AUCD Events and Webinars

Documents

7/26/2021

Learning Together: Finding Common Ground and Language Between Research and Lived Experience

We are excited to announce the Opening Plenary keynote speaker Diana W. Bianchi, MD, Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. During the Opening Plenary, Dr. Bianchi will share about her leadership at NICHD and her push for more meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities in the research process as well as a stronger connection between clinical and translational research.

2/2/2021

ICI Welcomes Julie Bershadsky, Ph.D., as Director of Community Living and Employment

Julie Bershadsky, Ph.D., will join the Institute on Community Integration on January 27 as the director of ICI�s Community Living and Employment area and co-director of the Research and Training Center on Community Living. Dr. Bershadsky spent the past eleven years with Human Services Research Institute, a longtime partner of ICI, providing analytic and methodological guidance and expertise to numerous agencies, organizations, and systems.

AUCD Webinars

Public Health is for Everyone

11/21/2023

In Memoriam: Dr. Steven E. Brown

Aloha, it was with great sadness and heavy heart to hear this past week of the death of Dr. Steven Brown. Steve served for many years as a professor of Disability Studies at the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. He was lead investigator on numerous projects working to improve the quality-of-life experience for persons with disabilities across the globe. Further, Steve was respected internationally as an activist and advocate for the rights of all persons with disabilities.

11/20/2023

Iowa Creates a New Vaccine Clinic for Patients with Unique Needs

Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) has a new vaccine clinic for children and some adults with unique needs, including sensory issues, anxiety, and other disabilities. Earlier this year, the mother of a child with autism got in touch with CDD, looking for a place to get her child vaccinated against Covid-19. CDD clinical nurse manager Sheree Murphy, RN, took up the challenge, and enlisted the help of UCEDD program coordinator, Anne Crotty, MPH.

11/16/2023

Disability in Iowa: Working Together!

In early November, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), home to Iowa's UCEDD, LEND program, and IDDRC, teamed up with our sister organization, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, to host "Disability in Iowa: Working Together." Iowa's state legislators were invited to CDD for a learning session to increase their awareness of the work we do on behalf of Iowans with disabilities, and to help them understand more about the experience of living with a disability, including the challenges of access to supports and services.

11/15/2023

JFK Partners' Colorado Office of Employment First Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with Development of Video Minis

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) which commemorates the many contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. This year's theme, "Advancing Access and Equity," recognized the importance of ensuring all people have equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents to our workforce.

11/15/2023

OHSU UCEDD: A personal and professional experience

In the summer of 2020, Jan Staehely, communication consultant and staff member at the OHSU Institute on Development and Disability UCEDD, and an individual with Cerebral Palsy who uses an assistive communication device, had a frightening experience. Wildfires were approaching the south-eastern towns near Portland, Oregon and her neighborhood was placed in an evacuation zone.

11/13/2023

Request for Proposals: A national partnership to develop an approach and plan to advance peer-support models for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device users

RFP Subcontractor Peer Supports AAC 202311.pdf (515KB) [download]

AUCD is seeking proposals for a contracted entity to fulfill a scope of work central to an effort federally funded by the AoD, Administration for Community Living (ACL) that will seek to co-create a nationwide comprehensive, consensus-based peer support model to advance the use of AAC. This one-year planning project is anticipated to yield a rich source of recommendations for peer support models anticipated to improve the lives of AAC users.

11/7/2023

2023 Anne Rudigier Award

The Anne Rudigier Award is named for Anne Rudigier, a young woman who demonstrated that one individual's commitment, energy, love of life, and respect for all people can be shared and can persevere through others. The Award is presented by the Rudigier Family in loving memory of their daughter Anne and of the values she held in her life and in her work. The 2023 Anne Rudigier Award was presented to Shawn Aleong during the AUCD Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 AUCD Gold Star Awad

Established in 2002, the AUCD Gold Star Award is presented to a Capitol Hill staffer who exemplifies a true partnership in crafting strong public policy. This award recognizes the staffer for his/her professional and personal efforts to craft policy and implement programs with input from AUCD and the greater disability community, thus supporting AUCD in achieving its mission to advance policy and practice for and with people living with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. The 2023 AUCD Gold Star was presented to Brad Thomas, Deputy Director of Education Policy during the AUCD 2023 Awards Ceremony on November 7, 2023

11/7/2023

2023 AUCD International Award

The International Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions that further programs or policies designed to create more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families throughout the world. The award is given in recognition of personal and professional efforts in program areas that proactively support people with disabilities and their families at local, regional, or national levels in the host country. The 2023 International Service Award was presented to Kerim M. Munir, at the AUCD Conference on November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 AUCD Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity

The AUCD Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity is presented to an Association member or group in recognition of: their exhibited leadership and commitment to advancing programs and practices aimed toward increasing the diversity, cultural, and/or linguistic competencies (in curriculum, services, supports, research, and recruitment) within a Center and the AUCD network as a whole exemplary programs and practices addressing the areas of diversity, cultural, and/or linguistic competencies (in curriculum, services, supports, research, and recruitment) within a Center and the AUCD network as a whole significant contributions in furthering the cause of diversity understanding for the needs of families seeking disability services. The 2023 AUCD Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity was presented to Mirian Ofonedu during the AUCD 2023 Awards Ceremony on November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 CORE Trainee Research Award

This award was established in 2015 by the Council on Research and Evaluation and recognizes outstanding research accomplished by a current or recent AUCD trainee. The 2023 CORE Trainee Research Award was presented to Larissa Minner during the AUCD 2023 Awards Ceremony on November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 George S. Jesien Distinguished Achievement Award

The AUCD George S. Jesien Award is presented a UCEDD, LEND or IDDRC executive, faculty or staff member who has demonstrated a distinguished career of excellence and leadership in support of AUCD's mission to advance policy and practice for and with people living with developmental and other disabilities, their families and communities. The AUCD George S. Jesien Award was presented to Amy Hewitt, PhD during the AUCD Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy

The Council on Leadership in Advocacy presents the Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy in recognition of exemplary leadership and advocacy practices of including people with disabilities and family members in projects and initiatives within a Center and the AUCD network as a whole. This award is named after Gordon Richins, a long-time leader, mentor and friend in the AUCD network and beyond. The Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy was presented to the KUCDD-LEND Consumer Advisory Panel at the AUCD Conference on November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 Lifetime Achievement Award

The AUCD Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals making a lifetime commitment to serving people with developmental disabilities and their families. The 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD during the AUCD Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 Special Recognition Award

The AUCD Special Recognition Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization outside of the AUCD network to recognize outstanding contributions toward creating more inclusive communities for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The award is given in recognition of professional and personal efforts in a programmatic area that proactively supports people with developmental disabilities and their families at the local, state, or national level. If a group or organization is being nominated for the Special Recognition Award, the name(s) of key people directly involved in the noted accomplishments should be provided. The AUCD Special Recognition Award was presented to Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) during the AUCD Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

11/7/2023

2023 Young Professional Award

The Young Professional Award is presented to a person in the field of disabilities under the age of 40 who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families through work as a bridge between the academic sector and the community. The 2023 AUCD Young Professional Award was presented to Jacy Farkas, MA, during the AUCD Awards Ceremony on November 7, 2023.

11/2/2023

UCEDD Resource Center ExceLens Series: AUCD Emerging Leader: Blake Warner

Honoring the theme of the AUCD Annual Conference, this edition of ExceLens is excited to feature AUCD Emerging Leader Blake Warner. Blake has previously completed two years of SD LEND and is currently serving as a UCEDD trainee and completing a predoctoral internship at the UCLA Tarjan Center. Blake is passionate about advocacy and policy reform efforts, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals in the disability community. The AUCD Community Inclusion Team was able to sit down with Blake and learn more about his interests, goals, and experience so far as an AUCD Emerging Leader. Please read on to see the highlights from Blake's interview!

10/31/2023

Statement on 60th Anniversary of the DD Act

Statement on 60th Anniversary of the DD Act (97KB) [download]

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) honor the 60th Anniversary of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights (DD) Act. The DD Act established the DD Network, which includes State Councils on Developmental Disabilities; University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Services (UCEEDs); and Protection & Advocacy Systems (P&As). These entities work to identify and solve issues that individuals with developmental disabilities face in their communities.

10/30/2023

Defining Equity

We are excited to announce AUCD's Board-approved working definition of equity in IDD. Below you will also see a plain language and easy read version. We hope this will help guide you in your future Council work as we continue to discuss concrete ways to improve systems, services, policies, and programs to improve equity. We know this will be an ongoing and evolving conversation within your Centers and across the Network. Thank you for your feedback and contributions to this effort.

10/27/2023

Disability Policy News - October 27, 2023

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

10/26/2023

Announcing the 2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Community Interns

The Emerging Leaders Community is excited to announce 3 Interns for the 2023-2024 training year! These trainees will serve as visible ambassadors to the broader AUCD network, interacting with AUCD staff at all levels and the AUCD Board of Directors' Emerging Leaders Representative.

10/24/2023

AUCD 360 - October 2023

10/24/2023

AUCD Partners with USAging

AUCD is thrilled to be a partner with USAging for the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, thanks to vital funding from the Administration for Community Living. AUCD's selected Network Centers and Programs are providing needed flu and COVID-19 shots to people with disabilities and older adults to help keep them healthy.

10/23/2023

Disability Policy News - October 23, 2023

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

10/23/2023

The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awarded a 5-Year Grant

The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (State of the States) has been awarded a 5-year grant from the Administration on Community Living (ACL) that will continue to support spreading their knowledge of data regarding IDD services and supports. The grant totals $450,000 per year over a period of 5 years and will be used toward information dissemination activities such as quarterly webinars, project reports, customized data briefs, data visualization, and more.

10/20/2023

Dan Habib and Samuel Habib Win a National Emmy for My Disability Roadmap

Dan Habib and Samuel Habib of the Westchester Institute for Human Development won a News & Documentary Emmy Award for their short film, My Disability Roadmap. Their New York Times Op-Docs film was honored at the September 27, 2023, ceremony held at the Palladium Times Square Theater in New York City. "My goal for this film is that people won't talk down to people with disabilities.

10/20/2023

Episode 20 of BoggsCast Now Available: Inclusion and Employment Advocacy with Wendy Lacey

The Boggs Center is excited to share the latest episode of BoggsCast, a podcast where faculty and staff explore best practice, showcase success stories, and help listeners envision possibilities for innovation through interviews with state and national experts.

10/20/2023

Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) Expansion: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Services

For many patients at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a lifeline, offering crucial support to vulnerable populations. However, the system is complex and often does not favor those who need assistance the most. The average national approval rate for initial applications is around 38%. The process becomes even more discouraging as appeals are denied at a rate of around 85%. Consequently, individuals who are already navigating life with a disability are left without assistance and can feel hopeless.

10/20/2023

UConn UCEDD and Rhode Island UCEDD Present to International Network on Inclusion for Early Childhood Education in Athens, Greece

Mary Beth Bruder, Ph.D., Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Amy Grattan, Ph.D., Director of the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, Rhode Island College, were invited to serve as members of an international leadership group focused on the development of an International Network on Inclusion for early childhood education in Athens, Greece.

10/13/2023

2024 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leaders Award

AAPD is seeking to recognize two (2) emerging leaders or groups with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community. People can apply as an individual or as a group up to four (4) people being recognized for the award. Awardees will receive $7,500 to further a new or existing initiative that increases opportunities for people with disabilities and $2,500 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the disability community.

10/4/2023

Call for Comments: New 504 Regulations

AUCD is collecting comments from our network on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the proposed regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The proposed rule, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Services Programs and Activities", will strengthen protections, advance equity, and bolster protections for people with disabilities while participating in any service or activity that receives funding from HHS.

10/2/2023

2023 AUCD Board Elections: Official Ballot

9/29/2023

AUCD 360 - September 2023

9/29/2023

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities Wins 2023 ECHO Excellence Award

Nationwide, just over 19 percent of the Department of Education's accredited institutions have taken advantage of a digital documents course developed at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice. Faculty and staff from all the universities in the Utah System of Higher Education have taken the course, which helps them provide accessible digital materials to their students.

9/27/2023

2023 Residential Information Systems Project Summative Evaluation

The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) is evaluating the Residential Information Systems Project (RISP). Through this evaluation, NASDDDS will assess the extent to which RISP is meeting the needs of state DD agencies, organizations funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), elected officials and interested others. The evaluation is funded by the subcontract with the University of Minnesota from the ACL (Cooperative Agreement #90DNPA0001-05).

9/27/2023

AUCD's New Brand Guidelines and Logos

We are excited to share AUCD's new brand guidelines! The brand guidelines include information about the AUCD brand, our new logo and colors, how to ensure accessibility across platforms, and more. We hope that you use the guidelines as a resource on how to promote the AUCD brand and how to engage people about the work of the AUCD Network. Please make note of the updated logo and color changes and update your Center's/Program's web pages and other materials accordingly.

9/22/2023

WVU CED Expands Efforts to Improve Outcomes for Babies Born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Incidence rates of newborns diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome have rapidly increased in rural states as West Virginia continues to see a rise in opioid use and addiction, including pregnant women. For the past five years, the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED) has tested and implemented models of care to strengthen services for West Virginia families with infants born exposed to substances in utero or diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

9/21/2023

Host a Fellow from the Professional Fellows Program

Is your UCEDD or LEND eager to drive global change in disability inclusion? Host a Fellow from the prestigious Professional Fellows Program (PFP)! The PFP supports mid-career disability rights professionals from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia to participate in a five-week Fellowship in the US in Spring 2024. As a host, we will match you with a Fellow whose professional interests and goals align with your organization to exchange disability-inclusive civic engagement knowledge and practices.

9/21/2023

Identifying Autism in Rwanda

In rural Africa, people with autism and other disabilities are stigmatized and routinely hidden indoors. This summer, the MN UCEDD trained community health workers in Rwanda on identifying the signs of autism in children and on principles for addressing the needs of people with disabilities in rural areas.

9/21/2023

Peer Support and Research Engagement for Transition Age Young Adults with IDD Resources

Informed by community members, including young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the REACH Lab and Institute on Disabilities at Temple University developed free and easy-to-access resources about how peer support can help with successful transition and research.

9/21/2023

Prevalence: Extending ICI's Research

For years, researchers at the MN UCEDD have estimated autism prevalence among Minnesota school children. Now the researchers are also estimating the prevalence of cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy.

9/20/2023

2024 AMCHP Annual Conference - Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals for the 2024 AMCHP Annual Conference is now open! We highly encourage those working in community organizations and tribal entities, family leaders, students, and early career professionals to share their completed (or in progress) work under any of 10 subject-focused tracks.

9/20/2023

2024 Gatlinburg Conference - Call for Proposals Open

The 2024 Gatlinburg Conference continues its tradition as one of the premier conferences for scientists conducting research on intellectual and developmental disabilities. The University of Kansas Life Span Institute is excited to host another year of Gatlinburg Conference on April 17-19, 2024.

9/20/2023

2024 Texas Transition Conference - Registration is Open

The 2024 Texas Transition is moving to Houston for 2024/2025! We will be at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria. We look forward to having you join us, live or online, on February 28 - March 1, 2024. We will cap the live registration at 500 participants. ttc.tamu.edu

9/20/2023

Nugent Appointed to National Disability Rights Network Board of Directors

Austin Nugent has built bridges between many different parts of the disability community, and she's a Disability Program Administrator at HDI, has been named an At-Large member for the National Disability Rights Network's (NDRN) Board of Directors. That means that she'll help provide oversight to an organization that protects and advocates for people with all sorts of disabilities nationwide, focusing on ensuring that people's rights are protected.

9/20/2023

OHSU Institute on Development and Disability UCEDD Expands Impact of Sexual Health Education

The UCEDD at OHSU has implemented The Friendships and Dating Program, created by the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development, in Oregon for the past three years. With its growing success, the FDP has received a grant extension and will continue for another year.

