and Reimbursement Tip Sheet to support the delivery of recommended transition services in pediatric and adult primary and specialty care settings. The new tip sheet includes a list of updated transition-related CPT codes, including the new code for transition readiness assessment, and current Medicare fees and RVUs for these services. It also includes a new set of seven clinical vignettes with recommended CPT and ICD-10 codes,

4/11/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Timotheus Gordon Surveys People of Color with Autism

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All , Liz interviewed Timotheus Gordon, who is a LEND fellow in Illinois. We talked about the development of an online study that he develop about people with Autism and also are people of color.

4/10/2017

STAGED Right (NE UCEDD/LEND)

It's the day before the big show, and Cadie Albin is drawing applause from fellow cast members as she pirouettes and pops to the music playing on the loudspeaker. WhyArts artist Courtney Stein is bopping her head in appreciation of the tune as she, her fellow WhyArts volunteers and members of the MMI staff coordinate a big dance number.

4/10/2017

Stephen Sulkes Honored with First-Ever Golisano Global Health Leadership Award (NY UCEDD/LEND)

Stephen B. Sulkes, M.D., a professor at Golisano Children's Hospital and co-director of the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, was selected as one of seven recipients of the first-ever Golisano Global Health Leadership Award. Presented by the Golisano Foundation and Special Olympics, the award was presented to Sulkes at a ceremony Sunday, March 19 in Schladming, Austria, at the 2017 Special Olympics Winter World Games. Sulkes was recognized for founding the Rochester student chapter of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) and encouraging students to get involved with Special Olympics both through Healthy Athletes and as event volunteers and coaches.

4/10/2017

Think College Fast Facts Examines Peer Mentoring (MA UCEDD/LEND)

This Think College Fast Fact presents the findings of a research study on peer mentoring for students with intellectual disabilities on college campuses. In this piece Briand Friedman, Ph.D., and Laura Eiseman, Ph.D. consider how dimensions of mentoring relationships may interact over time as contexts change by examining status, reference groups, and mentoring mechanisms.

4/10/2017

VT UCEDD Faculty Internationally Recognized for Supported Employment Program

The Zero Project, funded through the Essl Foundation, is a worldwide institution that finds and shares models improving the daily lives and legal rights of people with disabilities. Each year the Zero Project focuses research on a specific theme from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UN CRPD). The project publishes a report and organizes their annual conference around the selected theme. Its findings and practices are presented globally at events like the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and the UN CRPD's Conference of State Parties in New York. Themes the Zero Project has focused on include education, independent living, accessibility, and this year's topic of supported employment.

4/7/2017

A&M Athletes Build Prosthetic Hands as Part of 'Helping Hands' Initiative (TX UCEDD)

Story by Emily Bost, The Battalion / Photo by Jenny Hollowell

A group of 54 A&M student athletes teamed up Wednesday night in Kyle Field - not to play sports, but to build prosthetic hands for people in third-world countries. The athletes worked in teams to build 18 prosthetic hands for global distribution to people in third world countries who are missing limbs. With 45 minutes on the clock, the athletes, divided into groups of three, collaborated to reach the common goal of successfully building one hand per group.

4/7/2017

Dan Habib Participates in Star-Studded "Redefining Inclusion" Diversity Panel in L.A. (NH UCEDD/LEND)

Dan Habib participated in the "Redefining Inclusion" Diversity Panel hosted by Syracuse University Los Angeles and Syracuse University's Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusion Higher Education. During the event, Habib had the chance to screen and discuss the preview of his new film, Intelligent Lives (working title).

4/7/2017

Dr. JoAnne Malloy Is Keynote Presenter at Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders (NH UCEDD/LEND)

JoAnne M. Malloy, Ph.D., a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Institute on Disability gave the keynote presentation at the 2017 Midwest Symposium for Leadership In Behavior Disorders in Kansas City, MO. Her keynote session "Serving Youth with Significant, Intensive and Complex Emotional/Behavioral Needs" was one of four short "TED Talk-like" presentations focused on students who have the most challenging and complex behavior problems and promising ways to support them.

4/7/2017

Dr. Mary Schuh Receives Kennedy Public Policy Fellowship (NH UCEDD/LEND)

Dr. Mary Schuh, Director of Development & Consumer Affairs and the National Center on Inclusive Education at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (IOD), received the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Public Policy Fellowship. This one-year fellowship is based in Washington, DC and prepares fellows for leadership roles in public policy at the state and national level.

4/7/2017

ICI Welcomes New Director (MA UCEDD/LEND)

We're delighted to announce that Tom Sannicandro is coming on board as the new director of the ICI. Sannicandro will step into the role being now filled by Bill Kiernan, who will remain at UMass Boston as dean of the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development. SGISD is the graduate school that houses the ICI. Tom brings to this role a deep commitment to the issues impacting people with disabilities.

4/7/2017

Ohio Family 2 Family Provides Education to the Bhutanese/Nepali Population in Ohio (OH UCEDD)

It is estimated that the Bhutanese population in Ohio is close to 15,000. Approximately 99% of these individuals are on Medicaid. The Asian Community Alliance in Ohio provides culturally sensitive programs and services to empower and strengthen family & community through awareness, collaboration & advocacy and has been working with this population for years. The Alliance recently identified a need in the Bhutanese population related to education on The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid and approached Ohio Family 2 Family to provide this information.

4/7/2017

Pittsburgh LEND and ATN Collaboration

Dr. Paradiz is the director of a consultancy that provides technical assistance, training and strategic development to organizations and institutions that support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other disabilities. Dr. Paradiz is the founder of the ASPIE School for middle and high school students with autism. She met with the Pittsburgh LEND leadership, Family and Self-Advocate Trainees. Dr. Paradiz also gave a community presentation about her involvement in research for individuals with ASD co-sponsored by the Merck Family Advisory Committee and the Pittsburgh LEND. She provided a unique perspective about how families play a vital role in research in autism and examples of evidence-based and multidisciplinary approaches to supporting and treating autism.

4/7/2017

RFK UCEDD Supports Local DD Council NYS and NYC Local Legislative Education Efforts

On Friday, March 3, 2017 over 350 family members, government officials, legislators and community agencies participated in the Bronx Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council's Annual Legislative Education Breakfast under the leadership of Joanne Siegel, Associate Director of the Rose F Kennedy Center University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (RFK UCEDD) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center who currently serves as the President of the Council. The purpose of this event was to bring together legislators, parents, advocates, consumers and professionals concerned with the needs of people with developmental disabilities who reside in the Bronx. In order to address the needs of all of New York City, this event was also simultaneously planned throughout all of the 5 New York City boroughs.