9/20/2023

Turner Appointed to Kentucky Employment First Council by Governor Beshear

In 2020, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order to create the Kentucky Employment First Council, which helps people with disabilities find meaningful employment. Morgan Turner, HDI Project Assistant, has accepted a position as Vice Chair on that council.

9/15/2023

Researchers to Identify Key Brain and Behavioral Changes in Aging Women with Premtuations of the Fragile X Gene, FMR1

First documented two decades ago among a small group of men who had grandchildren with Fragile X Syndrome, Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) has more recently been identified in women. Researchers at the University of Kansas Life Span Institute, Kansas IDDRC, and colleagues now are working to learn more about its effects in women.

9/1/2023

UCEDD Resource Center ExceLens Series: The Ohio State University (OSU) Nisonger Center: All Smiles in Ohio: OSU Nisonger Center Dental Clinic

The ExceLens series highlights the valuable work of the UCEDDs within university systems, the community, and in the lives of people with disabilities across the lifespan and their family members. The dental program at The Ohio State University (OSU) Nisonger Center opened in 1971 as a program initially designed to care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As the patient population aged, the practice on campus (McCampbell Hall) transitioned from children to adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to ensure access to care. In 2003, a separate stand-alone dental clinic was opened in the community to continue serving the oral healthcare needs of children and adolescents with IDD. The McCampbell Hall facility is the only clinic in Ohio whose entire focus is adults with IDD.

8/31/2023

Are you interested in learning more about and being involved in public policy?

AUCD's Public Policy Committee typically meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at 4:00 pm ET. The Policy Committee is created by the Board of Directors to support the mission, vision, and values of AUCD by supporting AUCD's efforts to advance policies and practices that improve lives of people with disabilities. We welcome any person affiliated with a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program, or an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center to join.

8/30/2023

FY 2024 Paper Forms

8/25/2023

AUCD 360 - August 2023

8/24/2023

Publishing Opportunity with AIR-P Cureus Channel

The AIR-P would like to share the Autism and Health: Across the Lifespan channel, where our authors can publish articles without cost and at a faster rate than is typically available through the traditional scholarly publication process.

8/21/2023

Special Announcement from the Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Division of MCH Workforce Development is proud to announce an update to the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies! The MCH Leadership Competencies help equip the MCH workforce with the knowledge, skills, personal characteristics, and values to improve the health of MCH populations.

8/16/2023

ICI Staffer Appointed to MassCUE Board of Directors

Congrats to ICI's Lori Cooney who was recently appointed to a 2-year term on the MassCUE Board of Directors! Lori has been a long-standing member and contributor with MassCUE, having served as a Champion and 2012 MassCUE Pathfinder award recipient.

8/16/2023

Making an impact: the Delaware UCEDD's Spectrum Scholars

Spectrum Scholars, a college-to-career program for autistic students that's administered by the University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies, has turned out its first graduates. Andrew Martin graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in Applied Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and in June began work as a biotechnician at SDIX, an immuno-solutions company specializing in large-scale antibody production. Melissa Gatti graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and is continuing her studies in an accelerated master's program.

8/16/2023

Research Opportunity-University of Pittsburgh

EDISR Aim 2 ASD IDD self-reporters.pdf (8,419KB) [download]

The REAACT Program, is currently recruiting for our new EDI-Self-Report (EDI-SR) study. The purpose of this new research study is to create a questionnaire known as the EDI-Self-Report (EDI-SR). This project is funded by the Eunice Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). The EDI-SR was designed in partnership with autistic individuals to measure emotional experiences in autistic teens and adults and teens and adults with other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

8/15/2023

AUCD Welcomes Rodney Samaco, PhD as Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer

John Tschida, the Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, announced today that Rodney Samaco, PhD has been hired as AUCD's Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer (CSBDO). Dr. Samaco will serve in this key leadership role to develop new business models, procure resources, spearhead research initiatives and uncover new opportunities as part of AUCD's Strategic Plan.

8/15/2023

ICI Laura Bozeman Receives Award

Laura Bozeman, professor and graduate program director for Vision Studies, was presented with the Suterko-Cory Award in recognition of her international leadership, dedication to the profession of orientation and mobility, and distinguished efforts to improve services to individuals with a visual impairment. This award recognizes Dr. Bozeman as an international ambassador and role model to orientation and mobility specialists throughout the world. The award recognizes her commitment to the field of vision studies and its expansive reach beyond her home boundaries, with an international impact across the United States as well as the Pacific Islands, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, and Ireland. She received this award at the 18th International Mobility Conference held in Warsaw, Poland.

8/11/2023

A Resource Guide for Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability

This guide is designed to introduce you to inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE), or college options for students with intellectual disability (ID). In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know about IPSE in an easy-to-read format, with helpful tips, information, and resources from the Think College website. You will learn about what IPSE is, how colleges include students with ID, and how to find and apply to college, as well as pay for it.

8/11/2023

In Art and Sound, Exhibit in VCU Medical Center Gave Voice to Those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Art and storytelling can be powerful ways to advocate for change. The Healing Narratives project used participatory research as a way for people with IDD to educate their communities about how they should be treated by health care providers.

8/11/2023

In Art and Sound, Exhibit in VCU Medical Center Gave Voice to Those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Art and storytelling can be powerful ways to advocate for change. The Healing Narratives project used participatory research as a way for people with IDD to educate their communities about how they should be treated by health care providers.

8/11/2023

Nisonger Center and DD Council Nursing Workforce Study Podcast

The Nisonger Center, in partnership with the Ohio DD Council, released a podcast on Spotify discussing our study of the DD Nursing Workforce Crisis. Ohio DD Talks is a podcast series featuring stories and conversations with Ohioans with developmental disabilities about current issues that are important to them. The developmental disabilities nursing crisis affects individuals with DD and their families across Ohio. This episode features Mackenzie Burness and Stephanie Hosley of Ohio State University Medical Center, who will discuss the public health workforce crisis, their research, and what we can do.

8/11/2023

Oregon Health & Science University UCEDD co-Director Receives Honor

Dr. Melanie Fried-Oken was named a fellow of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) at their biennial conference this July 2023 in Cancun, Mexico. For the past 45 years, she has been developing and evaluating tools, strategies, technologies and intervention protocols with adults, children and their families who experience complex communication needs.

8/11/2023

UK Human Development Institute Photo Library

Stock photography lacks disability representation. The photos are often staged and use models without disabilities resulting in misrepresentation and unnatural scenes. The UK Human Development Institute (HDI) created a library of 1000+ photos that you can download, share, and

8/11/2023

USM Initiative Expands Education, Career Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

A collaborative effort at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) between its Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) and School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development (ISPD) is opening doors to higher education and job training for individuals who previously had limited or no access to such opportunities. The Reaching, Including, Supporting and Educating (RISE) To The Top! Certificate is a four-year, eight-semester inclusive college program incorporating academics and employment preparation, leading to a certificate upon completion, for persons with intellectual disabilities.

8/9/2023

Cognitive Function in Down Syndrome-associated Alzheimer's Focus of Grant

Nearly every person with Down syndrome eventually develops Alzheimer's disease. Yet, people with the syndrome routinely are excluded from Alzheimer's clinical trials, with the help of an $11 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Associate Professor of Neurology Jason Hassenstab, Ph.D., from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis IDDRC, is looking to address this.

8/9/2023

UCEDD Success Stories - University of Washington Center for Technology and Disability Studies: Addressing Hesitancy and Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccines for Everyone

The University of Washington Center for Technology and Disability Studies is an interdisciplinary program within the Center for Human Development and Disability and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the School of Medicine. Their work is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other funding sources.

8/8/2023

AUCD Vaccine Outreach Messaging Toolkit

AUCD has created a vaccine outreach messaging toolkit. Users can find social media posts with easy-to-download graphics on AUCD's website. The toolkit contains caption copy, Instagram stories, and alt-text tips for each post. Check out the National Immunization Awareness Month posts to celebrate this August-contact Allison Haeger at [email protected] with any questions about accessing and using these resources.

8/2/2023

Project ENGAGE - Survey is Out: Looking for Participants!

Research participants wanted! Share your ideas about being included in a new type of health research! Project ENGAGE at the Syracuse University and Columbia University want to learn what adults with intellectual disability think about being included in a new type of health research. Project ENGAGE will use what they learn to create new resources to help researchers include adults with intellectual disability in health research.

7/28/2023

AUCD 360 - July 2023

7/26/2023

Emerging Leaders Internship & Council Trainee Representative - Applications Now Open!

AUCD is excited to announce (3) openings for the AUCD Emerging Leaders Internship and (5) openings for Council Trainee Representatives. Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are now open and close on August 4th, 2023.

7/25/2023

Call for Papers, Deadline Extended - Conversations With/Across the Global South: Towards Decolonial Disability Futurities

The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, the peer-reviewed, open access journal published by the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, is seeking submissions for a special issue exploring stories of the Global South through a decolonial and anti-ableist lens.

7/25/2023

CARD Selects Shelly Baer for their Special Recognition for Community Service Award

CARD annually selects a few community members to recognize those who go above and beyond with their dedication and commitment to the community. This year's winner is our very own Shelly Baer.

7/25/2023

Center for Disability Resources Executive Director at White House Meeting

UCEDD director Dr. David Rotholz participated in an invitation only meeting at the White House in May 2023. This event was to discuss innovative ways federal funding can be used to improve the lives of South Carolinians, including those with disabilities. Organized by the Office of Public Engagement the half-day event connected 50 elected officials, community and organization leaders, veterans and clergy from across the state to help build a better South Carolina. Our UCEDD was one of the two disability focused organizations included in this event.

7/25/2023

Center for Disability Resources, University of South Carolina UCEDD Installs Little Free Libraries with Health Focused Information in Rural and Underserved Communities

Librarians at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine (SOM) and at the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) Library have installed six Little Free Libraries around the state within rural and/or underserved communities to promote better access to quality, consumer-health resources related to each of the collaborating agencies' missions.

7/25/2023

Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development Joins Mass Casualty Preparedness Event

In June, University of Iowa Health Care was joined by the Iowa City VA Hospital and Mercy Iowa City in a simulated mass casualty incident. Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), which is based at UI Health Care, participated in the event as the Family Reunification Center, the primary location for families and patients to be reunited. CDD is home to Iowa's tertiary-level evaluation and diagnostic clinics, Iowa's UCEDD and LEND program, and the Hawk-IDDRC.

7/25/2023

The Children's Trust Funds the University of Miami

Beginning in October, The Children's Trust will begin funding the University of Miami with grants.

7/24/2023

AIR-P Cureus Channel

AIR-P is excited to promote and share our recently launched Channel on Cureus, Autism and Health: Across the Lifespan. https://www.cureus.com/channels/airp# We are seeking research and commentaries that share AIR-P's mission to support innovative life course intervention research that promotes optimal health and well-being of autistic individuals across the lifespan.

7/24/2023

Disability Policy News

Budget; Vaccinations; Labor; Transportation; Voting; Nutrition

7/20/2023

"Let's Try a Different Way"

Agnes Cole is a recent MN LEND graduate who works at a service provider, runs her own non-profit organization, and who spent much of her fellowship working on a longitudinal study that tracks the living arrangements of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive services.

7/20/2023

2024 Call for Presentation Proposals - 39th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Center on Disability Studies, in the College of Education, is accepting presentation proposals for the 39th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, February 27-28, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Submissions are being accepted until October 1, 2023 with a preferred submission date of September 15th at http://go.hawaii.edu/na2.

7/19/2023

iGROW Program with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University Works with Several Rural Businesses to Employ Students

The "I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work" (iGROW) Project is a four-year pre-employment and leadership-training program in partnership (funded by) with TWC's Vocational Rehabilitation Program, for students with disabilities who are currently enrolled in middle school and high school (ages 14-22). This summer several students were selected to work with a rural business that interested them. The purpose of the program is to provide a training environment to support students with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.

7/19/2023

Iowa's National Summer Transportation Institute Promotes STEM Careers for Youth

"Is this Heaven?" No, it's the Iowa National Summer Transportation Institute (INSTI)! The Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowa's UCEDD, recently hosted the third annual INSTI STEM summer camp. For the first time, INSTI was held residentially this summer. Seventeen middle-school-aged campers from all around the state, girls and boys including seven with disabilities, stayed in a University of Iowa residence hall during the two-week camp session. Campers learned a lot, played a lot, and got some insight into future career opportunities.

7/19/2023

Milwaukee Mom Gets More than 2500 COVID Vaccines for Residents with Disabilities and Their Families with Support from Waisman UCEDD

The Waisman Center's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), in partnership with the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, recently supported a grant to Parent University to help increase outreach and access to COVID-19 vaccines for individuals of color and individuals with disabilities in the greater Milwaukee area. Parent University, an organization in Milwaukee founded by Delores Sallis, serves as a resource and support network for Black and other families of color and their loved ones with disabilities.

7/19/2023

New Podcast from the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

The Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab launched INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast in March. Episodes feature research on employment and people with disabilities, home and community-based services and research highlights from the Center. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

7/19/2023

Occupational Therapy Camps Back at Munroe-Meyer Institute for Second Year

Tying shoes and practicing handwriting don"t sound like the typical summer camp activities. But the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Occupational Therapy Summer Camp focuses on those skills, among others, while offering fun and enriching activities for children and young adults to promote and maintain school readiness and learn new skills with health and safety in mind.

7/19/2023

PATHS Program Welcomes 14 New Students in the Summer Session

The Summer session for the PATHS Program included cooking classes. Students shopped for the ingredients and worked together in the Hullabaloo dorm kitchens to prepare the meals to share. For many students this is their first time away from home, so the students worked hard and had a great time with different art activities focused on improving their self-advocacy skills.

7/19/2023

Rett Syndrome Drug Studied at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Approved for Patients

The first drug to treat the symptoms of Rett syndrome was recently approved, following a Nature Medicine study publishing results from the pivotal phase 3 LAVENDER study led by investigators from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) to evaluate efficacy and safety of trofinetide.

7/19/2023

The iGROW Program is Growing in Lee County and in East Texas

The iGROW Program with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is growing in Lee County and in East Texas! The iGrow team is excited for their first replication in East Texas. Team members participated in the iGrow Summer Institute and a Program Coordinator for East Texas has been hired. We will also be expanding in Central Texas by adding more school districts to the current program.

7/19/2023

The School of Education and Human Development Announces Dr. Dalun Zhang as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

Dr. Dan (Dalun) Zhang has accepted the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs position in our School of Education and Human Development. Since accepting the interim role in January, Dr. Zhang has excelled in serving the best interests of our faculty and our School. He is also a Professor of Special Education in the Department of Educational Psychology (EPSY), a Faculty Affairs Leadership Development Fellow in SEHD and a Director of the Center on Disability and Development.

7/19/2023

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center LEND Program Collaborates with Community Partners to Launch "All Kids Academy"

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) LEND program has partnered with Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, The University of Memphis, and others to launch All Kids Academy. All Kids Academy is an innovative program that supports learning and development for hospitalized children with the goal to nurture every child's educational potential in sickness and in health.

7/19/2023

The Waisman TIES Clinic, a Psychiatry Clinic that Looks at Disability and Mental Health through a Holistic Lens

Mental health is import for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Waisman TIES (Training, Intervention, and Evaluation Services) Psychiatric Clinic is a unique resource that provides psychiatric care and consultation to Wisconsin residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The clinic often sees individuals who are unable to obtain psychiatric care from other providers due to their insurance, financial situation, behavioral issues, or medical complexities.

7/19/2023

Work-Based Learning with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University Spotlight

Joshua ISD's work-based learning project recently created balloon centerpieces that were featured at two end of the school year events. They provided decorations for the annual HOSA banquet and the district end of year banquet. Joshua's WBL project creates a variety of balloon center pieces and other balloon party decorations. This project has a special focus on adaptive equipment, so all students are able to contribute.

7/18/2023

Innovative Genetics Navigator Program In Virginia

In 2022, teams were formed by the NYMAC (New York, Mid Atlantic and Caribbean) Regional Genetics Center in each of their region's states/territories to look at barriers faced by families seeking genetics testing such as limited genetic clinics, lack of genetic counselors and costs of genetic testing. To meet Virginia's needs, NYMAC's Virginia team worked with the Center for Family Involvement (CFI) at Virginia's UCEDD to launch a Genetics Navigator program. Through a network of 90 trained diverse, paid and volunteer family members across Virginia, the CFI has provided emotional, informational and systems navigational support to thousands of families each year whose children have developmental delays, disabilities and/or special health care needs.

7/18/2023

The Conversation Continues: When it Comes to Autism, Can We Reconcile the Medical and Social Models of Disability?

On June 15, I (Jason Folger, PhD) had the pleasure of re-convening nearly all of the panelists and speakers from the NE Regional Spring LEND Conference of May 8: When it Comes to Autism, Can We Reconcile the Medical and Social Models of Disability? The conference focused on the idea of exploring and reconciling the polarized ideas circulating in popular media that celebrating one's neurodiversity as an autistic person somehow diminishes or invalidates the emotional pain of caregivers of individuals living with what has come to be known as "profound autism" and vice-versa.

7/13/2023

2023 AUCD Board Elections: Seeking Members for Nominating Committee

To elect Association members to the AUCD Board of Directors, we first need a Nominating Committee which consists of both Board and network members. At least two (2) individuals from the network are currently being sought to serve on this committee. Members of the Nominating Committee are NOT being nominated to serve on the Board, but rather to serve on the committee that reviews the submissions for people to serve on the Board. Individuals can nominate another individual to serve on the Nominating Committee or can self-nominate.

7/10/2023

Disability Policy News

Budget; Child care; Education; Social Security

6/30/2023

AUCD 360 - June 2023

6/29/2023

The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal is seeking reviewers to join its Manuscript Review Board

Do you have expertise in disability studies and a commitment to social justice? The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, is seeking reviewers to join its distinguished Manuscript Review Board.

6/28/2023

South Dakota LEND at Special Olympics Summer Games

South Dakota LEND faculty and alums volunteered for Healthy Hearing Screenings at the South Dakota Special Olympics 2023 Summer Games in Spearfish, SD. Marni Johnson Martin (Interdisciplinary Training and Clinic Director - USD Center for Disabilities), Elizabeth (Liz) K. Hanson (SD LEND Discipline Head for SLP and Research) were joined by former discipline head, Paul Brueggeman (Audiology) and graduated trainees: Carly Johnson (Audiology) and Maya Gogoi (Medicine), along with other volunteers, to screen 90 individuals.

6/28/2023

University of Miami, Mailman Center LEND Trainee Receives Grant to Create a Multicultural Library Space for Children at the Linda Ray Intervention Center

University of Miami Mailman Center LEND Trainee, Elena Fernandez, receives the UM Racial Justice grant which she used for her work with the Linda Ray Intervention Center.

6/26/2023

Funding Opportunity: State or Tribal Liaisons to CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Program

2023 Act Early Tribal Ambassador RFA and Application Final Updated .pdf (287KB) [download]

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) announce a funding opportunity for Act Early Ambassadors and Tribal Act Early Ambassadors to work with CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early."

6/25/2023

AUCD Leadership Academy

Congratulations to the 2023 AUCD Leadership Academy participants who completed a week-long program designed to enhance the skills of current and emerging leaders from the disability network to build coalitions to improve systems of support and services. During the Leadership Academy, participants explored shared values and commitments to civil and human rights, assessed their strengths and strengths, developed skills in building partnerships to achieve collective impact, and established personal and professional leadership goals.

6/20/2023

Announcing the 2023 Think College Policy Advocates

Think College is excited to have a whole new "class" of Think College Policy Advocates who will attend online and in-person training to learn about disability policy and advocacy. The training culminates in Hill visits with legislators in Washington, DC, where they'll put those advocacy skills to work.

6/20/2023

Disability Policy News

Congress; HCBS; Energy and Commerce; Mentorship; Autism; COVID-19

6/20/2023

Gina Pola-Money, URLEND Faculty, Honored at AMCHP

Gina Pola-Money has been with URLEND for over 20 years heading up the Self-Advocate / Family program and was recently awarded the Merle McPherson Award by the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) in New Orleans, LA at its annual conference. "Our awards recognize individuals in the MCH field that have gone above and beyond to impact those around them positively," said Terrance E. Moore, CEO at AMCHP.

6/20/2023

Impact: 35 Years of MN UCEDD's Flagship Publication

Impact magazine is the flagship publication of the MN UCEDD, highlighting what matters to people with disabilities for 35 years. This issue reconnects with voices from the past and looks ahead to the issues of the future.

6/20/2023

Ohio State University UCEDD Announces Intellectual Disability and Mental Illness Prevalence Study in Collaboration with OHSU

Intellectual disability (ID) confers increased risk of mental illness; however, a robust prevalence study of the occurrence of mental illness in adults with intellectual disability has not been conducted in the United States. Prevalence estimates are based on previous research in the UK (Cooper, Smiley, Morrison, Williamson, & Allan, 2007; Stromme & Diseth, 2000) and on US studies that have used convenience samples (Fletcher, Barnhill, & Cooper, 2016; Reiss, 1994; Rojahn & Tasse, 1996; Smiley, 2005;) suggesting that mental illness occurs in 30% to 50% of adults with intellectual disability. Co-occurring mental illness is associated with an increased intensity and complexity of support needs compared to adults with ID without comorbid psychiatric disorders (Borthwick-Duffy, 1994; Rojahn, Matson, Naglieri, & Mayville, 2004; Tasse & Wehmeyer, 2010). A systematic national prevalence study is needed to guide federal policy and programs to address mental health problems in adults with intellectual disability.

6/20/2023

UNH and Kessler Foundation Report out on NTIDE May 2023: COVID-19 Lockdown's Impact on Visually Disabled Employment

New data show that while individuals with visual disabilities were slow to recover employment because of the effects of the COVID-2019 lockdown, they have made headway, depending on their level of disability, almost meeting their pre-pandemic levels. Possible reasons for their slower recovery include major safety concerns due to the shortage of personal protective equipment, less access to vaccines, and their vulnerability to severe consequences of COVID, according to experts speaking during last month's nTIDE Deeper Dive Lunch & Learn Webinar.

6/16/2023

Dr. Wolfensberger's 'festschrift' Presented at McGoogan Library

The work of Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger, a critical figure in the development of home and community-based services in the US, is being featured in a new compendium developed from his collection of work at the McGoogan Library at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

6/16/2023

HDI's Lisa Amstutz is Second in Kentucky to Earn Special Credential for Mental Health ASL Interpreting

Lisa Amstutz earned the Qualified Mental Health Interpreter Certification earlier this month, making her the second American Sign Language interpreter in Kentucky to do so. The certification is typically held by experienced interpreters who have already demonstrated particularly high competence in general interpreting.

6/16/2023

Iowa's UCEDD Welcomes a Professional Fellow from Zanzibar

Iowa's UCEDD welcomed Bakar Hamad from Zanzibar last month as part of his experience in the Professional Fellow Program, a joint project of the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston and Humanity & Inclusion. Hamad is the fourth Professional Fellow that Iowa's UCEDD has hosted through the program, which has provided wonderful opportunities for the fellows and for UCEDD staff to exchange information, ideas and strategies for supporting people with disabilities.

6/16/2023

Long COVID Is a Mass Disabling Condition-Treat It Like One

Long Covid is a mass disabling condition, writes Dr. Bonuck. Dr. Bonuck is professor of family and social medicine, of obstetrics & gynecology and women's health, and of pediatrics at Einstein and co-director of the Rose F. Kennedy University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Einstein-Montefiore.

6/16/2023

Reveling in the Work of Our Rose F. Kennedy Center Programs and Research

Friday, April 21, 2023, the inaugural Rose F. Kennedy Center Day offered an occasion for reflection, celebration, and hope. The day included a brief history of the Center, talks from accredited speakers and creative thinking workshops.

6/16/2023

Transitioning to Adulthood: Employment Supports for Patients with Disabilities

The Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) and JFK Partners, the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Colorado, is proud to highlight the development and delivery of a training for healthcare providers. This curriculum provides a basic understanding of the importance of employment for youth and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), the importance of employment conversations in the healthcare setting, and the evidence based and other employment practices that fully support the employment goals of all people with IDD, regardless of severity of disability.

6/13/2023

Michelle Fong (NH-ME LEND 2023) White Paper: Data Equity is Key to Health Equity for PWD

Equitable health data represents all populations and can be linked to their common characteristics. When researchers from the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD), sought to examine the health equity of Maine's population with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities regarding COVID-19, they encountered a data gap. Maine's COVID-19 data could be disaggregated by gender, race, ethnicity, and age, but not by disability status or type.

6/13/2023

New Ohio Law Protects the Rights of Parents with Disabilities

A new law went into effect in Ohio this past April which makes it unlawful for Ohio decision-makers such as courts, children's services, child placement agencies and adoption agencies to deny or limit parental or custodial rights based on a person's disabilities. Following the lead of some 17 other states, the law ensures that the rights of parents with disabilities are equal to those without disabilities and acknowledges that disability does not determine fitness to parent.

6/12/2023

Disability Policy News

Congress; HCBS; Energy and Commerce; Mentorship; Autism; COVID-19

6/12/2023

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) UCEDD Director Elise McMillan to Retire

After 28 years of working to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families, Elise McMillan, J.D., has announced she will retire from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) in June 2023. McMillan currently serves as the director of the VKC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VKC UCEDD), director of Community Engagement and Public Policy team, and senior lecturer in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

6/12/2023

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Welcomes Pablo Juarez and Julie Lounds Taylor as New UCEDD Co-directors

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) announces new leadership for its University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VKC UCEDD). Julie Lounds Taylor, Ph.D., and Pablo Juarez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, will succeed Elise McMillan, J.D., who officially retires June 30, 2023.

6/7/2023

AUCD's Public Health Team is Seeking Two Statisticians

AUCD's Public Health Team is seeking two (2) statisticians to assist in completing a current project evaluating a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Developmental Monitoring Project. This project seeks to improve the early detection of developmental delays and disabilities in young children in the United States.

6/5/2023

Disability Policy News

Debt ceiling; Medicaid; Law enforcement

5/30/2023

Invitation to participate in a focus group study at Columbia University

Columbia University invites you to participate in a study that explores issues of trust in a type of medical research called "precision medicine research." This looks at a person's genetics, environment, and lifestyle. It can help physicians improve prevention and diagnosis of diseases and develop new treatments.

5/26/2023

AUCD 360 - May 2023

5/25/2023

AIR-P Launches New Academic Channel in Cureus

The Autism and Health: Across the Lifespan Channel (Autism and Health Channel) was founded in 2023 to promote research to increase the life expectancy and quality of life of autistic individuals. With broad support from national collaborative research entities, the goal of this academic channel is to serve as a forum to disseminate scientific articles which contribute to the evidence base of health promotion for autistic individuals and their families across the lifespan.

5/25/2023

Perspectives on the Implementation of Pre-ETS Services: Identification of barriers and facilitators to early career planning for youth with disabilities

There are differences between and within states in the delivery of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students with significant disabilities early in their career planning process. This complicates the delivery of services for these youth with disabilities (YWD) and leaves gaps in communication between families, educators, and vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors.

5/25/2023

Researchers Call for Systemic Changes to Improve Career Prospects of Young People with Disabilities

A deeper level and different kind of coordination, collaboration, and cooperation are needed to narrow the gap in employment opportunities between youth and young adults with and without disabilities. Experts present strategies to challenge the status quo that young people with disabilities face in the transition from school to employment in a special issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.

5/22/2023

2023 PATHS Partner Brunch

The Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) program at Texas A&M University held their annual Partner Brunch on Saturday April 15, 2023. Our theme this year: "BEE Courageous" to Change Lives. This event is held every year to recognize both the partners and the students who have worked in the community this past year.

5/22/2023

Disability Policy News

Debt ceiling; Budget; Medicare; Medicaid; Education; Health

5/18/2023

Blazing a trail: Ann Switzer 1st to complete UK's College and Career Studies Program

On Monday nights you'll find local artists eagerly waiting for their turn to play a few songs as part of an open mic night. They're greeted near the stage by a familiar face, sharing her love of music with the community built up at Kenwick Table. It's a role she discovered while in the University of Kentucky's College and Career Studies (CCS) Program which is coordinated by the UK Human Development Institute (HDI). Switzer piloted the program and is now the first to complete it. She will also receive an undergraduate certificate in universal design from UK and will be recognized for her accomplishments at an academic showcase with other UK students on May 4.

5/18/2023

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 24th Annual Health Care Heroes Awards Luncheon

Congratulations go out to Dr. Daniel Armstrong, Professor & Executive Vice Chair and Department of Pediatrics, Director, Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. On May 17, 2023 the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Health Care Heroes awards luncheon at Jungle Island in Miami, Florida. The event was attended by more than 450 Healthcare Professionals.

5/18/2023

Patient Driven Innovation with Dr. Christina Gurnett, Neurologist and Director of Washington University IDD Research Center

Dr. Christina Gurnett who is the co-director of The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Washington University speaks to The Accessible Podcast about her community-based approach to cutting edge scientific research which puts individuals and families at the center.

5/18/2023

UM-NSU CARD Constituency Board Members Visit State Capitol

Five Constituency Board Members from University of Miami - Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities visited the state capitol of Tallahassee to both thank representatives who have supported UM-NSU CARD and educate policymakers on the importance of resources for the autism community to be included in the state budget.

5/17/2023

A Qualitative Investigation on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Neurodivergent Communities

Over the course of 2 years, the student led group, Neurodiversity Health Chats at UCLA has published their explorative work on vaccine hesitancy in the neurodivergent community!

5/17/2023

Abigail Peskin Recipient of The Children's Trust Champions 2023 Excellence in Direct Services Award

Abigail (Abby) Peskin is a clinical child psychologist at the Mailman Center for Child Development. She has won this year's Children's Trust Champions for Children Excellence in Direct Service Award.

5/17/2023

Dawn Rudolph to Join the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities is pleased to announce that Dawn Rudolph, MSEd, has accepted the position of Senior Program Manager to lead initiatives in home and community-based services.

5/17/2023

MN LEND Graduates Celebrate

This year, 28 fellows have earned full MNLEND certificates, along with seven intermediate trainees who joined the program for a more limited, focused experience. They come from University of Minnesota academic disciplines, including Public Health Administration, Law, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Dentistry, and many more; or are community members in disability-related professions, self-advocates, or family advocates.

5/17/2023

The Center Welcomes Kelly Kurtz Majewski as the New iGROW Program Director

We would like to welcome Kelly Majewski M.Ed. to the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University Team! Kelly Kurtz Majewski has accepted the position of iGROW Program Director and will be leading the rural transition work in Central Texas as well as future replication sites across Texas. The iGROW impact report for year one is included in this post.

5/17/2023

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Member Works to Improve Sleep Assessment in Down Syndrome Research

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) member Sarika Peters, Ph.D., received a VKC Director's Strategic Priorities Grant to determine the feasibility of use of a wearable sensor to assess sleep in children (ages 4-10 years) with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is estimated to occur in 1 out of 700 babies and is associated with many co-occurring conditions including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA impacts between 50-79 percent of individuals with Down syndrome and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for OSA in children with Down syndrome starting at age 4.