4/7/2017

The MCDD Announces Two New Strategic Partnerships (MD UCEDD)

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) is pleased to announce two new partnerships with the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) at Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Together, these partners intend to convene key players in the disability system in Maryland to improve disability data access and quality.

4/7/2017

UM Study Finds Longstanding Interpretation of Disability Data Incomplete (MT UCEDD/LEND)

University of Montana researchers with the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, or RTC:Rural, show that the standardized disability questions used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identify two distinct groups of people with disabilities: those with permanent disability and those with temporary disability.

4/6/2017

Sesame Street Came to Capitol Hill

Sesame Street came to Capitol Hill April 4, along with researchers armed with data showing that a popular new website is making great strides to increase the knowledge and acceptance of children with autism.

4/6/2017

Welcome Spring 2017 ADA International Fellows & Program Hosts

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' Professional Fellows Division, this program supports 20 mid-career professionals from Brazil, Kenya, Peru, and Tanzania, selected through a competitive process, to participate in a five-week intensive fellowship program at a university-based research and education center for disabilities in the U.S. The program is focused on inclusive education and seeks to strengthen education access for people with disabilities globally.

4/5/2017

AUCD 2017: Lift Your Voice

You're Invited!

The power of our collective voices working together to sustain vital supports and services for people with disabilities and their families cannot be denied. The AUCD Conference brings us together to discuss the strategies, innovations, and systems that will allow us to continue to move the needle forward. Join us at the 2017 AUCD Conference as we celebrate successes, learn from past efforts, seek opportunities in the present, and innovate for the future.

4/5/2017

EHDI 2017

The 16th annual Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Meeting brought together over 1,000 diverse stakeholders on February 26-28 in Atlanta, GA. The EHDI Meeting was organized by American Academy of Pediatrics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: HRSA, and National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University. The purpose of this national meeting was to help attendees expand opportunities for young children who are deaf and hard of hearing by enhancing implementation of comprehensive state-based EHDI programs.

4/5/2017

In Memoriam: Faith McCormick

It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Faith McCormick. Many of you may have known Faith during her 10-year tenure as the Director of Programs at the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

4/4/2017

APHA Disability Section Call for 2017 Awards Nominations

Deadline Extended - April 18th

Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution through scholarship, teaching, practice and/or advocacy to advance the health and quality of life of people with disabilities or an especially dedicated student? Now is the time to nominate a colleague for one of the 2017 APHA Disability Section Awards!

4/4/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Involving Self Advocates in Autism Research

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Finn Gardiner of ASAN Boston about including self advocates in the development of a database about people with autism with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and other organizations.

4/3/2017

Virgin Islands UCEDD Partners with Department of Human Services to Improve Early Childhood Outcomes

VIUCEDD is excited to announce the launching of the first class of students studying to be credentialed as Registered Behavioral Technicians (RBT). The RBT initiative is a program of the new Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (ADDRC) at the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD).

3/31/2017

Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) Survey

From The Arc

The 2017 FINDS survey aims is to learn more about the experiences of parents and family members who provide support to a family member with an intellectual or developmental disability. To participate, the caregiver must be 18 years or older and provide primary paid/unpaid and frequent support to a family member or friend with an intellectual or developmental disability living in the United States (and U.S. territories). This survey is not for direct support professionals�we need the perspective of family caregivers, paid or unpaid.

3/30/2017

AUCD Welcomes Denise Rozell as Policy Strategist

Denise Rozell is the Policy Strategist at AUCD working primarily on issues affecting youth in post-secondary education, employment and independent living. Denise has twenty-five years of experience in disability policy at the federal and state level working on almost all issues and legislation affecting individuals with disabilities beginning with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

3/28/2017

Neul Named New Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND)

Jeffrey Neul, M.D., Ph.D., division head of Child Neurology and vice chair for Developmental Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego, has been named the new director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, IDDRC, LEND). He will join Vanderbilt on Aug. 1. Neul succeeds Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D., professor of Pediatrics, Psychology and Human Development, and the Kennedy Center's director since 2009. As part of a planned transition, Dykens will continue to lead research programs in Prader-Willi, Williams and Down syndromes and will continue her role as co-director of the VKC UCEDD alongside Elise McMillan.

3/28/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Virtual Trainee Liz Koss

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Liz Koss, AUCD virtual trainee, about what she does in this role.

3/27/2017

Family Leader Testifies before Congress on Benefits of Medicaid

Cyndi Johnson, a mom and member of Family Voices Indiana, testified before the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee to the essential services Medicaid provides. "No parents should have to worry that providing life-saving care to their children might send them into bankruptcy. The Affordable Care Act, and the accompanying changes to Medicaid, quite literally meant the difference between life and death for my daughter, and have given my family a chance to live the financially secure life we've worked so hard to achieve."

3/27/2017

Iowa LEND Trip to Puerto Rico

Last month six Iowa LEND trainees from Iowa's UCEDD flew to San Juan as part of a new collaborative partnership project with the University of Puerto Rico UCEDD to provide training and cultural exchange opportunities.

3/27/2017

SC UCEDD/Assistive Technology Program Director Wins Highest State Award

Dr. Carol Page, Director of the SC Assistive Technology Program at the Center for Disability Resources was recently honored with the highest award for Speech/Language Pathologist in South Carolina.

3/27/2017

TC:Rural's Living Well with a Disability featured in Centers for Disease Control Awareness Campaign

The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) at the University of Montana Rural Institute is honored to have their Living Well with a Disability (LWD) program featured in a targeted awareness campaign sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The six-month campaign Self-Management Education: Learn More. Feel Better. is being conducted in Wisconsin to promote self-management education (SME) as a tool to manage chronic health conditions.

3/24/2017

Medicaid Services Preserved; AHCA Vote Cancelled

Your calls, tweets, and visits with your Members of Congress. Your stories were the difference!

The vote on the American Health Care Act was cancelled. This means the Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act and all of the provisions that protect all citizens' right to comprehensive, accessible, and affordable health care and community supports remains in effect.

3/21/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Federal Budget Part II

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Donna Meltzer (Executive Director of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities) for the second part of how the President's budget is implemented.