5/17/2023

Vanessa Richard, the recipient of the Department of Educational Psychology's 2023 Excellence in Diversity

The CDD is pleased to announce that Vanessa Richard has been selected as the recipient of the Department of Educational Psychology's 2023 Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. This honor recognizes Vanessa's work with the CDD's Capacity-Building Project, the Texas Faith and Disability Network, and the Vaccine Acessibility for Individuals with Disabilities project, as well as her support of diversity and inclusion through campus and community activities.

5/16/2023

Aggie ACHIEVE Ring Day

On Friday, April 14 the seven juniors and four seniors from the Aggie ACHIEVE program received the first-ever Aggie ACHIEVE Rings in a ceremony at the Rec center at Texas A&M. The ACHIEVE Ring represents the students' dedication to excellence in their 4 year certificate program of Interdisciplinary Studies. We are so proud of each student's accomplishments!

5/16/2023

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Proposes Two New Rules to Improve Medicaid and CHIP

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have proposed two new rules that would improve the service and delivery of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services and Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality. Both of the proposed rules aim to improve the access and quality of care, improve transparency, and address health inequity within Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

5/16/2023

UW CHDD Promoted to UW IHDD with Sandra Juul as New Director

The University of Washington (UW) Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD) has been renamed the UW Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD), with Dr. Sandra Juul appointed as the new Director. The IHDD is a research, service, and training center that aims to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families through various programs and services, including diagnostic, assessment, and treatment services.

5/15/2023

Autism and the Dysregulated Arousal System

How do babies learn to be social? Babies are born into the world with so much to learn, from basic body movements to complex communication and interaction skills. Philosopher John Locke believed that babies are born into the world as "blank slates" (tabula rasas)-everything to learn will be gained from their environment and experience1. Indeed, environment and experience are critical for learning-studies on enriched environments highlight this. However, research continues to highlight the influence of inherent characteristics, underlying neurobiology and genetics on how and what we learn or know. Researchers aim to understand what and how we learn by studying the dynamic interplay between inherent biological traits, physiological states, and the environment.

5/11/2023

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice Expands its National Community of Practice of State Teams Advancing Alternatives to Guardianship

Download Press Release (84KB) [download]

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) is delighted to announce its selection of three additional State Teams to join its national Community of Practice to promote alternatives to guardianship for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Nineteen teams from 15 States and the District of Columbia applied. The quality of the applications was excellent and revealed a deep interest in and commitment to Supported Decision-Making and its importance in the lives of transition-age youth.

5/9/2023

Western Carolina University University Participant Program First Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disability to be Accredited by New Agency

Download Press Release (181KB) [download]

The Institute for Community Inclusion's (ICI) Think College and the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC), a new accrediting agency for postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disability (ID), jointly announced today that the Western Carolina University (WCU) University Participant (UP) Program is now fully accredited for the next seven years. The WCU UP program is the first program to be accredited by the council.

5/8/2023

Disability Policy News

Congress; HCBS; Energy and Commerce; Mentorship; Autism; COVID-19

5/3/2023

EDI-Self-Report (EDI-SR) Survey

The purpose of this new research study is to create a questionnaire known as the EDI-Self-Report (EDI-SR). This project is funded by the Eunice Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). The EDI-SR was designed to measure emotional experiences in autistic teens and adults and teens and adults with other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This study is enrolling individuals ages 11 and older who are autistic or have an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) and their parents/caregivers, as well as individuals without these diagnoses. Individuals must be current United States residents to participate.

4/28/2023

AUCD 360 - April 2023

4/25/2023

Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities Recognized with University of Arizona Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awards

At a ceremony on March 2, 2023, the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities was awarded the 2023 College of Medicine - Tucson Departmental Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for its outstanding excellence in the management of its people and resources, including its progress in building an inclusive workplace.

4/25/2023

Sonoran Center Trains Students to Close Disability Care Gaps

Most people receive care from a variety of health professionals throughout their lives, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, people who run public health programs, and more. Unfortunately, not all of these professionals have experience providing care to people with disabilities. The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities in the Department of Family & Community Medicine in the College of Medicine - Tucson works to ensure that future health care providers are prepared for some of the unique challenges they may face.

4/25/2023

The Disability Employment TA Center (DETAC)

The Disability Employment TA Center (DETAC) is a five-year federally funded national Technical Assistance Center that provides training and technical assistance to Centers for Independent Living, Councils on Developmental Disabilities, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service, Protection and Advocacy entities, Traumatic Brain Injury Centers, and Projects of National Significance.

4/24/2023

Harnessing Uniqueness: MNLEND Fellow Leverages Neuroscience Advances to Explore Brain-Behavior Links

A MN LEND fellow searches neuroimaging databases for patterns that could lead to more personalized and effective strategies for regulating emotions, or developing social cognition, among other skills.

4/24/2023

Think College Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Expand College Access for Students with Intellectual Disability

Think College, a center at the University of Massachusetts Boston dedicated to expanding college options for students with intellectual disability, announced today the launch of its public awareness campaign, Think Higher. Think College. The campaign aims to expand college access for students with intellectual disability (ID) by ensuring students explore a variety of college options during transition planning, increasing the number of institutions of higher education offering programs for students with ID, and preparing students for college while in high school.

4/14/2023

Iowa Works Together to Address the DSP Workforce Shortage

Recently, our UCEDD joined our sister agency, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, and other organizations, including the Iowa Association of Community Partners, Iowa Caregivers Association, ASK Resource Center, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Serves and Iowa Workforce Development, to develop a new recruiting tool. "A Job That Matters: Learn How You Could Become a Direct Support Professional" is publication that features a series of stories about the job, the people who need supports and services to live in the community, and the people who do these jobs in different ways. The publication was recently inserted into local Sunday newspapers and is being circulated electronically throughout the state to build awareness and support DSP recruitment.

4/14/2023

ME UCEDD Receives Nearly $500K Maine DHHS Grant to Help Adults with Disabilities

With a $499,970 grant from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Aging and Disability Services, the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD), will conduct a model demonstration project of intensive evidence-based behavioral intervention to help adults with disabilities who are currently subject to restrictive behavior management plans.

4/14/2023

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researcher Works to Enhance Therapy Processes with and for Autistic People

Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health distress than the general population. Unfortunately, therapy services for this community are limited and rarely designed with and for autistic people. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher Jessica Schwartzman, Ph.D., recently co-authored a paper* in the journal Autism which outlines the development and testing of an autism-adapted, measurement-based care** system (MBC-AUT) to enhance therapy processes for autistic people and their families.

4/13/2023

2023 Bryan-College Station Success Conference was held April 1, 2023 at Central Church in College Station

The Conference theme this year was Destination: A Good Life! Let's Travel This Road... Together. Help plan a roadmap for your child's life.Keynote speakers were Ben and Wendy Erdman who spoke about their lives and almost 20 years of marriage in a session titled, "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" They shared the story of their lives, family supports. early education, work opportunities, how they met and about their marriage.

4/13/2023

Affiliated Faculty Highlight: Lisa Bowman-Perrott, PhD

Lisa Bowman-Perrott, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Affiliated Faculty Member with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is working with two new grants and collaborating with UTSA and Baylor University.

4/13/2023

Child Care Aware of Kentucky Block Project

It might be surprising to learn that one of the most powerful tools for teaching children during early development is the humble building block. And yet, according to Cynthia Willmarth, Early Education Quality Coach for Child Care Aware (CCA) of Kentucky at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI), they can have a profound impact on children in their earliest years.

4/13/2023

Kathleen Zimmerman Receives Grant to Support K-2 Students

Kathleen Zimmerman, assistant professor of special education and researcher at the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD), received a 4-year grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to support students in K-2 classrooms who are exhibiting challenging behaviors.

4/13/2023

Nevada PBIS TA Center Recognized for Excellency

The Nevada Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Technical Assistance (PBISTA) Center located within the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has received three awards this quarter.

4/13/2023

Oklahoma LEND Graduate Makes it to the State House

Oklahoma LEND graduate, Ellyn Hefner, class of 2014, is elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Prior to being accepted into the OK LEND program, Ellyn was a strong advocate for her son to ensure he would have the same opportunities as his siblings. She graduated from the Oklahoma Partners in Policymaking class sponsored by the Developmental Disability Council of Oklahoma.

4/13/2023

PATHS Student Highlights at Texas A&M Unviersity

The PATHS Program is an inclusive, two-year, certificate training program designed to prepare students, with and without disabilities, for a career as a Direct Support Professional - General, who will work with the elderly or people with disabilities in the community; as a Direct Support Professional - Paraprofessional who will work in school districts and other educational settings; or as a Child Care Professional who will work with children, ages birth to five years old in a daycare setting.

4/13/2023

South Dakota LEND Trainees and Discipline Heads Travel to Guatemala for Clinical Outreach

South Dakota LEND trainees, Kylie Hamman (Audiology), Abby Myers (Physical Therapy), and Kaylee Schmidt and Emily Bruinsma (Occupational Therapy) joined clinical outreach ventures to Antigua and Santiago Atitl�n in Guatemala during spring break 2023. The groups were led by LEND discipline heads Patti Berg-Poppe (PT), Shana Cerny (OT), and Liz Hanson (SLP), and were also joined by former discipline head, Lana Svien (PT-retired), all from the University of South Dakota.

4/13/2023

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Creates Dental Certificate Training Program for Community Providers

Dental care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) is a challenge and a national issue. In 2021, the American Dental Association recognized this issue and approved Resolution 49 which recommended the expansion of training programs of dentists, hygienists, dental and dental hygiene students to meet the needs of this severely underserved population. To address this issue, The Ohio State University Nisonger Center partnered with the Delta Dental Foundation of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina (Delta Dental) to create a specialized certificate training program that aims to improve access to oral health care for individuals with ID/DD.

4/12/2023

Special Education Research & Bots Survey

Are you a researcher who studies services and/or supports for children/youth with disabilities? Have you conducted at least one online research survey anytime between January 2010 and today? Researchers from Coastal University and Vanderbilt University are recruiting participants for a research study to learn about your experiences conducting online surveys in special education and related fields, including any experiences you may or may not have had with online bots.

4/5/2023

ICI's Think College Launches Accreditation Agency for Inclusive Higher Education

ICI TC Accreditation Agency.pdf (95KB) [download]

Think College, a center within the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, announced the launch of the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC), a new accrediting agency for inclusive postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disability (ID).

4/4/2023

Dawn Rudolph Transitions from AUCD

AUCD's Senior Director of Technical Assistance and Network Engagement bids farewell from role

4/3/2023

Disability Policy News

Budget; Education; Pediatrics; Guardianships

3/31/2023

AUCD 360 - March 2023

3/30/2023

New Publication: Cultural Humility and Cultural Brokering in Professional Training

Congratulations to Boston Children's Hospital LEND alumni Victoria Filingeri, Heather Mendez, and Alisa Ssu Yu Lin and their faculty mentors (Gyasi Burks-Abbott, Amy Szarkowski, and Jason Fogler) on the publication of their article in DDNJ: Cultural Humility and Cultural Brokering in Professional Training: Insights from People of Color (POC) and Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

3/29/2023

Dr. Karrie Shogren (KS UCEDD) Testifies Before U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

On March 30, Dr. Karrie Shogren of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities will testify in Washington, DC before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging at a briefing titled, "Guardianship and Alternatives: Protection and Empowerment." Dr. Shogren, Director of the Kansas UCEDD, will be testifying about her work on the Supported Decision-Making Inventory that she has developed and the relationship to guardianship. The briefing will be livestreamed.

3/28/2023

National Learning Academy Grand Opening

Event Flyer (6,554KB) [download]

The Center on Community Living and Careers (CCLC) at Indiana University has launched the National Learning Academy (NLA), a virtual education community serving up comprehensive insight and practical employment applications from IIDC experts to a national audience.

3/23/2023

Apply Now! Become a 2023 Think College Policy Advocate!

The Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) and Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) are happy to announce this opportunity to learn and practice policy advocacy skills is once again available to students and staff of inclusive higher education programs. If you or someone you know works for or attends a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disability, you can apply to be a Think College Policy Advocate (TCPA).

3/22/2023

COE Introduces New Interim Director of the Center on Disability Studies

Dr. Holly Manaseri has been appointed as Interim Director of the Center on Disability Studies (CDS) at the College of Education. A passionate advocate for inclusion she has served as an Association of University Centers on Disability Equity, Diversity and Inclusion coach and continues her work as a leadership coach, committed to bridging theory to practice.

3/22/2023

Project ECHO Opportunities for UCEDDs and LENDs

Join the Project ECHO Orientation on May 9 to learn more about the ECHO model and how to incorporate it into your work as a UCEDD or LEND program. If you are already an ECHO partner, join the newly formed monthly UCEDD LEND ECHO Collaborative starting April 24.

3/22/2023

Requesting Support on Advocacy Issue for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is proposing changes to how pediatric residents are trained to evaluate and care for patients with developmental disabilities and behavior challenges. The proposed changes would remove the requirement for a board-certified DBP to teach the pediatric residents, and instead allow pediatric residency program directors to have faculty without DBP board certification to teach the residents. Please lend your voice to oppose these critical changes in pediatric residency education by posting comments on the ACGME Review and Comment page before April 5, 2023.

3/20/2023

Autistic, Not Sorry

Isabelle Morris (left) is a MN LEND fellow and autism researcher who describes herself as "unapologetically autistic." She's among a growing group of autistic researchers using their lived experience to shape the future of autism research.

3/20/2023

Disability Policy News

Budget; Long COVID; HCBS; Pandemic Preparedness; Transportation

3/20/2023

Imaging Tech Produces Real-time 3D Maps of Uterine Contractions During Labor

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed new imaging technology that can produce 3D maps showing the magnitude and distribution of uterine contractions in real time and across the entire surface of the uterus during labor. Building on imaging methods long used on the heart, this technology can image uterine contractions noninvasively and in much greater detail than currently available tools, which only indicate the presence or absence of a contraction.

3/17/2023

Release of the Annual Disability Statistics Collection

On February 7, 2023, StatsRRTC at the Institute on Disability released key findings from the Annual Disability Statistics Collection. The annual report addresses critical gaps in national and state data related to people with disabilities by synthesizing complex data from numerous U.S. federal agencies into accessible formats.

3/17/2023

She's Nobody Special - by Kathy Bates

"I want everyone to understand that it is okay to use the word 'disability' or refer to a specific disability if it is important to the message you are trying to convey. Disability is not right or wrong�it just IS." Kathy Bates shares her thoughts on the role that language plays in terms of disability in her most recent blog post, "She's Nobody Special."

3/16/2023

AIR-P Scholars Pilot and Feasibility Funding Opportunity

2023 AIR-P Scholars RFP (362KB) [download]

The Autism Intervention Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) seeks applications for the AIR-P Scholars & Pilot and Feasibility funding program during the September 2023-August 2024 project year. Proposals must address a topic or topics related to autism and physical health with a focus on enhancing the health and well-being of autistic people. Preference will be given to projects with an emphasis on undeserved groups.

3/16/2023

Angela Shepard Appointed Director of NERGN

We are pleased to announce that Angela Shepherd, MD, MPH, will be joining the IOD in early March as Director of the New England Regional Genetics Network (NERGN). Angela is a NH native who graduated from Plymouth State University before attending the University of Maryland's School of Medicine. She returned to New England to complete her Preventive Medicine residency and master's in public health at UMass Medical School in Worcester, MA. Angela is very active in the rare disease community in New Hampshire.

3/16/2023

DD Act Partners Directors' Presentation with the DRC-NH, NHCDD, & IOD

The directors of the Disability Rights Center NH (DRC-NH), the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities (NHCDD), and the Institute on Disability (IOD) recently created a video to discuss how their organizations work together to remove barriers to people with disabilities living fully inclusive lives in their communities. Stephanie Patrick (DRC-NH), Isadora Rodriguez-Legendre (NHCDD), and Kelly Nye-Lengerman (IOD) talk about the importance of building leadership and supporting advocacy in the continued fight for disability justice.