3/20/2017

Announcing National Disability Voter Registration Week 2017

The REV UP Campaign coordinates National Disability Voter Registration Week each year to increase the political power of people with disabilities while also engaging candidates and the media to recognize the disability community. This year, National Disability Voter Registration Week will be held on July 17-21, 2017.

3/20/2017

IU Report Guides State Department of Education on Education Evaluation Reform Efforts (IN UCEDD)

On the heels of a recently published white paper proposing improvements to Indiana's teacher evaluation system, the Indiana Teacher Appraisal and Support System has released a four-year analysis of the implementation and impact of educator evaluation reform in Indiana.

3/20/2017

UC UCEDD takes part in Cincinnati Reelabilities Film Festival to Reach 12,000+ with Films on Disability

This year, March 9-12 marks the fourth year University of Cincinnati UCEDD will participate in the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival. ReelAbilities presents award-winning films by and about people with disabilities, while also planning initiatives around town related to accessibility and inclusion. The film has grown exponentially in recent years to expand to year-round programming that has led to city-wide discussions around employment of people with disabilities to school-based film screenings to promote inclusion of students with disabilities.

3/14/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Federal Budget Part I

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Donna Meltzer (Executive Director of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities) about the process of implimenting the President's budget. This is part 1 of 2. Part 2 will be released next week!

3/13/2017

A Personal Story of a Cultural Broker (MA UCEDD/LEND)

By Oanh Thi Thu Bui, Diversity Fellow, Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston

To increase equity and access while respecting the unique cultural values of families from diverse communities, service providers must reach out to and reciprocally engage parents. By building mutual relationships and offering appropriate materials, cultural brokering groups like mine can empower parents and ensure service provision is culturally and linguistically appropriate.

3/13/2017

NH-ME LEND Selected to Participate in MCH Diversity & Health Equity Peer Learning Collaborative

The New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH-ME LEND) Program was recently selected to participate in the 2017 Diversity & Health Equity Peer Learning Collaborative, supported by the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Bureau, Division of MCH Workforce Development.

3/13/2017

WVU CED Feeding & Swallowing Clinic's 1000th Visit

On a snowy February morning, the Jackson family from St. Albans, West Virginia traveled to Morgantown to be seen by the Feeding & Swallowing Clinic team at the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED). Maxwell Jackson is the Feeding & Swallowing Clinic's 1000th visit, a milestone moment for the WVU CED and a truly special little boy.

3/12/2017

Nutrition Efforts Reaching Disability Community with Support from Walmart Foundation to Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expands its health efforts with the launch of "Nutrition is for Everyone," made possible by a $420,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation. Five AUCD-member centers will implement a one-year project providing nutrition education for an estimated 25,000 people with disabilities living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Based on available public health data, these states are areas where people with disabilities are least likely to be consuming fruits and vegetables and, therefore, in the most need for nutrition education and support.

3/9/2017

Disability Advocates Warn Against Overturning Education Rules

AUCDs Kim Musheno quoted in Disability Scoop

Many disability advocates oppose a resolution under consideration in Congress that would do away with education regulations finalized last year by the Obama administration.

3/8/2017

AUCD Promotes Disability Employment during Developmental Disability and Autism Awareness Months

#jobs4all

This March and April, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is celebrating National Developmental Disability Month and National Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month by hosting a series of Twitter Chats about Employment: #Jobs4All. We will have chats from academic experts, business leaders, disabled entrepreneurs, and more.

3/8/2017

Proposal to Replace the ACA: American Health Care Act

This summary describes key provisions of the American Health Care Act, legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through the FY 2017 budget reconciliation process.

3/7/2017

Review of Disability Studies Now Online

The latest issue of the Review of Disability Studies is out! Dive into this issues' advancement of ideas from authors representing Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hawaii, India, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

3/7/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Nutrition is for Everyone Ambassadors

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews four Nutrition is for Everyone ambassadors - Sarah Keathley (Arkansas), Lauren Griffiths (Louisiana), Lee Wallace (Tennessee), and Megan Krampe (Oklahoma). These ambassadors speak about the projects in their states that focus on how eating and learning about healthy food is important for everyone, including people with disabilities.

3/6/2017

Section 508 Comes to the University of Hawaii (HI UCEDD), College of Education

The Media Center at the Center on Disability Studies is leading the way for compliant digital content for the University of Hawaii, College of Education (COE). Recognizing compliance with federal accessibility regulations as a need, the Dean of the COE contacted the Center on Disability Studies (CDS) for their guidance and expertise. With 15+ years of experience, the CDS Media Center (www.media.cds.hawaii.edu) has created accessible websites and digital content for CDS projects and core activities. In this newly proposed endeavor, the Media Center presented a course of action that included, collaboration with the COE training team, integration of the Utah State UCD WebAim evaluation program (webaim.org), and proposition of an accessibility policy. The importance of a proactive and manageable accessibility policy included a specific timeline for compliance of both legacy and future digital content.

3/3/2017

2016-17 MNLEND Fellow Publishes!

Jack Reagan, current 2016-17 MNLEND Fellow recently co-published a brief based on the FINDS 2010 data surveying family caregivers. The data he analyzed within the FINDS survey focused on the emotional and physical markers affecting family caregivers. These markers have both positive and negative association to their related outcomes for family caregivers.

3/3/2017

MNLEND Alumna Publishes!

Last year, I was very fortunate to be a LEND Fellow at the University of Minnesota. I applied because I was embarking on my PhD dissertation in nursing and wanted to explore the experience of families of children who lived with severe autism. The LEND experience not only provided an in-depth education in neurodevelopmental disorders, but also the LEND staff helped me access families who would ultimately participate in my research. This research ultimately changed the way I understand families who live with a severe chronic condition such as severe autism.

3/2/2017

News Autism Saftey Resource

Written in collaboration with key stakeholders and experts within the autism community, A Guide to Safety includes life-saving tips, strategies, and tools to help families strengthen their safety plans.

3/2/2017

Wisconsin UCEDD Works with Governor Scott Walker to End Wait Lists for Children with Disabilities

UCEDD staff Elizabeth Hecht, Specialist for Public Policy, was invited to attend Governor Scott Walker's 2017 Budget Address when he introduced his budget proposal for $39 million to eliminate wait lists for children with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities eligible for the Children's HCBS waivers. Hecht has worked with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, elected officials, advocates and families for 15 years toward this goal. AIDD grants to advance Family Support under Title II of the Developmental Disability Act of 2000 helped build the family leadership infrastructure that led to this current success.