3/16/2023

JoAnne Malloy, PhD, Selected as NH Social Worker of the Year

Congratulations to JoAnne Malloy, PhD, on her selection as Social Worker of the Year by the New Hampshire chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She received the award at the Social Work Celebration in Concord, NH, on March 3, 2023. JoAnne is a Research Associate Professor at the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire and has worked to advance improved behavioral health for children, youth, and families in the state since 1982.

3/16/2023

Kelly Nye-Lengerman Named Associate Editor

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has named IOD Director Kelly Nye-Lengerman an associate editor for the journal Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The IDD is a bi-monthly, peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal of policy, practices, and perspectives.

3/16/2023

Mailman Center Leadership Changes: Dr. Michelle Schladant, Dr. Jason Jent, Dr. Elana Mansoor, and Dr. Dainelys Garcia

Following Dr. Jeff Brosco's transition to HRSA/MCHB as Director of the Division of Children with Special Health Care Needs, changes are taking place in the leadership of the Mailman Center has leadership changes with promotions.

3/16/2023

New Program Builds Business and Leadership Acumen for Early Childhood Educators

As a part of the Association of University Centers for Disabilities and the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities for the state of Missouri, the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Institute for Human Development (UMKC-IHD) along with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are launching a training and coaching program over a two-year period starting in 2023. The project aims to enhance the efficacy of early childhood education by building the leadership and business skills of early childhood education administrators across family child care businesses, smaller independent early learning centers and large early learning organizations across Missouri.

3/16/2023

NH-ME LEND Spring Kick-Off: Engaging in Advocacy and the Policy Process

In January, NH-ME LEND convened trainees, faculty, and five panelists for a Leadership Intensive: Organizing to Influence Your State's Policy. Panelists represented perspectives on advocacy at the state, local, and personal levels. The Leadership Intensive was the first step in preparing the 2023 LEND cohort for the spring Disability Policy Seminar (DPS) and subsequent meetings with congressional delegations.

3/16/2023

Opening Doors, and Minds

A MN LEND faculty member's massive open online course (MOOC) is a Coursera hit. Wendy Looman's course is about families with young children, and how environmental factors such as housing and nutritious food, influence their outcomes.

3/16/2023

UCLA PEERS for Careers: Breaking Employment Barriers for Autistic Adults

There will be an estimated 700,000 autistic adults aging into adulthood over the next 10 years and yet, a staggering 80% of autistic adults are unemployed. UCLA PEERS� for Careers is an innovative offering to support autistic undergraduate and graduate students in successfully transitioning from post-secondary education to the workforce.

3/16/2023

UNMC Munroe Meyer Institute LEND Trainees Collaborate with Special Olympics Nebraska

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) physical therapy students and Munroe Meyer Institute (MMI) LEND trainees partnered with Special Olympics Nebraska for their LEND Community Learning and Leadership project. They were involved with helping Special Olympics Nebraska (SONE) provide a variety of services to the community, their largest being a 6-week Young Athletes Camp hosted at a local elementary school.

3/16/2023

Will SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy Impact Child's Neurodevelopment?

Scientists led by the Lieber Institute for Brain Development are studying how a mother's SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy affects the biology of the placenta and the corresponding trajectory of the child's brain development, including the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.

3/16/2023

Winter 2023 Issue of the "Disability RAPP"

In the Winter 2023 issue of the Disability RAPP, we look at how the language we use when talking about disability affects the way we see ourselves and each other. Learn how the systemic use of ableist language has cultivated exclusionary policies and how the evolution of language can help us break down barriers to inclusion and foster a sense of dignity for people with disabilities.

3/15/2023

Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature Reflection

Every year, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities (MDD) Coalition sponsors DD Day. On this day, participants come together to educate legislators about issues that are important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.

3/15/2023

Innovative Transition Age Youth Curriculum Launched by JFK Partners' Colorado Office of Employment First

The Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) and JFK Partners, the University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Colorado, is proud to announce a partnership with the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council (CDDC) that launched a new statewide training, "A Brighter Future: Navigating the World of Disability and Employment."

3/15/2023

Iowa's Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Launches Training Series

Iowa's Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health (CEBH) recently launched a virtual training series, which will help build the capacity of Iowa's providers to ensure people with serious mental illness have access to the treatment they need to help them live healthy, meaningful lives in the community. CEBH is one of the newest grant programs based at Iowa's UCEDD, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD, Iowa's UCEDD).

3/15/2023

University of Kansas Black Feathers Podcast

Hosted by mental health experts Crystal Hernandez, who has a doctorate in psychology, and Shauna Humphreys, a licensed professional counselor, "Black Feathers" is a product of the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ongoing Longitudinal Data Project of National Significance and produced with support from the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD), a part of the KU Life Span Institute. Episodes focus on Native American experiences with intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health, anxiety disorders and health care access, among other topics.

3/15/2023

WI LEND Names New Director

Gail S. Chodron, PhD, was recently named director of the Wisconsin LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) program, located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Waisman Center UCEDD. Dr. Chodron was a WI LEND trainee in 2007-2008 and has been part of the WI LEND faculty ever since, most recently serving as training director.

3/14/2023

HDI DEI Director Earns Prestigious Award from American College Personnel Association

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute's director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a recipient of a prestigious award from one of the country's leading organizations for student affairs professionals. Nicholas Wright, Ph.D., has earned the Annuit Coeptis Award for Emerging Professional from the American College Personnel Association - College Student Educators International (ACPA).

3/14/2023

UCEDD Volunteer Wins 2023 President's Volunteer Award

Racheal Barnes, volunteer with the Training, Resources and Information for the Advancement of Disability (TRIAD) Service program, was recognized with a 2023 President's Volunteer Service Award in the Lifetime Achievement category. Racheal served four years as a national service member with the TRIAD program and has been a volunteer for the past seven years.

3/14/2023

WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities Launches New Podcast Series

Adjusting the Sails is a podcast aimed to discuss the lives and specific challenges children with special health care needs and other disabilities and their families, caregivers, and service providers face, and how to manage those challenges. The podcast will serve as a platform for all disability-related topics to be discussed and as a mediator between families and caregivers to share their stories and experiences. The podcast will feature guest speakers, panelists, and a variety of program representatives and service providers to offer education and training to the listener. This podcast is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health/Children with Special Health Care Needs Program and the West Virginia Family 2 Family Health Information Center and produced by the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

3/13/2023

Boy Scout Returns to MMI

A boy scout who received his autism diagnosis at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute more than a decade ago returns to build toys for children with developmental disabilities as his Eagle Scout project.

3/13/2023

Dr. McNally Keehn Selected to be Health Equity Research Scholar

Dr. Rebecca McNally Keehn, Research Director at the Indiana LEND, has been selected to participate in the Health Equity Research Scholars (HERS) Program, a 9-month faculty-development program for faculty at Indiana University School of Medicine.

3/13/2023

Educating Legislators and Policymakers Through Storytelling and Legislative Visits

Each year, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, in collaboration with The Arc Tennessee and AbleVoices, produces a collection of stories and images that highlight the challenges individuals with disabilities and their families face as they navigate service systems and supports in the state of Tennessee. Kindred Stories of Disability highlights a different topic in each issue and is shared with Tennessee legislators and policymakers to educate them with first-hand accounts from constituents in their districts.

3/13/2023

The State of HDI Podcast Explores Alternate Augmentative Communication

Dr. Jacqui Kearns discusses communication and alternative augmentative communication and how she collaborates to ensure all students in school can communicate.

3/13/2023

UCONN UCEDD Awarded National Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Development Equity Center

Mary Beth Bruder, PhD Director of UConn UCEDD & LEND and Tawara Goode Director of Georgetown UCEDD & LEND has been awarded a $10 million federal grant by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education, to provide technical assistance to increase equity in the delivery of early childhood intervention services to infants and young children from diverse backgrounds who have disabilities or developmental delays.

3/10/2023

CAR Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Elizabeth Kaplan- Kahn Featured on Autism Science Foundation Podcast

Parents of Autistic Children Who Are Minimally Veral or Have Intellectual Disability Needed for Online Study (580KB) [download]

The Center for Autism Research (CAR) Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Elizabeth Kaplan- Kahn was featured on #ASFpodcast! The CAR team is working to improve a measure of Quality of Life for autistic individuals who are minimally verbal or have cognitive disabilities. These individuals may have different outcomes as other autistics, but their responses are just as important.

3/9/2023

Future TBI Treatments May Hinge on Understanding a New Cell Type

In a new paper published in GLIA, investigators from Children's National Hospital reviewed 25 years of neuroscience research to lay out what's known about the molecular response of these NG2-glia cells after TBI. Researchers said they see "a seductive possibility" that tapping into the regenerative potential of NG2-glia cells after neurotrauma could lead to therapies in the future.

3/6/2023

Autism Across the Life Span Annual Conference

Autism Across the Life Span brings together researchers, students, educators, people with autism and their families to Overland Park, Kan., on March 24. Presented by the Kansas Center for Autism Research & Training at the University of Kansas Life Span Institute, the conference will feature presentations from nationally recognized scientists, as well as discussions on inclusion in research, neurodiversity, transitions in life and more.

3/6/2023

Autism Combined with High IQ Increases Risk of Suicidal Thoughts

Twice exceptional youth-children who have a diagnosis of autism and who also have exceptional cognitive ability-are at increased the risk of suicidal thoughts, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Iowa Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center.

3/6/2023

Honoring Judy Heumann

"A civil rights champion, mentor to so many, and friend to all, Judy believed all of us with disabilities deserved better. She cultivated generations of leaders to make it happen. The AUCD network is grateful for her lifelong commitment to access and equity for all disabled people." - John Tschida, Executive Director of AUCD

3/2/2023

Through the eye of the beholder

A study recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience, lead by researchers at the IDDRC at the University of Rochester, finds the process in our brain that allows us to see visual distinctions-like how the empty space between four Pac-Man shaped figures can make a square-may not be happening the same way in the brains of children with autism spectrum disorder. They may not see the square at all. It suggests that something is going awry in the feedback processing pathways in their brain.

2/23/2023

The Special Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Issue of DDNJ Out Now

This special issue focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) will spur thought, discussion, and a renewed focus on creating genuinely inclusive supports and programs. This special issue is a DDNJ and the AUCD Multicultural Council (MCC) collaboration. Guest editors for this special issue are Lydia Ocasio- Stoutenburg (Penn State) and Jacy Farkas (Sonoran UCEDD). The Developmental Disabilities Network Journal is a project of the Utah State University Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (UCEDD).

2/22/2023

2023 NIRS Formularios en Papel

2/22/2023

Alzheimer's Progression in Down Syndrome Appears Similar to Other Genetic, Early Onset Forms of the Disease

NIH-funded study suggests people with Down syndrome may benefit from Alzheimer's disease treatments. The study was conducted by Beau Ances, M.D., Ph.D., of Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) and the Alzheimer's Biomarkers Consortium-Down Syndrome (ABC-DS).

2/21/2023

Disability Policy News

Congress; HCBS; Energy and Commerce; Mentorship; Autism; COVID-19

2/21/2023

Virtual Reality May Help Smooth Out Disconnects Between Vision and Hearing

Sensory inputs that neurotypical people perceive as simultaneous are sometimes perceived as separate in autistic individuals, such as the sight and sound of a bouncing ball. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researchers are now closely examining the ways autistic brains perform when it comes to processing and merging visual, auditory, and tactile information. The step may lay the foundation for interventions to improve sensory integration.

2/16/2023

AUCD 360 - February 2023

2/16/2023

Dr. Jennifer Coto, Recipient of the Mentored Translational Research Scholars Program Award

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Coto, a previous psychology LEND trainee, now assistant professor. She received the Mentored Translational Research Scholars Program Award.

2/16/2023

Iowa Promotes Competitive Integrated Employment through Participation in ASPIRE

Iowa was selected by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, as one of seven states participating in the second round of the ASPIRE Initiative-Advancing State Policy Integration for Recovery and Employment. Iowa is one of four states that participated in the first round of the initiative, with the overall goal of promoting competitive integrated employment for individuals with mental health conditions by aligning state policies, programs, and funding.

2/16/2023

MMI's Adaptive Toys Program Keeps Spreading Skills

A group of 10 families, as well as volunteers from the Munroe-Meyer Institute, gathered at the Munroe-Meyer Guild Institute in early December, all hoping to make the holidays brighter for young family members with disabilities.

2/16/2023

New Associate Director Named at The Florida Center for Inclusive Communities

Dr. Boone is a professional dedicated to working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida in 2001, completing pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships in pediatric psychology at the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE, and a second postdoctoral year as a LEND fellow at the Westchester Institute for Human (UCEDD).

2/15/2023

Call for UCEDD LEND ECHO Organizations

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities is inviting organizations across the network to join the newly formed UCEDD LEND ECHO Collaborative. These monthly calls are open to any UCEDD or LEND program that is currently replicating or interested in implementing the ECHO model. The collaborative will allow UCEDD, LEND, and partner agencies to share successes, challenges, and strategies in using the ECHO model to build capacity throughout their programs supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.

2/15/2023

Clinician, Researcher Lead New Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center in Iowa

Ted Abel, PhD, and Lane Strathearn, MBBS, PhD, are leading one of only 15 federally funded intellectual and developmental disabilities research centers in the country. The new Hawk-IDDRC [Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center] integrates the efforts of researchers in the Iowa Neuroscience Institute (INI) and clinicians in the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), part of University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, to connect basic and clinical research across the lifespan.

2/15/2023

Dr. Kuhn Honored with National Innovation Award

Brett Kuhn, PhD, a diplomat of behavioral sleep medicine and professor of psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute and UNMC, was honored with the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine's 2022 Outstanding Innovation in BSM Service Delivery Award. Dr. Kuhn directs the behavioral sleep medicine clinic at the Children's Sleep Disorders Center, where he supervises medical residents, sleep fellows and psychology interns in the assessment and treatment of pediatric sleep disorders.

2/15/2023

GaLEND Alumna Selected as the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation Public Policy Fellow

Catherine Citta, a 2021 alumna of the Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (GaLEND) program at Georgia State University, has been selected as the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation's Public Policy Fellow for 2023.

2/15/2023

LEND and NERGN DNA Today Podcast/Spotify 

Betsy Humphreys, Karen Volle, and NH-ME LEND trainee Karina Mancini were interviewed for the "DNA Today" podcast by host Kira Dineen. The interview explores how LEND and NERGN (New England Regional Genetics Network) support training of future interdisciplinary leaders.

2/15/2023

Maine LEND Family Games and Sports are Hot on a Cold Day

It was below zero on Saturday, Feb. 4, but no one was cold at the University of New England in Portland, Maine where 59 people played games, engaged in creative crafts, and fully participated in new sports activities as part of the Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Family Game and Sports Day! The events were planned as part of the LEND program to promote family-centered inclusion in the community for people with disabilities.

2/15/2023

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI UCEDD) Receives Grant to Support Aging Caregivers of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI UCEDD) at Wayne State University has received a two-year, $400,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. The Hope for Aging Caregivers project will work to improve the lives of aging family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

2/15/2023

New HDI Project to use Universal Design to Create Inclusive Student Environments

The Human Development Institute's new project will fund universally designed spaces for students at Berea Community School, a high school, to allow students to build meaningful connections. Berea is a Title I school that faces persistent poverty, low educational attainment, and low attendance and graduation rates compared to the state of Kentucky.

2/15/2023

Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program at UTHSC Receives $1.87 Million Grant

Following a competitive application process with the TN Department of Children's Services, the UTHSC Center on Developmental Disabilities' Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program (SCRCP) has been awarded a 30-month contract in the amount of $1.875 million dollars. SCRCP provides a broad array of services for relative caregivers and their families living in Shelby County, including family advocacy, short-term case management, emergency one-time financial or start-up assistance, material assistance, teen activity groups, caregiver respite and enrichment, caregiver support groups, educational workshops, and information and referral. Free developmental screenings for children in relative care will be added as a new service.

2/15/2023

Survey to Understand the Barriers to Including People with Disabilities in Clinical Trials

The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) at Indiana University is partnering with Disability Solutions and Bristol Myers Squibb to develop a deeper understanding of the barriers to including people with disabilities in clinical trials with a goal of ultimately reducing and eliminating those barriers.

2/15/2023

The Inclusive Dojo: HDI training supports martial arts instructors in transforming training spaces

Darrell Mattingly, computer specialist at HDI, developed HDI's Adaptive Martial Arts training course, which teaches martial arts instructors about disability etiquette, universal design and how to adapt their teaching to be inclusive of students with disabilities. Mattingly serves as president of the Adaptive Martial Arts Association, which offers further resources for both students and instructors.

2/15/2023

The IOD Welcomes Its First Director of Operations

On March 6, 2023, the IOD will welcome its first Director of Operations, Lisa Leach. Lisa brings new and diverse leadership experience in healthcare and human services to this position. The IOD Director of Operations will provide leadership and support for core functions across IOD projects and programs in the areas of HR, office management, staff development, and technology. She will work as a member of the IOD Management Team.

2/14/2023

Ariel Schwartz Named Assistant Research Professor and Director of UNH-4U

The Institute on Disability (IOD) is pleased to announce that Ariel Schwartz, PhD, has joined the IOD as an Assistant Research Professor, and will also serve as the Director of UNH-4U. Prior to coming to the IOD, Schwartz was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA.

2/14/2023

Collaborating for Mental Health

MN LEND fellow Caroline Roberts is studying self-injury among adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Despite their busy schedules, psychiatrists and behavioral therapists are eager to participate in the research.

2/9/2023

New Imaging Technique Reveals Circulation Patterns in Developing Brain

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, an AUCD IDDRC, created a new technique for tracking circulation patterns of fluid through the brain and discovered, in rodents, that it flows to areas critical for normal brain development and function. Further, the scientists found that circulation appears abnormal in young rats with hydrocephalus, a condition associated with cognitive deficits in children.

2/8/2023

Federally Funded Studies into Treatment for Chronic Conditions Overlook Efficacy in Adults with Autism, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Research Finds

Physical health disparity conditions in autistic adults have not been the focus of any research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the last four decades, an analysis of a federal database found. Using the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results (RePORTER) database to determine whether the NIH has funded any research related to physical health disparity conditions in autistic adults, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher T.A. Meridian McDonald, Ph.D., used 30 separate searches to discover that "autism" is often used as a key term - not the target population. Results of the study are published today in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD), a top autism research journal.

2/6/2023

Rates of Autism Increase, but Numbers Don't Paint the Full Picture

Headlines over the past 20 years have signaled ever-increasing recognition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Now, in a new article published in Autism, IDDRC network researchers describe their own estimates of how many children across Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Primary Care Network have been diagnosed with ASD. What they found highlights the importance of tracking and unpacking the numbers of diagnoses to identify areas for continued improvement.

1/30/2023

Federal surveys fail to count 20 to 43% of individuals who are disabled

A recent study at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital used SPARK data to identify a new class of moderate-effect genes that are associated with less likelihood of intellectual disability and may reveal more about autism and brain development.

1/27/2023

AUCD 360 - January 2023

1/27/2023

Biomarkers Can Help Improve Clinical Trials for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

In the past decade, many large-scale randomized controlled pharmaceutical clinical trials for children with neurodevelopmental disorders have struggled to demonstrate child clinical changes. In a recent study, researchers from University of Washington IDDRC discuss how biomarkers can help improve clinical trials for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

1/23/2023

Disability Policy News

Congress, Budget, COVID-19, Medicaid, Education

1/20/2023

2023 EHDI Conference Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

AUCD is offering scholarships to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Annual Conference on March 5-7, 2023. All current LEND audiology trainees, including those in their externship year, are eligible to apply.

1/20/2023

SPARK Uncovers Moderate-effect Genes that Cause Autism

A recent study at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital-one of AUCD's Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers or IDDRCs-used SPARK data to identify a new class of moderate-effect genes that are associated with less likelihood of intellectual disability and may reveal more about autism and brain development.

1/18/2023

AIR-P Update January 2023

AIR-P held its fourth Research Day, at the AUCD 2022 conference, November 13-16th! For the first time, our sessions were threaded throughout the conference and fostered meaningful connections with fellow attendees. Highlights from our sessions include:

1/18/2023

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) is pleased to announce the launch of a new State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) website. SPHARC is a comprehensive web-based resource center intended to provide ongoing technical assistance and facilitate cross-state learning to increase the capacity of states in developing and implementing systems of care for children and youth with ASD/DD.

1/17/2023

Zebrafish Advance as a Model Organism for Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X Syndrome is the most common inherited form of autism, caused by variants in the FMR1 gene. Scientists have developed animal models of the disorder to better understand the consequences of the genetic mutation and to see if they can intervene. In a recent study in The Journal of Neuroscience, Geoffrey Goodhill, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology at Washington University School of Medicine, and his team describe the utility of zebrafish larvae in recapitulating features of Fragile X.

1/13/2023

A Roadmap for Advancing Family-Engaged Developmental Monitoring

Download Roadmap (3,687KB) [download]

The purpose of A Roadmap for Advancing Family-Engaged Developmental Monitoring is to introduce and describe family-engaged developmental monitoring (FEDM) as a key component of a framework for children's healthy development and family wellbeing that includes developmental promotion, FEDM, screening, referral, and receipt of services.

1/12/2023

A Look at the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design. In this program, students learn about and benefit from Universal Design's broad set of strategies that promote inclusion and participation of all people.

1/12/2023

Aggie ACHIEVE Program Celebrated Friendsgiving

The Aggie ACHIEVE students and staff helped prepare a turkey and cooked recipes during their independent living seminar. Everyone helped contribute to the pot luck and they celebrated inclusion with their Aggie ACHIEVEMates.

1/12/2023

An Overview of the Resource Finder at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities

The Resource Finder is a project of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD), housed within Kennedy Krieger Institute. The project provides a valuable tool for patients, students, families, and professionals, allowing them to obtain information and access resources on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Community members can call, email or submit an online form requesting information, resources, or services based on their specific needs. The program coordinator, Kristine Nellenbach, compiles and disseminates personalized resources and information in response to every inquiry that is received. The Resource Finder is available to anyone, regardless of age, location, language, or disability.

1/12/2023

Delaware LEND Gets New Co-director

Dr. Sarah Mallory has joined Dr. Beth Mineo as co-director of the Delaware LEND program, led by the University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies. The Delaware LEND is part of a "national network" of training programs for pre-professionals, professionals, self-advocates and family members that promotes interdisciplinary, culturally competent, family-centered care.

1/12/2023

Dr. Arnold receives the American Psychiatric Assocation's 2023 Frank J. Menolascino Award

Congratulations to Dr. Arnold at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center who will receive the American Psychiatric Assocation's 2023 Frank J. Menolascino Award for Psychiatric Services for Persons with Intellectual Disability/Developmental Disabilities. This award will be presented at the APA Annual Meeting in May.

1/12/2023

GEAR UP's First Faculty Fellow, Mrs. Young-Weatherspoon from Hearne High School

The Heart of Texas GEAR UP program is a grant project funded through the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of this project is to support and empower the Class of 2026 to fulfill their potential in order to achieve post high school success. The Heart of Texas GEAR UP is partnered with Bryan and Hearne ISDs to serve students in the class of 2026.

1/12/2023

HDI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Invites Wider UK Community to Seek Out HDI Resources

"There's only so much time on this earth, and the majority of our life is really spent asleep. Next to that, it's spent at work," said Dr. Nicholas Wright, UK Human Development Institute Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "So I want to make sure people understand they can be their authentic self. They can be genuine, and they have a sense that they matter here."

1/12/2023

HDI's New Project Aims to Enhance Photography of People with Disabilities

A newly funded Fund for Excellence Project, will provide HDI and other organizations with accurate photographs of people with disabilities and will also provide a modeling opportunity for people with disabilities.

1/12/2023

Iowa's UCEDD Leads EPSDT Shared Language Initiative

The Care for Kids grant program team at Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD, Iowa's UCEDD) is leading a Shared Language Initiative to support the work of the state's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) interagency stakeholder workgroup. The Shared Language Initiative is intended to develop a list of common terms and concepts to be used by our stakeholder workgroup and agencies to make it easier for patients, families, and providers to better understand EPSDT benefits and how they differ from other insurance benefits like CHIP. The Initiative will also support statewide efforts to promote EPSDT and its services, and meet EPSDT goals.

1/12/2023

Jennifer Sulewski Named Associate Director and Assistant Research Professor at the Institute on Disability

The Institute on Disability is pleased to announce that Jennifer Sulewski, PhD, has been named Associate Director of the Institute on Disability (IOD), as well as Assistant Research Professor. As a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston, Sulewski brings knowledge and an interest in community life engagement, evaluation, community building, and employment services and supports to this new and unique position at the IOD.

1/12/2023

JFK Partners Approved for $2,780,297 Million for a Study Comparing Approaches of Two School-Based Interventions to Manage Anxiety in Autistic Students

A research team at University of Colorado School of Medicine, JFK Partners, led by Judy Reaven, Ph.D. has been approved for a $2,780,297 million funding award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study A Comparison of Two School-Based Interventions to Manage Anxiety in Autistic Students.

1/12/2023

Kentucky Employment First Welcomes Katie Wolf Whaley as New Council Chair

On December 2nd, 2022, Kentucky welcomed Katie Wolf Whaley as the new chair of Kentucky's Employment First Council. Employment First practices the idea that competitive integrated employment should be considered the first and primary option for people with disabilities who are eligible and desire to be employed. Simply put, it is the idea that everyone has the right to work!

1/12/2023

Marnie Morneault Appointed as Chair of Maine's Interagency Coordinating Council (ME UCEDD)

Marnie Morneault, a research associate from the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD) has been appointed as Chair of Maine's Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC). The ICC is a required component of the early intervention system in every state.

1/12/2023

MMI Showcases an Inclusive Holiday Scene

Rachel Mulligan, a part-time employee at the Munroe-Meyer Institute who loves to draw and create characters, is the designer of MMI�s holiday card for this year. Mulligan drew a winter scene that reflects characters with different disabilities, including one person who uses a wheelchair, someone with cerebral palsy who uses crutches and a person with autism who uses a voice box.

1/12/2023

MN LEND Fellow Elected to School Board

Kim Baker (MN LEND 2019-20), a special education supervisor and parent of three students with disabilities, was elected to the Lakeville (Minn.) Area School Board in November. Her four-year term begins January 1, 2023.

1/12/2023

PATHS Students Get Creative!

PATHS Program students participated in two art projects this semester. The first one was in October in awareness of Hispanic Heritage month, where students learned to work with crepe paper to make paper flowers. The November art project gave students the opportunity to prepare for Christmas. They learned to paint ceramic Christmas ornaments. It was the perfect time to relax and mentally prepare to finish the semester strong. All of the students did an amazing job!!!

1/12/2023

Playtime is Serious Business

Everyone knows that the holiday season is one of the most popular times of year to buy toys. IOD blogger Kathy Bates wondered about the role of assistive technology in making toys easier and more fun to play with for children with disabilities. Discover what she learned in her latest blog post "Playtime is Serious Business."

1/12/2023

Sensory Bags Available for First Time at Texas A&M Graduation Ceremonies

St. Joseph Health Therapy partnered with the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University to provide some help to people with sensory sensitivities.

1/12/2023

South Carolina LEND Trainee Receives Prestigious Genetic Counseling Award

Mr. Scott Dent, a 2nd year genetics counseling masters student and South Carolina LEND trainee has been recognized for excellence in his field.. The Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship Student Research Award is intended to support research in the profession that addresses advances in genetic technology, along with the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of genetics in medicine.

1/12/2023

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Launches Project STEER

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center is proud to announce the launch of our Project STEER (Stakeholders Engaged in Early Intervention Research) website! The website contains a variety of resources related to early autism intervention research and consultation, including an early autism intervention Research Agenda created by our stakeholder teams, and a Consultation Workbook to guide researchers in their efforts to collaborate effectively with autism community stakeholders.

1/12/2023

UCCEDD Receives NIDILRR Grant to Study Ableism

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) has awarded the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) a Field Initiative (FI) Project Grant to study the impacts of internalized, interpersonal, and systemic ableism in healthcare services and systems.

1/12/2023

UNC ACL Initiative Supports Summits for Education and Employment

UNC Chapel Hill and the new ACL Initiative "Work Togther NC" Supports Summits for Education and Employment to further its efforts to expand opportunities for transition aged youth into meaningful work life experiences.

1/12/2023

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Celebrates Special Education Professor Erik Carter's Student Mentorship, Community Impact Ahead of Departure

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) and the Vanderbilt Peabody College Department of Special Education held a joint farewell celebration on Dec. 14 to give their best wishes to longtime faculty member Erik Carter, Ph.D., as he prepares for the next phase of his career. Elise McMillan (gray haired woman wearing a white suit) hands a framed painting to Erik Carter (a tall man with salt and pepper hair and beard wearing a plaid button-down and khaki pants.)

1/10/2023

Spontaneously arising variants in FRMD5 gene are associated with a novel neurological disorder

A study led by Dr. Hugo Bellen, investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) and distinguished service professor at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), reports de novo variants in a gene involved in regulating cellular motility to be the underlying cause of a new neurological disorder characterized by intellectual disability, motor dysfunction, seizures, abnormal eye movements etc.

1/9/2023

Disability Policy News

Congress; Budget; Policy Priorities; NIH; CDC; COVID

12/23/2022

AUCD 360 - December 2022

12/21/2022

Brain networks associated with intellectual development in autistic children

Because of this, very little is known about how brain development differs between autistic individuals with and without intellectual disability. Identifying brain differences between these groups could be useful in helping us to better understand autism, in predicting outcomes and in guiding the selection of appropriate supports. The UC Davis MIND Institute Autism Phenome Project (APP) [MRS1]�is a longitudinal study that that has been following a cohort of autistic children from 3 years of age through late adolescence (age 18).

12/19/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; ABLE; COVID-19; Assistive Technology

12/19/2022

Frankenberg Visiting Professorship for Early Development and Behavior Challenges in Primary Care

Dr. Pamela High, director of Rhode Island LEND and Brown University�s Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics fellowship program, was honored to be invited as the 10th visiting professor for the annual Frankenberg Visiting Professorship & Lectureship at the Children�s Hospital of Colorado.

12/19/2022

Immediate Impact: Article Sparks Ukrainian Connection

When Safia Dockter began writing and speaking about the atrocities of the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, it helped her process what was happening to the country where her mother was born and where she still has relatives. What she didn�t know then was how quickly her words would turn into action for one little girl. Safia, a psychology student who co-wrote an article for the MN UCEDD is helping a young war refugee from Ukraine adjust to kindergarten in Minneapolis. They speak Ukrainian together.

12/16/2022

JEDI-Minded for Disability

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)-Minded for Disability is a collaborative project with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (home of LEND-Pitt), medical students, and community stakeholders which aims to close the gap in undergraduate medical education regarding disability care. While there have been meaningful changes in health professional curricula to address certain healthcare disparities and improve cultural competency, people with disabilities are a population often not considered part of these initiatives.

12/12/2022

Georgetown UCEDD Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week

During the week of December 5-9, 2022, the Georgetown University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) celebrated and participated in Inclusive Schools Week in the District of Columbia (DC). Inclusive Schools Week celebrates the progress schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to students with disabilities. GUCEDD became involved in this celebration through the encouragement of community partners, Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services (DRDC) and Advocates for Justice and Education (AJE).