2/28/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Congressman Pete Sessions

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), the father of a son with disabilities. Rep. Sessions talk about the House Rules Committee that he chairs and the ABLE Act that he sponsored.

2/27/2017

AUCD Welcomes John Tschida as Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy

John was most recently the director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. At AUCD, he fills the position most recently held by Michael Gamel-McCormick who is moving to the U.S. Senate to be the Disability Policy Director in the office of Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.

2/24/2017

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

#DDawareness17

AUCD, NACDD, and NDRN are proud to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2017! This month we will increase awareness about developmental disabilities, tell stories of real people who live with a disability, and support our collective work toward inclusion and acceptance. Join us at #DDawareness17: download our resource kit and share your stories!

2/23/2017

Joint Statement - Concerns about the Proposed Changes to Medicaid in the House Republican Policy Brief

As the three national Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network partners that represent the entities authorized in the DD Act whose members annually advocate for and provide hundreds of thousands of clinical services and home and community based supports to people with disabilities and their families, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), and National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) are concerned about the policy brief distributed by the House Republican leadership on Thursday, February 16th to its Members about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

2/23/2017

Supreme Court Backs Family in Case on Denial of Service Dog in School

On Wednesday, February 22, 2017, the Supreme Court issued a ruling finding that a family does not need to exhaust the due process provisions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) if supports or services for a student with a disability are not directly connected to providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE). In an 8-0 ruling in the case of Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools found that a young girl with cerebral palsy who uses a service dog to assist her with her daily activities, did not complete the due process complaints provided under IDEA before suing the school system to allow her to bring her dog to school.

2/21/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Medicaid Cuts, Block Grants and Per Capita Caps

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews on Mara Youdelman, the managing attorney at the National Health Law Program on Medicaid. Per capita caps: What are they and what is their potential impact?

2/20/2017

VKC TRIAD (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Supports Community Organizations in Welcome and Inclusion

The Organizational Engagement Program of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) is an innovative partnership with community cultural and civic organizations that works to promote full inclusion of children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

2/16/2017

Dr. Bruce L. Keisling Appointed Executive Director of the UTHSC Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities and Shainberg Chair of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

Bruce Keisling has been appointed the executive director of the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities and Shainberg Chair of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He has served as associate director of the center for nine years and is the director / principal investigator of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities program. Dr. Keisling is a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics.

2/16/2017

Predicting Autism: Researchers Find Autism Biomarkers in Infancy

New Research from IDDRC Network

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in infants with older siblings with autism, researchers from around the country were able to correctly predict 80 percent of those infants who would later meet criteria for autism at two years of age.

2/15/2017

IDEA.ed.gov Website Update

On Wednesday, February 8, 2017 the server hosting IDEA.ed.gov crashed. The U.S. Department of Education has not removed the IDEA.ed.gov website. Within the same day, the site was redirected to a new page containing pertinent information relating to IDEA. The Department recognizes the concerns you have with the outage and is working on a long-term solution. The server was managed by a contractor, the Department is currently working to move the site and all files to a new stable host.

2/14/2017

AUCD 2017 T-Shirts Now Available!

Order Deadline: March 1

Shirts are just $10.07 each when you preorder by March 1 and pick them up at the 2017 Disability Policy Seminar. Hand-designed by Jessica Irwin, a Psychology Fellow at the University of Rochester Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, this shirt is one you'll be proud to wear again and again.

2/14/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month

In celebration of Jewish Awareness and Inclusion Month, this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews Rabbi Michael Safra, one of the rabbis at B'nai Israel congregation.

2/13/2017

AUCD Welcomes Intern Jules Schifferes

Juliana "Jules" Schifferes is an intern with AUCD for the Spring of 2017. She comes to us through Broad Futures, an organization designed to help young people with learning disabilities and on the autism spectrum succeed in the workplace.

2/7/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: March of Dimes and ZAP Zika

In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Jamie Vickery, Director of Federal Affair at March of Dimes, about the Zika virus and how to protect against it.

2/6/2017

HDI's National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources: A Critical Time for Essential Information (KY UCEDD)

Given today's sociopolitical climate, now, perhaps more than any other time since the American eugenics movement, it's essential that there be conversations about personal and collective unconsciousness, the nature of prejudice, and scapegoating pertaining to citizens with disabilities. Much is at stake, including decisions made about the rightful place in society for people with disabilities - and in the minds of some, up to and including if there is such a place at all. While we need multiple ways of amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and their allies, accurate information about prenatal testing and its implications represents one critical dimension.

2/6/2017

Innovative Trainings in Deaf-Blindness (SD UCEDD)

Children who have deaf-blindness miss out on opportunities for learning that other children receive incidentally or naturally as those without sensory impairment have access to the many sights and sounds from their environment. These missed opportunities can result in a sense of isolation from others and problems in communication skill development, concept formation, and overall learning. In the school setting deaf-blindness is considered a disability of access to the visual and auditory information provided in educational environments.

2/6/2017

Talk with Pediatric Dental Students (NY UCEDD/LEND)

Lisa Latten, Family Advocacy Fellow at SCDD/LEND in Rochester NY recently spoke to Pediatric Dental students at University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center about the importance of including families in treatment plans. Lisa is the parent of a child with autism, and a Family Navigator at the Kirch Developmental Center at SCDD.

2/5/2017

RTC:Rural Brings National Attention to Importance of Accessible Housing in Rural Communities (MT UCEDD)

The lack of accessible housing is one of the biggest barriers people with disabilities face in their communities. Having a home that suits one's needs facilitates self-care and accessing the community, critical elements of independent living. Living in a home that doesn't meet one's needs can make accessing community more difficult and even impossible.

2/3/2017

The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities names Dr. Dalun Zhang as a 2017 Fellow (TX UCEDD)

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has announced that Dr. Dalun Zhang has been identified to receive the designation of Fellow of the Association (FAAIDD). Founded in1876, AAIDD is the oldest professional association concerned with intellectual and developmental disabilities. AAIDD advocates for the equality, dignity, and human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and for their full inclusion and participation in society.

2/3/2017

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Investigator's Gene Mutation Discovery May Hold Autism Clues

Researchers at Vanderbilt have identified what may be a genetic "smoking gun" for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - a mutation in the gene for the critical neuronal protein CaMKII.