12/12/2022

Lighting the Way: JFK Partners Self-Advocacy Director Robin Ennis

Robin Ennis, LCSW, is Self-Advocacy Discipline Director for Colorado's JFK Partners LEND program. Robin, a woman with a developmental disability, is the first person to serve as The Self-Advocacy Director at JFK Partners, but her leadership is nothing new. Robin unexpectedly lost her sight as a college freshman, due to Hydrocephalus, sparking her commitment to human services and support of others with disabilities. In 2009, she earned an MSW at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (Denver, CO), which prepares graduates to forge a more socially just world. Robin has since been doing exactly that, adding certifications in Grief Recovery (2011), Life Coaching (in 2014), and a license in Clinical Social Work (In 2018) to her armamentarium!

12/12/2022

Reaven Receives PCORI Funding for "A Comparison of Two School-Based Interventions to Manage Anxiety in Autistic Students"

In November, Colorado's JFK Partners LEND/UCEDD Associate Director Judy Reaven, PhD, was awarded a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI grant). PCORI funds comparative clinical effectiveness research to enable patients and other healthcare decision makers to make well-informed health and intervention choices. Over the last decade, Dr. Reaven, JFK Partner's faculty/trainee research team, and colleagues around the nation have published a solid record of evidence establishing the effectiveness of Facing Your Fears (FYF), a group cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). FYF may be implemented in clinic or school settings to reduce anxiety experienced by children and youth with autism, or autism and intellectual disabilities.

12/12/2022

Serving Underserved Communities: Therapies for Hope

Therapies for Hope is a new non-profit agency in the greater Denver area that offers interdisciplinary therapies to children with developmental disabilities and their families. The children served have autism, Down syndrome and other cognitive impairments, physical disabilities (such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida), augmentative and alternative communications needs, and other severe and profound disabilities. The program seeks specifically to serve children from historically underserved communities by offering therapy intensives, during school breaks, at no cost to families.

12/12/2022

Timotheus "T.J." Gordon Jr. among Crain's Chicago Business 2022 Notable Black Executives and Leaders

Timotheus "T.J." Gordon Jr. '19MS DHD, a research associate in the Institute on Disability and Human Development who works toward self-advocacy and racial equity in disability culture, was included on the Crain's Chicago Business list of Notable Black Executives and Leaders for 2022.

12/7/2022

2023 IOD Calendar

For 20 years, the IOD has produced beautiful, full-color calendars featuring original works of art coupled with inspirational quotes. This year, we decided to shake things up a bit. To commemorate this 20-year milestone, we have put together a special edition calendar'a "best of" featuring artwork from the past 20 years along with their original quotes. Calendars are printed in full color with dimensions of 11.75" x 11.75". Buy yours today -only $10!

12/7/2022

Ask Kathy - The IOD's Q&A Column

Introducing "Ask Kathy" - the IOD's Q&A column, where Kathy Bates responds to your questions about all things disability, including disability rights, representation, language, pride, identity, and more! Have a disability-related question? Send it to Kathy and receive an informative and honest response on our website.

12/7/2022

NASW New Hampshire JEDI Conference

On December 1, Heidi Cloutier and Kathy Francoeur presented at the NASW New Hampshire JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion) Conference in Manchester, NH. Kathy presented her poster "Fostering Resilience to Support Transition-Age Youth" and Heidi presented her poster "Addressing Youth Substance Misuse through Peer Support."

12/7/2022

New Video on the COVID-19 Pandemic's Impact on People with Disabilities in Indiana

The Indiana Disability History Project has produced a video about the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic for Hoosiers with disabilities. Themes that emerged over two years of remote interviews include a heightened awareness of health disparities, challenges to mental health such as social isolation and loss, and a stressed system of disability services.

12/7/2022

NRCN PSA: The COVID-19 Vaccine is Good for your Health

Get the COVID-19 vaccine so you can protect your health and the health of those around you. Ask your teacher, doctor, or a close family member where you can get vaccinated, or visit www.covid-resources.org.

12/7/2022

Violence & Aggression in Health Care: A Report Prepared for the NH Health Care Violence Prevention Consortium

New research from the NH Healthcare Violence Prevention Consortium (NHHVP) puts a spotlight on the incidence and consequences of violent events within New Hampshire's hospitals. Over 200 staff from six New Hampshire emergency departments responded to the survey conducted during the summer of 2022, sharing multiple insights into not only the challenges but potential solutions as well.

12/6/2022

New Article Published on LIFE Framework to Develop Emerging Leaders

A new article was published by Dr. Sharon Milberger and MI-LEND Program colleagues from both Wayne State University and Michigan State University. The article, entitled "Using a LIFE Framework to Develop MCH Leaders", examines the impact that the MI-LEND 'LIFE' framework has on the development of essential competencies identified within the leadership program.

12/6/2022

Ruby Natale (UM UCEDD) is Recipient of the Micah Batchelor Award for Excellence

Ruby Natale, PhD, PsyD was honored with the 2022 Micah Batchelor Award for Excellence in Children's Health Research. As a recipient of this award, Dr. Natale's work will be focused on Improving the Social-Emotional Development and Resiliency of At-Risk Preschool Children in Childcare Centers using a Mobile Application. This award will allow her team to fulfill an important need in the community which is to improve early childhood resiliency and reduce problematic behaviors within early care and education centers through the use of a mobile app, Jump Start on the Go.

12/5/2022

$3M Award to Boost IDD Research at KU

The University of Kansas has awarded the KU Life Span Institute a $3 million grant to expand the organization's capacity, staff, recruitment, and training in intellectual and developmental disability research.

12/5/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; Elections; ABLE; FDA; COVID

12/5/2022

Va-LEND Assistant Director Presents at the Division for Early Childhood and International Society on Early Intervention Fall Joint Conference

Collaboration, teamwork, and leadership are fundamental to Va-LEND. Jackie Robinson Brock, MSW and Assistant Director of Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Va-LEND), demonstrated them all at the annual Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and International Society on Early Intervention (ISEI) Joint Conference held in Chicago this past fall.

12/3/2022

Closing Plenary on Trauma & IDD

Jason Fogler & Amy Szarkowski (LEND program at Boston Children's Hospital) gave the closing plenary at the Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Psychological Association. Their talk was entitled, �Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Addressing Trauma and Honoring Lived Experiences.�

12/1/2022

FEMA Welcomes New National Advisory Council Members

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced today the appointment of 16 new members and 3 returning members to the agency's National Advisory Council. Members appointed included two AUCD territory members and the new council chair is a Tribal representative.

12/1/2022

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Launches Season 2 of BoggsCast

The second season of BoggsCast, a podcast by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, launched in October. Hosted by faculty and staff, often alongside co-hosts with lived experience with disability, episodes of BoggsCast explore best practice, showcase success stories, and help listeners envision possibilities for the future through interviews with state and national experts.

11/30/2022

Congratulations to Dr. Gene Arnold for receiving the Elaine Schlosser Award

Dr. Arnold, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, received the Elaine Schlosser Award for Research in ADHD at the October AACAP meeting in Toronto. This $5,000 prize will be assigned to a new development fund called New Treatment Research fund.

11/30/2022

Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health: Birth to Five to Host Kick-Off Event

The Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health: Birth to Five (GA-AIMH), housed in the Center for Leadership in Disability at the Georgia State University School of Public Health, will hold a Kick-Off event on November 2. The event, which will celebrate the establishment of GA-AIMH and look ahead to opportunities to expand Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) initiatives, will draw more than 200 IECMH leaders from across the state.

11/30/2022

MN LEND Fellow is Removing Barriers for Massachusetts Families

Summary: After completing a master's degree at Harvard University, Julia Anderson (MNLEND 2016-17) is turning her experience in disability policy to a new task: innovating state programs for Massachusetts.

11/30/2022

MN UCEDD's Certificate: A Deeper Understanding of Disability

The MN UCEDD jointly offers the Disability Policy and Services Certificate to students who want a deeper understanding of disability. Akeem Anderson, a University of Minnesota J.D./Ph.D. student interested in the intersection of race, health, and law, is adding the Institute's Disability Policy and Services Certificate to his already hefty academic pursuits.

11/30/2022

Special RDS Issue on Disability & Sub-Saharan Africa Now Available

The Center on Disability Studies at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, College of Education, is pleased to announce the release of an Extended Special Issue of Review of Disability Studies: Understanding Disability in Sub-Saharan Africa. The double issue (pp. 343) is now available at https://rdsjournal.org .The interdisciplinary issue features renowned guest editors Elvis Imafidon (University of London) & Charlotte Baker (Lancaster University), two preeminent scholars on disability & Sub-Saharan Africa.

11/29/2022

Biennial Community Partnership Celebration

Every two years, Community Crossroads hosts a premiere Biennial Community Partnership Celebration, and this year, it was held on October 13 at the Atkinson Country Club & Resort. Student Kate Lonergan of UNH College of Health and Human Services was in attendance and won the Outstanding DSP Award, as was UNH-4U student Andrew. Two NH Leadership Series grads also took home awards: Regan Lamphier ('17) won the Kathleen Murphy Community Partnership Award and James Watson ('14) won the Outstanding Achievement Compass Award.

11/29/2022

UK HDI Fund for Excellence Award to fund Bluegrass Mountain Biking Accessibility Initiative

Kentuckians will soon have access to an adaptive mountain biking trail, thanks in part to an internal grant funded by the UK Human Development Institute. The trail, to be built by the Kentucky Mountain Biking Association, will be designed with the interest of people with disabilities at the forefront, prioritizing input and feedback from trail users with disabilities.

11/28/2022

Autism research is a family affair: Steps toward increasing inclusion and diversity

As a research team working with children and adolescents with autism in the Bronx, a racially, ethnically and culturally diverse borough of New York City, we have seen the significant barriers to research participation that families in our area face. Research is an essential step toward improving outcomes of individuals with autism. When research involves children, parents and caregivers make major contributions to the study process by enrolling their children in research, carving out time to bring their children to the research setting, and providing important information about the child's strengths, needs, and developmental and intervention histories. Unfortunately, the racial and ethnic diversity of the US population is not well-represented in many research studies and research findings often do not generalize to excluded groups. This lack of representation in research contributes to health disparities.

11/28/2022

Presenting Research and Partnerships in Innovative Ways

Va-LEND Assistant Director Jackie Robinson Brock leads the Early Childhood Partnerships initiative. This project is a innovative virtual collaboration among three Universities, and their Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) and University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) programs. The project created a mechanism for sharing knowledge and expertise for interdisciplinary leaders in the early childhood field for young children (0-8 years of age) with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

11/28/2022

The Maine LEND Family Picnic

Food and friendly fun were themes of the 2022 Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Family Picnic held at the Portland Campus of the University of New England on September 24. The picnic has been an annual LEND event with the goal of supporting families in the community and spearheading Family-Led partnerships which are integral to the training program.

11/28/2022

UCEDD Success Stories - University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development

In the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, there was a big push to increase access to vaccines. In Alaska, a group of organizations came together and formed the Alaska COVID-19 Vaccine Accessibility Partnership. This group focused on vaccine access for individuals with disabilities, completing projects and sharing information to better serve the needs of all Alaskans. This partnership was facilitated by Sondra LeClair, Community Services Director with the University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Human Development (UAA CHD). The Partnership took on two major projects. The first project focused on the development and distribution of a survey by UAA CHD with input from individuals with disabilities as well as their support systems.

11/22/2022

2022-2023 AUCD Children's Mental Health Champions

AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health continues its work with the Children's Mental Health Champions project for a third year. This project is made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Building on the efforts of Champions from 2021-2022, twelve Champions were selected for 2022-2023 to continue to provide timely support for children and their families.

11/22/2022

Welcome Newly 2022 Elected Board Members

On behalf of AUCD Nominating Committee Chair Tawara Goode and Board President Danny Armstrong, AUCD is pleased to announce the newly elected members of the Board of Directors. These new members will begin their three-year term after the passing of the gavel at the 2022 AUCD Conference closing plenary. Congratulations!

11/21/2022

2023 Texas Transition Conference registration is open!

The TRAIN Scholars Project, a collaborative partnership between the University of Oklahoma and Texas A&M University, aims to develop competencies necessary to engage in rigorous applied research to advance the field of special education transition.

11/21/2022

AK LEND fellow YouTube Series Make Art Your Way

Alaska LEND Without Walls fellow Kara Thrasher-Livingston created a video series called "Make Art Your Way". This video series encourages you to experience making art and think about your abilities and interests. Join presenter Kara to learn ways to think about making art your way. This series is meant to be an encouraging introduction to examples from art history, basic art materials, techniques you can use to make your art look pro, and ideas about showing and selling your art.

11/21/2022

ASL Team delivers services at Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness

This past October, the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting Team, housed at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, traveled to Orlando, Florida to deliver services at the Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness (SERID) Conference.

11/21/2022

New Associate Director Named at IOD in Pennsylvania

Kathryn (Katey) Burke, PhD, has been named the Associate Director of the Institute on Disabilities (IOD) at Temple University, College of Education and Human Development. Katey has been serving as a Senior Research Associate at the IOD and as an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning since August 2019. Katey will continue as an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, in addition to her new role within the IOD.

11/21/2022

New Fellowship Program Connects with Communities

The MN LEND at Institute on Community Integration is mentoring community members, providing resources, networking connections, and technology to help Minnesota families. Projects have included online resources for providers supporting new Somali mothers.

11/21/2022

Pam Flaherty Named Executive Director of the National Center for START Services

Pam Flaherty, a leader of educational programs that include students with disabilities, has been named executive director of the National Center for START Services (NCSS) at the University of New Hampshire�s Institute on Disability (IOD), effective December 5, 2022. In her new role, Flaherty will lead approximately 40 NCSS employees who initiate and support START programs and partnerships in 27 states across the country. START programs provide crisis intervention and prevention for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health needs (IDD-MH) and their families.

11/21/2022

Time to Change Our Thinking About Disability in Kentucky

Roughly one in three people in Kentucky have a disability. Recent data found 75% of Kentuckians without disabilities are employed, compared to 32% of those with disabilities. Before COVID, 84% of Kentucky employers had job vacancies. Now the workforce itself is undergoing shifts, as workers quit their jobs, reimagining their worker-identity and work preferences, and restructuring their work-life balance.

11/21/2022

Utah's Institute for Disability Names New Service Division Director

Dr. Curtis Phillips is the new IDRPP Service Division director' and he comes to the job at a busy time. His division is expanding its service offerings, both online and in-person.

11/21/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) celebrates 10 years of TennesseeWorks

A little over 10 years ago, a group of motivated and caring people worked with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) to form what they chose to call TennesseeWorks, and this group had one goal in mind: to increase the number of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are employed in Tennessee.

11/21/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) produces new video, Belonging in Faith Communities

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) strives to foster communities of belonging for people with disabilities and their families. Communities in which they are invited, welcomed, befriended, and embraced. Religious congregations can and should be places of deep belonging, where people with disabilities can worship, learn, and serve as indispensable members and fellow friends. Check out the VKC's new video, "Belonging in Faith Communities," which illustrates why belonging matters so much and what true belonging looks like in two Nashville-area church congregations.

11/4/2022

Welcome to the 2022 Council Trainee Representatives!

We are pleased to announce our 2022 Council Trainee Representatives.

11/1/2022

Liz's Top 10 Favorite Places to Visit in DC

If you find yourself with free time before or after the AUCD 2022 Conference, consider visiting one of Liz's favorite places in DC. Liz Weintraub is Senior Advocacy Specialist at AUCD and the host of Tuesday's with Liz. Read on for a list of her recommendations!