2/2/2017

Gilson and DePoy Discuss Branding and Designing Disability at Designable 2016 (Maine UCEDD)

Stephen Gilson, Ph.D., and Elizabeth DePoy, Ph.D., University of Maine Professors of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies and Social Work, recently presented, "Diversivate: Branding and Designing Disability" at the inaugural Designable 2016 event in Kings Cross, London. The one-day session was sponsored by Rufus Leonard and Lloyds Banking Group.

2/2/2017

Shelly Baer Receives Impact Award from Parent to Parent of Miami (FL UCEDD/LEND)

Shelly Baer, LCSW, Director of Leadership Training Initiatives at Mailman Center for Child Development in the Department of Pediatrics, won the Impact Award from Parent to Parent of Miami. The goal of Parent to Parent of Miami's Journey of Dreams Benefit is to honor individuals in our community who are dedicated to improving and promoting initiatives that benefit children and adults with disabilities and their families. Individuals are honored in the following categories: Excellence in Family Advocacy, IMPACT, and Family Empowerment.

1/31/2017

AUCD's Letter Expressing Concern Regarding Betsy DeVos's Responses to Questions about Education for Students with Disabilities

AUCD has submitted a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, expressing serious concerns with several responses to questions that Betsy DeVos provided at her confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of Education. As the Senate moves to vote on her nomination, AUCD calls upon Mrs. DeVos to clarify her support for the federal government's role in ensuring that every child with a disability receives a free, appropriate public education in a manner that is consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

1/31/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Affordable Care Act Part III

This week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Caitlin Morris and Dee Mahan. They both work on health policy for FamiliesUSA and staff a new coalition called "Protect our Care."

1/30/2017

HANDS in Autism Intensive 3-Day Transition and Vocational Programming Workshop (IN UCEDD)

HANDS in Autism will be conducting a series of Intensive 3-Day Programming & Workshop events over the next few months. Our intensive training focuses on providing hands-on experience and coaching in a simulated work environment. Individuals with disabilities participate, facilitating a rich learning environment for all. While the program includes traditional methods such as lectures and discussion, the emphasis of training is building increased knowledge and skill of the process of making appropriate programming decisions for each individual, workplace, and/or intervention team through hands-on application and learning.

1/30/2017

Toni M. Whitaker, MD Appointed as University of Tennessee Boling Center LEND Director

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities LEND Program is delighted to welcome Toni M. Whitaker, MD as its new LEND Director. Dr. Whitaker, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, has been a Boling Center LEND faculty member since 2001.

1/27/2017

2017 Trainee Liaisons

AUCD Trainee liaisons are volunteer trainees at LENDs, UCEDDs, and DBP programs who identify strategies to improve trainee networking and linkage within the AUCD network, and improve the exchange of information among trainees across the network using available technologies. Meet the 2016-2017 AUCD Trainee Liaisons!

1/27/2017

Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Workforce Participation for People With Disabilities

This study was conducted by The Life Span Institute at Kansas University, the Department of Health Policy and Management at KU Medical Center, the Urban Institute and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Individuals with disabilities are significantly more likely to be employed if they live in a state that has expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of Kansas co-authored a study that found a 6 percentage-point difference in employment rates among working-age adults with disabilities in states that expanded Medicaid and those that chose not to.

1/27/2017

Three UCEDDs Receive Nearly $150,000 in Grants from the Special Hope Foundation

Research, Design and/or Integrate Diversity/Cultural Competency Curricula in Healthcare for the IDD Population: A Partnership with Self-Advocates

The Special Hope Foundation is pleased to announce that three University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) were selected for funding of their training projects. The grants will support a variety of programs providing training for healthcare providers, interpreters and other health professionals in integrating a culturally responsive framework in healthcare services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All projects include Self-Advocates as leaders, trainers and in oversight roles. The applications were carefully reviewed and considered by the Foundation's Board and staff as well as the Special Hope Foundation's Self-Advocate Advisory Committee and medical providers at the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD), with whom the Special Hope Foundation partners in all Request for Proposals (RFP) funding cycles.

1/26/2017

AUCD Welcomes Sheida Khamsi (KS UCEDD) as the 2017 Assistant Virtual Trainee

Sheida Khamsi is the Spring 2017 Assistant Virtual Trainee. She is also a UCEDD trainee at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Kansas. Within AUCD, Sheida's role is to work with the Virtual Trainee to enhance diversity within the AUCD network and generate and implement new ideas for effective communication and connection between all Centers and Programs.

1/26/2017

Relive the Harkin International Employment Summit

In its inaugural year, the Harkin Summit began a tradition of bringing together change agents to develop strategies for increasing disability employment around the world. Relive this important event through Storify!

1/25/2017

AUCD Leadership Academy

Application Deadline: March 2

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) in partnership with the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University (GSU) is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the inaugural AUCD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. The academy will be held on the downtown GSU campus in Atlanta, Georgia on June 25-30, 2017.

1/24/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Affordable Care Act Part II

On this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Stephanie Meridith (Information and Dissemination Coordinator at the Kentucky UCEDD) about why the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare") is so important to her family.

1/23/2017

Dr. Matthew Wappett Named New Director at CPD (UT UCEDD)

The Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University welcomes Dr. Mathew Wappett as their new director on January 25. Wappett, an Alaskan native, received his doctorate in special education from the University of Utah. He began his career in education as a high school English teacher before climbing the collegiate ladder. Wappett's background in disability includes a stint as an associate director of the Center on Disabilities and Human Development at the University of Idaho.

1/20/2017

AUCD Asks: What Makes America Great?

Today, Donald Trump is being inaugurated as President of the United States. His campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again," has inspired many Americans. At our 2016 conference, we asked attendees: What makes America great? What inspires you?

1/19/2017

AUCD Expresses Serious Concerns Over Confirmation Hearing of Betsy DeVos

The HELP Committee is urged to postpone her confirmation vote pending additional information

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities expresses serious concerns with a number of the responses that Betsy DeVos provided at her confirmation hearing earlier this week, and to urges the Senate HELP Committeeto postpone any votes on her confirmation until Mrs. DeVos has clarified her support for the federal role in ensuring that every child with a disability receive a free, appropriate public education consistent with federal law.

1/19/2017

Building Our Future: Election Outcomes and What's Next

At our 2016 Annual Meeting, prominent members of Congress spoke about priorities for the coming years, as well a post-election debrief and ideas on the potential directions of the new Administration.

1/19/2017

Dr. Frederick B. Palmer Retired from Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities Universities of Tennessee Health Science Center

Dr. Palmer retired from the Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities, University of Tennessee Health Science Center on January 6, 2017 after 23 years as Director and Shainberg Professor of Pediatrics. The Boling Center is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program. The center is administratively housed and supported in part through the Department of Pediatrics.

1/18/2017

Relive 'Building Our Future: Leveraging our Experience from Public Roles'

At the AUCD 2016 Conference, our moderator and panelists explored what's next for people with disabilities and families under the new Trump Administration and how families and people with disabilities have played and can continue to play a lead role in building bipartisan collaboration and advancing disability policy. This Storify contains social media posts that summarize the event.

1/17/2017

CT LEND has had an Exciting New Start this Year

The CT LEND has had an exciting new start this year. Nine UCONN graduate students from various disciplines, two Yale Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric fellows, four community trainees, and four Human Services/Family Studies students from Goodwin College fill our conference room at UCONN Health each Friday. We welcome family faculty and several UCEDD staff members to each weekly seminar as well.

1/17/2017

MNLEND Nov 2016 Forum Video Released

MNLEND invites the AUCD Network to view a 3-part video of the MNLEND November 2016 Forum: "Litigation: Advancing the Rights of People with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities," which features U.S. district court judge, The Honorable Donovan W. Frank, and a panel of legal experts. Over 100 people attended this event on November 17, 2016.

1/17/2017

Relive 'Building Our Future: Lessons from the Obama Years'

During the AUCD 2016 Conference, present and past members of the Obama Administration reflected on top priorities coming into their positions, most significant accomplishments, and lessons they learned to inform the new Trump Administration. This Storify summarizes the session using social media posts.

1/17/2017

Report: Indiana Teacher Evaluations Bring Positive Change, But Improvement Needed (IN UCEDD)

Indiana should make changes in its teacher evaluation system to provide more clarity and consistency for schools and stronger support for and engagement by educators, according to a white paper released today by an Indiana University research center.

1/17/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Affordable Care Act Part I

1/10/2017

IHD-AzUCD Welcomes Dr. Kelly Roberts as New Executive Director

Dr. Kelly Roberts has worked in the disability, education, and health and human service fields for over 29 years. During this time she worked as a teacher in grades 6 through 12, researcher, AT specialist, postsecondary education instructor, and administrator. She has extensive experience working with individuals from multicultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as with individuals with a broad range of disabilities.   

1/9/2017

Developing Social-Emotional and Behavioral Supports for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students (TX UCEDD)

The Behavior Support Collaborative lead by Dr. Mack D. Burke in conjunction with the Center on Disability and Development in the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University was awarded a catapult grant from the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). The purpose of the catapult grant (Improving Quality of Life Through a Culturally Responsive Lens: Developing Social-Emotional and Behavioral Supports for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students At-Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders) is to improve the quality of life and well-being of students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds who are at-risk of developing emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) by promoting school adjustment.

1/9/2017

Four UCEDDs (TN, TX, MN, KY) Collaborate to Put Faith and Jobseekers with Disabilities to Work

A new manual outlines how faith communities can support members with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment. The manual was spearheaded by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (TN UCEDD) and its partners at the Human Development Institute (KY UCEDD), the Texas Center for Disability Studies (TX UCEDD), and the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD). All four UCEDDs facilitated the two-year Putting Faith to Work project as an activity of the National Collaborative on Faith and Disability.

1/9/2017

Our Role in Early Identification (CO UCEDD/LEND)

By Act Early Ambassador, Nancy Lewis, MPA, MS, CCC-SLP

Communication difficulties are among the most widely reported developmental delays in young children. Here"s how we can get more involved in early identification.

1/9/2017

RFK CERC Holiday Party (NY UCEDD/LEND)

RFK UCEDD and LEND in the Bronx celebrated its annual Holiday Party with individuals and families served at RFK Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC) at Monterfiore . It was an awesome experience for everyone - participants, volunteers, and staff!

1/9/2017

Speech-Language Pathologist Screening of Sleep Problem Grant Awarded to Rose F. Kennedy Center (NY UCEDD/LEND)

This grant will pilot sleep problem screening by SLPs, using validated tools for sleep-disordered breathing and behavioral (insomnia-type) sleep problems. Focus groups will assess SLP and family experiences; screening tools will yield sleep problem prevalence. This grant, from the American Sleep Medicine Foundation, will be led by UCEDD Co-Director Karen Bonuck, PhD and Supervisor of Speech-Language Services, Nancy Tarshis, MA, MS. CCC-SLP.

1/9/2017

UI Earns No. 1 Ranking in University Website Accessibility (IA UCEDD)

The University of Iowa ranks first in the nation in an assessment of how accessible its websites are to people with disabilities. UI topped the list of 140 American universities, according to rankings presented at an Educause conference poster session by Jon Gunderson of the Division of Disability Resources and Education Services at the University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana.

1/5/2017

2017 EHDI Meeting Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

AUCD has made available six (6) scholarships of up to $500 each to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the in Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Meeting on February 26-28, 2017 in Atlanta, GA. All current LEND audiology trainees are eligible to apply. However, priority will be given to trainees from programs that do not currently receive supplemental funding and trainees that have not attended the EHDI Meeting in previous years. Application deadline: January 29, 2017.

1/4/2017

21st Century Cures Act Signed into Law

On December 13, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law. The law is a $6.3 billion omnibus health bill that includes $4.8 billion in funding for several major NIH medical research initiatives. It also funds opioid addiction prevention and treatment grants and makes some reforms to FDA regulations.

1/3/2017

Tuesdays with Liz: Siddarth Nagaraj

This week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Siddarth Nagaraj, a program specialist at AUCD, about the 21st Century Cures Act.

12/30/2016

FA Olmstead Session (GA and IA UCEDD)

Earlier this fall Sue Jamieson, prominent civil rights lawyer and lead attorney in Olmstead v. L.C., travelled to Iowa to speak at the HousingIowa Conference about the history of the landmark Supreme Court decision and the importance of housing in community integration. The session also featured Iowa's Money Follows the Person coordinator Brooke Lovelace and program participant Monnie Hall, and was moderated by Caitlin Owens, who along with Brooke works for Iowa's UCEDD at the Center for Disabilities and Development. Sue is the Disability Law Project Co-Director at the University of Georgia's Institute on Human Development and Disability (one of Georgia's two UCEDDs).

12/29/2016

Iowa UCEDD Capitalizes on Partnerships to Promote Employment First

Recent production of a two-part television series highlighting National Disability Employment Awareness Month combines the Iowa UCEDD's emphasis on promoting Employment First with its commitment to information dissemination. Entitled "The Power of Employment," the series aired on "Hello, It's Us!", a weekly Public Access Television program produced by the UCEDD dedicated to educating viewership about a variety of disability-related topics through the lens of community inclusion.

12/28/2016

Tuesdays with Liz: Holiday Message

This week's edition is a special holiday message from Liz. Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All will return in 2017. See you next year!

12/27/2016

Oklahoma's New Portal Seeks to Help Thousands on Medicaid Waiver Waiting List (OK UCEDD/LEND)

The first phase of a new state portal that aims to improve online access to information about services and resources for those with disabilities in an easy-to-understand manner is expected to be up and running by the end of 2017.

12/22/2016

"Learn the Signs. Act Early." Resources Now Available in Vietnamese

The "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Team is pleased to announce the completion of its project to translate and adapt the Milestone checklists, Milestones brochure, and tip sheets (How to Help Your Child & How to Talk to the Doctor) into Vietnamese. These materials were professionally translated and adapted in consultation with a small group of Vietnamese parents of young children and a group of Vietnamese subject matter experts.

12/22/2016

AIR-P Network Activities

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on underserved communities. Two key goals of the AIR-P network are to provide opportunities to develop collaborations and partnerships with clinicians and researchers and to support junior investigators in developing their research efforts to improve medical care of children with autism.

12/22/2016

AIR-P Network Activities

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on underserved communities. Two key goals of the AIR-P network are to provide opportunities to develop collaborations and partnerships with clinicians and researchers and to support junior investigators in developing their research efforts to improve medical care of children with autism.

12/22/2016

Autism CARES Grantees Share Resources, Best Practices for Transition

ITAC, in collaboration with SPHARC and HRSA-MCHB, hosted the Autism CARES (Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support) Grantee Virtual Meeting on July 21, 2016. This bi-annual meeting was an opportunity for over 200 MCHB-funded Autism CARES legislation grantees - representing research, training, and state implementation stakeholders - to share information about activities within their respective network, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. This year's theme was "Integrated, Person-Centered Approaches to Transition."

12/22/2016

CT LEND: An authentic interdisciplinary experience

The CT LEND has had an exciting new start this fall. Nine UCONN graduate students from various disciplines, two Yale Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric fellows, four community trainees, and four Human Services/Family Studies students from Goodwin College fill our conference room at UCONN Health each Friday. We welcome family faculty and several UCEDD staff members to each weekly seminar as well. Our true interdisciplinary cohort includes participants from an AUCD Auditory supplement and also a Diversity grant, several of whom are first generation college students.

12/22/2016

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network Update

The Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet) is a 14 site Network whose mission is "to conduct collaborative, interdisciplinary research in developmental and behavioral pediatrics that advances clinical practice, supports research training, and optimizes the health and functional status of children with developmental and behavioral concerns and disorders, including children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities". The Network had a successful competitive renewal in the past year and is now funded from 9/16 through 8/21.

12/22/2016

Got Transition Releases MOC Module, Announces CME Course, and Launches Advisory Group

The University of California San Diego/Rady Children's Hospital with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) partnered with Got Transition to develop a new pediatric Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 4 Module on transition. The web-based activity - "Transitioning Youth from Pediatric to Adult-Centered Care - will evaluate adequacy of participant documentation of patients' transition from pediatric to adult centered care within the 6 Core Element framework developed by Got Transition: Center for Health Care Transition Improvement.

12/22/2016

Health Care Transitions Research Network (HCT-RN) Updates

The Health Care Transitions Research Network (HCT-RN) for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Other Developmental Disabilities was funded to support the creation of an interdisciplinary, multicenter research forum for scientific collaboration and infrastructure-building with a focus on research designed to improve health care transitions and promote an optimal transition to adulthood (including physical, psychosocial, educational, and vocational outcomes) among youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since April 2016, our network has been actively engaged in the following research and practice improvement efforts related to the transition to adulthood of youth with ASD.

12/22/2016

MCHB Update DMCHWD

As we near the end of 2016, I want to acknowledge the ongoing accomplishments of the Autism CARES grantees. Your dedication to supporting children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities (DD) and their families is making an impact. Collectively, you are improving access to screening and diagnostic services for children with ASD, training the pipeline of future leaders in neurodevelopmental disabilities, advancing the evidence base around the effectiveness of autism interventions, reducing barriers to care for underserved populations, and pursuing new, innovative models of care and training to extend your reach.

12/22/2016

New Resource from "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Milestones in Action Photo and Video Library

Milestones in Action is a FREE image library that features photos and videos of children demonstrating developmental milestones from 2 months to 5 years of age. This tool was created to help parents, early care and education providers, and healthcare providers identify developmental milestones in children and know if there is cause for concern.

12/22/2016

New Resource from "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Milestones in Action Photo and Video Library

Milestones in Action is a FREE image library that features photos and videos of children demonstrating developmental milestones from 2 months to 5 years of age. This tool was created to help parents, early care and education providers, and healthcare providers identify developmental milestones in children and know if there is cause for concern.

12/22/2016

New State Grantee Community of Learners Kicks-Off!

SPHARC, in partnership with HRSA, recently held an October in-person kick-off meeting in Washington, DC for the new Autism Community of Learners state grantee cohort. his meeting helped lay the ground work for national partner and peer-to-peer support around grantee activities for the project period, which focus on implementation three key evidence-based/informed strategies: Shared Resource, Family Navigator and Telemedicine/Telehealth.

12/22/2016

News from the Healthy Weight Research Network (HWRN)

The Healthy Weight Research Network (HWRN), coordinated by the E.K. Shriver Center at UMass Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine, was refunded for the next 5 years from the Maternal Child Health Bureau. The mission of the HWRN is to advance the understanding of obesity risk factors in children with ASD and other developmental disabilities, to promote the development of evidence-based solutions to achieve healthy weight in this population, and to disseminate research findings to broad and diverse audiences.

12/22/2016

Resources for Zika and Developmental Monitoring Available in Public Health is for Everyone

There is an urgent need to educate public health practitioners on developmental monitoring, screening, and early identification of the health complications for infants and children affected by Zika. Babies affected by Zika may experience a spectrum of needs from the most severe cases of microcephaly, to vision problems, hearing loss, seizures, intellectual disabilities, reduced speech and language abilities, and other long-term developmental disabilities. Even though babies affected by Zika may look typical at birth, subtle changes that turn into serious health problems could occur as they become older.

12/22/2016

Sibling Leadership Network Update

The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) receives lots of questions about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as it applies to siblings of people with disabilities. To assist siblings in understanding more about FMLA, we compiled responses to some of the most commonly asked questions as a reference.

12/22/2016

Teaching Disability Awareness to Fourth Graders (Boston Children's Hospital)

This article was written by Carol Wilkinson, MD PhD, DBP Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital.

Every fall, the Boston Children's Hospital Division of Developmental Medicine fellows in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and Pediatric Psychology partner with the Brookline Public Schools (MA) to teach fourth graders about various disabilities. Fellows are trained in a hands-on curriculum and then spend several mornings implementing the curriculum to educate children about people with physical, sensory, or developmental disabilities. Understanding Our Differences is an interactive disability awareness curriculum that teaches children to "see the person and not the disability." Taught over several weeks, the activities harness a child's innate curiosity and desire to understand differences, coupled with lessons of how to engage with and respect peers with disabilities, the program focuses on acceptance in an inclusive world.

12/22/2016

UC Davis CEDD awarded LTSAE grant

The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD) at the UC Davis MIND Institute was awarded a Learn the Signs / Act Early (LTSAE) grant from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) for 2016-2018 to support the dissemination of LTSAE resources designed to increase parent-engaged developmental monitoring. CEDD is partnering with the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), the State LTSAE Ambassadors, the LEND at UC Davis and the LEND at USC in this effort.

12/22/2016

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

AMCHP's State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) has released several new resources and technical assistance opportunities designed to aid and assist ASD/DD grantees.

12/22/2016

What's New in AIR-B3?

The AIR-B3 network consists of 5 sites--- UCLA, UC Davis, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and University of Rochester. We have been actively preparing for the intervention studies we proposed, Mind the Gap and Building Better Bridges. Both of these intervention teams have been collecting pilot data, and refining the interventions which focus on the gap between diagnosis and services for many low-resourced families (Mind the Gap), and in maintaining continuity between major schooling transitions, such as between preschool and Kindergarten, elementary to secondary school (Building Better Bridges).

12/21/2016

#AUCD2016 Sponsors - Thank you!

Thank you to the sponsors of the AUCD 2016 Conference! Because of your participation, our theme of "Navigating Change: Building our Future Together" was truly realized.

12/21/2016

AUCD Network and Concept Maps

Adriane K. Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES

As many of you know, I recently completed a Doctorate of Public Health with a concentration in leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This training experience has forever changed how I think about issues and challenges. I think in concept maps now-believe it or not! One of the most recent concept maps that I've created is around the mission of AUCD. This comes up every time I do outreach to a new partner or give a presentation. I just don't feel like words on a page do our work justice. Here's how I explain the AUCD network-concept map style.

12/21/2016

AUCD Welcomes 2017 Board of Directors

AUCD is governed by an elected Board of Directors that includes professionals, individuals with disabilities, and family members. On December 7, 2016, we thanked outgoing Board members for their dedicated service and welcomed the members of the 2017 AUCD Board of Directors.

12/21/2016

Congratulations to the AUCD 2016 Awardees

The AUCD Honors Celebration gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made outstanding contributions in advocacy, research, policy, and practice that further diversity and create more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families. Comprised of 11 categories, the AUCD awards represent the 'best of the best' within our network, and local, state, and federal partners. AUCD congratulates this year's honorees for their commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families every day.

12/21/2016

Harkin International Disability Employment Summit 2016

Inaugural event deemed a success, 2017 event planning underway

The inaugural Harkin International Disability Employment Summit was held in Washington, DC, on December 8 and 9 of 2016. Over 180 participants from 31 countries gathered to identify strategies for increasing competitive integrated employment around the world. Sponsored by the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement and spearheaded by Sen. Tom Harkin (retired) of Iowa, the Summit was attended by international business leaders, philanthropists, disability advocates, and government representatives.

12/21/2016

LEND Project Looks at Developmental Surveillance and Screening in Early Childcare settings (OH-Nisonger Center UCEDD/LEND)

Nisonger LEND trainees and faculty Andrea Witwer, PhD and Jennifer Walton, MD, MPH, are involved in a multi-year project examining developmental screening and surveillance of Ohio children in early childhood settings. The goal of the project is to improve early identification of children with developmental delays. As more very young children spend time in childcare, providing training on evidence based screening to childcare providers can potentially provide an additional safety net to help identify children with delays early. Now in its third year this leadership project has completed a needs assessment of childcare providers and childcare center directors with regard to developmental surveillance and screening of children with developmental delays.

12/21/2016

Martha Thurlow (MN UCEDD) Speaks at White House Convening on Education

Martha Thurlow, Director of the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) at the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD), participated in the White House Convening on Better, Fairer, and Fewer Assessments in Washington, DC. The Convening brought together about 100 representatives from states, districts, and schools, as well as researchers and assessment developers. The purpose was to discuss how to improve assessments and reduce the burden of redundant assessments, consistent with the Obama Testing Action Plan released in October 2015.

12/21/2016

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) Member Developing App to Help Children with Disabilities Who Have Challenging Behaviors

A Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD, LEND, IDDRC) special education researcher has been awarded a $1.5 million grant by The Institute of Education Sciences to develop an app for use by parents who have young children with disabilities who also exhibit challenging behaviors.

12/20/2016

Tuesdays with Liz: Taylor Carley

This week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All Liz interviews Taylor Carley, the host of Chit Chat with Taylor, where they discuss his video show. In case you missed last week's episode, Liz interviewed Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser where they discuss the senator's experience as a mom and how that influenced her career as a policymaker. Senator Gelser also addressed AUCD at the annual meeting.

12/15/2016

AUCD Statement on the Nomination of Catherine Lhamon to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Catherine Lhamon to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Lhamon is currently the Assistant Secretary in the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, where she has provided key leadership in achieving educational equity for all students, including those with disabilities. AUCD endorses her appointment and believes she will be an outstanding leader on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

12/15/2016

Ryan King Released from Guardianship

In a landmark victory, Ryan King, a man with a developmental disability, was freed from 15 years of unnecessary guardianship. AUCD celebrates with Mr. King on his new legal status. He now has the right to make his own decisions through supported decision-making.

12/13/2016

Tuesdays with Liz: Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser

Liz interviews with Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser where they discuss the senator's experience as a mom and how that influenced her career as a policymaker. Senator Gelser also addressed AUCD at the Conference last week.