11/1/2022

UCEDD Success Stories - Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the UC Davis MIND Institute

The Child Life Team at the UC Davis MIND Institute had a goal to provide COVID vaccinations to vaccine hesitant individuals with disabilities who had previously experienced medical trauma, while providing informed training to medical staff. This initiative has transformed what we initially would think of as your standard vaccine clinic into a reimagining of what these clinics can and should be. The clinic was designed by Erin Roseborough and Veronica Tuss, certified Child Life Specialists at the UC Davis MIND Institute, who partnered with family navigators. Standard large vaccine clinics can be loud and overwhelming which the team found were not a good fit for many vaccine hesitant individuals. Through this new clinic, they wanted to create a clear understanding of what accommodations can be made to modify the environment to make these procedures more successful for neurodivergent individuals and their families.

10/25/2022

An Examined Life: Disability Policy, Autism Research, and Me

Gyasi Burks-Abbott, Autism Advocate, Author, and Inaugural Lived Experience Faculty of the LEND Program at Boston Children's Hospital, presented the Keynote on the last day of the Neurodiversity Summit at Stanford University this fall. He most recently presented a version of this talk to students and faculty at Tufts University in December. Congratulations, Gyasi!

10/25/2022

FDA Grants Special Designation to Friedreich's Ataxia Treatment

A potential new therapy for the progressive neurological disorder, Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) was granted Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on study findings led by a neurologist at CHOP which is one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers.

10/19/2022

Jeiri Flores Publishes Reflection on Disability and Womanhood

The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is proud and honored to recognize Jeiri Flores' recent publication through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation blog: "Ain't I a Woman?" a stunning piece on womanhood and its intersection with other identities.

10/17/2022

2023 Texas Transition Conference registration is open!

We look forward to having you join us, live or online, on February 15-17, 2023 for the Texas Transition Conference! For those opting to attend live, we'll be back at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. Note that registration for the virtual event will be limited. Those who pay before 10/21/22 will qualify for the early bird rate.

10/17/2022

ACL Launches Center to Improve Support for People with IDD/MH

ACL has awarded a cooperative agreement totaling an estimated $3.25 million over five years for a national technical assistance and resource center that will improve support for people with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health needs so they can live and participate in their communities. The grant was awarded to the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) in partnership with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), and the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD).

10/17/2022

Aggie ACHIEVE is Now Accepting Applications For Fall 2023!

Aggie ACHIEVE at Texas A&M University is a comprehensive transition program (CTP) for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who have exited high school. Aggie ACHIEVE provides an inclusive and immersive college education and equips students for employment in the community. Aggie ACHIEVE aligns coursework, internship opportunities, and extracurricular activities with each student's academic interests and employment goals. Aggie ACHIEVE is designed to enroll students for up to four years.

10/17/2022

AUCD 360 - October 2022

10/17/2022

Bill Gaventa Blog Post: Including God in Person-Centered Planning (ME UCEDD)

Guest contributor William (Bill) Gaventa, M.Div., recently submitted a blog post, "Including God in Person-Centered Planning: The Importance of Spirituality" to the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD's) Equity and Policy Blog. In his post, Bill describes the importance of exploring the spiritual backgrounds, preferences and interests of people we support through person-centered planning. He suggests that good person-centered thinking gets at the many stories that people are part of or would like to be part of.

10/17/2022

Culturally Relevant Trauma Training Video Developed by Georgia State's Center for Leadership in Disability

Researchers from the Center for Leadership in Disability in the Georgia State University School of Public Health have created a trauma training video module that covers the complex needs of Latinx immigrant and migratory children in Georgia.

10/17/2022

iGROW Giddings Student Highlight

The IGROW Project at Texas A&M University recognizes Brian as an Outstanding Student! Joel Lopez, Mayor of Giddings and owner of Lopez Auto Clinic, surprised iGROW student Brian D., with a special gift at our fall Project Advisory Committee meeting this past Monday. Brian had a compelling work experience with Mr. Lopez after completing a spring prep semester in the iGROW program at Giddings High School and was excited to share his experience with the PAC,

10/17/2022

IOD Seeks to Hire Three Assistant Research Professors

The Institute on Disability (IOD) is seeking three Assistant Research Faculty to join our team. Research faculty within the IOD maintain portfolios on diverse topics related to disability policy and services across the lifespan. IOD Assistant Research Professors play a direct role in improving the quality of life and services for people with disabilities and their families through research and service.

10/17/2022

Jennifer Maeverde (ME UCEDD) Selected for Daniel Hanley Center's Health Leadership Development Course

Through a highly competitive application process, Jennifer Maeverde, M.A., LCPC, from the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD), has been selected for the 2022-2023 Health Leadership Development course sponsored by the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership in Portland, ME.

10/17/2022

Kansas LEND Dr. Kathy Ellerbeck Retires

Last week we said "see you later" to Dr. Kathy Ellerbeck after 22 years with Kansas LEND at the Center for Child Health and Development at KU Medical Center. Dr. Ellerbeck served as the Kansas LEND Director from 2014 to 2019 and is a Developmental Pediatrician that held leadership positions within state and national organizations. Throughout her career she cared for thousands of children and their families as well as taught and made a lasting impression on hundreds of medical and clinical students at the Medical Center and other academic institutions.

10/17/2022

Kendra Gottsleben is Recipient of Prestigious Diversability Recognition

The Sanford School of Medicine's Center for Disabilities staff member Kendra Gottsleben Disabilities (SD UCEDD/LEND) has received international recognition by Diversability as one of its "D-30 Impact" 2022 honorees.

10/17/2022

New Co-Director of the Washington University in St Louis IDDRC

Joseph Dougherty, PhD., Professor of Genetics and Psychiatry at Washington University in St Louis, will join Dr. Christina Gurnett, MD, PhD as the Co-Director of the Washington University Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC@WUSTL). He will replace John N. Constantino who has assumed the role as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's first system chief of Behavioral and Mental Health, and Emory University School of Medicine professor in the Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics.

10/17/2022

NH-ME LEND Welcomes 2023 Cohort

On September 9 and 10, the NH-ME LEND Program welcomed the 2023 cohort! LEND faculty members from UNH, Dartmouth, and the University of Maine gathered with 19 trainees to participate in a meet and greet, followed by an afternoon of team building at the UNH Browne Center. Trainees and faculty continued their work on Saturday at the Leadership "Boost"-a full-day introductory session on leadership through a LEND lens. NH-ME LEND is pleased to welcome two new CHHS faculty members this year" Meg Morgan (Communication Sciences and Disorders) and Sarah Smith (Occupational Therapy). For a complete listing of NH-ME LEND faculty, please visit https://iod.unh.edu/nh-me-lend/people

10/17/2022

Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) Certificate Program Registration Begins on November 1st

The Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) Certificate Program prepares individuals for jobs as Direct Support Professionals and Child Care Professionals. Students begin the two-year PATHS Certificate program with a Summer I session. This enables students to get familiar with the campus and bus schedules and begin their course work.

10/17/2022

The Black Feathers Podcast

Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) has joined with The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (The State of the States) to launch The Black Feathers Podcast. In this monthly podcast, co-hosts Crystal Hernandez, Psy.D., MBA, and Shauna Humphreys, MS, LPC, will discuss disability-related topics of interest to Tribal communities, and will be providing additional resources related to these topics; to learn more about The Black Feathers Podcast and join the discussion, please visit https://kucdd.ku.edu/black-feathers.

10/17/2022

The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia

Meet the Fall 2022 Cohort of Professional Fellows! This group of eight accomplished disability rights leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia will travel to the United States in October 2022 to participate in an intensive 5-week Fellowship Program where they will exchange and discuss best practices for inclusive civic engagement with their US colleagues.

10/17/2022

UVM Autism Collaborative Receives $350K for Rural Autism Outreach

A University of Vermont team focused on health care and research related to autism has received two awards totaling $350,000, through the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards program. The two projects will make possible year-long outreach efforts to collaborate with the autism community in Vermont and organizations that represent diverse stakeholders.

10/17/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) co-authors: Early work experiences are important for subsequent employment for youth with disabilities

A primary purpose of special education is to equip students with disabilities for a flourishing future after graduation. Yet, the employment outcomes of youth with disabilities have continued to lag far behind their peers without disabilities. Researchers found that, in most studies, youth with disabilities were much more likely to obtain work after participating in a school- or community-based intervention. These researchers identify the strategies most likely to be effective and suggest areas for improvement in the quality of future studies. These findings and more may be found in an article written by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) co-authors and published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation*.

10/14/2022

High School Students with Disabilities Achieve Better Outcomes in Inclusive Academic Settings

Indiana high school students with disabilities who spent 80% of their educational time in general education classrooms scored higher on state reading and math assessments and were better prepared for postsecondary education and employment opportunities than their peers in less inclusive settings, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers.

10/14/2022

Mailman Center Faculty Member Receives Health Care Hero Award

Mailman Center for Child Development faculty member Tiffany Field, Ph.D., was one of three physicians from the University of Miami to be honored at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) recently hosted the 23rd Health Care Heroes Awards Luncheon. Dr. Field received the Individual of Merit Award for her pioneering work on the role of touch in infants and attachment.

10/14/2022

Testing Inclusivity and Innovation Benefits All

Researchers at UW School of Medicine, one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers, wanted to find a way to help students with I/DD and staff safely return to schools while maintaining the needed standard of care. Since masking and social distancing practices were difficult to enforce in this school setting, researchers believed that increased testing would help control the spread of COVID-19.

10/14/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center LEND Program

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's 2022-2023 LEND interdisciplinary training program is in full swing, and we are so happy to welcome our trainees for this year! The LEND program recruits graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and community leaders to participate in a year- long interdisciplinary training curriculum focused on improving the health of children with developmental disabilities and their families.

10/14/2022

UNH's Institute on Disability to Continue Support for NH Residents

The University of New Hampshire received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue its support of the one in eight New Hampshire residents who report having a disability, including serious difficulties with vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, self-care or independent living. The award will allow the Institute on Disability (IOD) to continue serving as New Hampshire's designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).

10/14/2022

University of Arizona LEND Changes in Leadership

Eileen R. McGrath, Ph.D. is the new Program Director and Principal Investigator for the University of Arizona LEND MCH Training Program (ArizonaLEND). For the past 12 years, she has been the LEND Co-Director and Training Director.Andrew W Gardner, PhD, BCBA-D is the new Training Director for the University of Arizona LEND MCH Training Program (ArizonaLEND). Dr. Gardner has been serving families of children with behavioral challenges over the past 25+ years across clinic, home, school, and public settings in both English and Spanish.

10/14/2022

University of Miami Health System Partners with Shriners Hospital for New Children's Orthopedic Center

A vital new partnership with Shriners Hospitals for Children has led the way for UHealth - University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System to create a sophisticated facility dedicated to programs and treatments that will help pediatric orthopedic patients.

10/10/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; ABLE Age; TCIEA; Education; Assistive Technology

10/5/2022

Visual Illusions help us understand visual processing in autism

Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers, have found that children on the autism spectrum may not fill in missing information to see shapes in the same way as neurotypical children. This may mean that children on the autism spectrum are more likely to see the details of an object rather than putting those details together to see the big picture.

10/4/2022

Changing the Way We Care for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

To support clinicians and health system leaders in understanding and combating the barriers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities face when accessing health care, AUCD has partnered with Community Catalyst, clinicians and self-advocates to produce this series of two educational videos.

10/3/2022

The prose of Dr. Seuss shines a light on how the brain processes speech

Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers, have expanded the understanding of how the brain is engaged during complex audiovisual speech perception. The study now out in NeuroImage, describes how listening and watching a narrator tell a story activates an extensive network of brain regions involved in sensory processing, multisensory integration, and cognitive functions associated with the comprehension of the story content. Understanding the involvement of this larger network has the potential to give researchers new ways to investigate neurodevelopmental disorders.

9/26/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; DSP; Education; ABLE Age; TCIEA; NDEAM

9/23/2022

AUCD 360 - September 2022

9/20/2022

How Neuroscience Informs Our Understanding of Autism

Co-directors of the Iowa Hawk-IDDRC, Lane Strathearn, MBBS, PhD, and Ted Abel, PhD discuss the new Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center in today's Rounding@Iowa podcast, and how neuroscience informs healthcare, education, support services and public policy for individuals with autism.

9/19/2022

Celebrating 25 Years of Va-LEND and Beyond

A Chinese proverb states that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, and the second best time is now. The Va-LEND (Virginia Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) program was established over 25 years ago and is planting new seeds for the next generation of maternal and child health leaders. It all began with recognizing an opportunity.

9/19/2022

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2022

Throughout the month of October, The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) is hosting a series of activities in conjunction with National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). National Disability Employment Awareness Month is part of an annual awareness campaign designed to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's national theme is "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation." Each year, IDS receives permission from the Department of Labor to adapt the national poster into a Mississippi focused one featuring youth and young adults with disabilities.

9/19/2022

Dr. Bates Attend Year 2 of Leadership and Economic Development Program

Dr. DeMetra Bates, Executive Housing Director, The University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), has recently completed the Year 2 of the 36th annual Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas on August 5, 2022. Dr. Demetra Bates was selected as a scholarship recipient for the Community Development Institute for the second consecutive year in June 2022.

9/19/2022

IDS Staff Members Participate in World Series of Wheelchair Softball

The Institute for Disability Studies offers a variety of year-round adaptive recreation and sports programming, including Quidditch, wheelchair basketball and tennis. Recently, two staff members, Sylvester Crosby and Robbie Sullivan, joined their Deep South Hurricanes teammates to represent Mississippi in the 2022 Wheelchair Softball World Series (WSWS) August 4-6 in Crestwood, Illinois.

9/19/2022

Indiana LEND Fellow Wins SDBP Research Award

Dr. Ann Marie Martin, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Indiana LEND, has been awarded the 2022 Research Grant Award from the Society for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Research Committee. Photo Alt text: Image of a young woman with long brown hair and brown eyes. She is smiling at the camera.

9/19/2022

Labas Reflects on Maine Partners' Collaboration to Create a Professional Pathway for TA Professionals Supporting ME's Early Childhood Workforce

Linda Labas, who recently retired as early childhood coordinator for the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), Maine's UCEDD, wrote a reflection on a multi-year collaboration with three state partners that created a set of competencies and a credential for technical assistance (TA) professionals who support Maine's early childhood workforce.

9/19/2022

New Director for the PATHS Program at Texas A&M University Announced

The PATHS Program at Texas A&M University would like to welcome Leticia LaSota to the PATHS family! Leticia comes to us from Emporia State University in Kansas and is now our new Director for the PATHS Program! Leticia has a wealth of experience at the postsecondary level and brings with her some amazing ideas that will be valuable as we continue to grow and expand. Welcome to the PATHS family, Leticia!

9/19/2022

New Frontline Initiative: Diverse Voices

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals and the MN UCEDD have released the latest issue of their joint publication, Frontline Initiative. This issue, available in English and Spanish, is about the diverse voices of direct support professionals.

9/19/2022

PATHS Student, Noah Stormski, Presented on Vaccine Hesitancy

Noah Storemski is a second-year student participating in the PATHS program with the 2021 co-hort. He is currently studying under the Direct Support Para-Professional track and fulfilling his practicum. He has been hired to work with Vanessa Richard, Program Coordinator, of a grant through Administration for Community Living (ACL) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

9/19/2022

The 2022-2023 Work-Based Learning Application is Available Now!

Project TAPP-Teaching, Autism, and Practitioner Preparation.Our team provides a series of workshops, followed by 3 months of follow-up support, to paraprofessional and teacher teams working with students with autism in Texas.During follow up, we provide check-ins, resources related to the workshops, and individualized support based on need.

9/19/2022

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute Welcomes Five New Staff Members

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute recently hired five new staff members. This article introduces each staff member including their current title, summary of their position, education background, and relevant work history.

9/19/2022

Transition Through a Global Lens

The new issue of Impact, which is the flagship publication of the MN UCEDD, is about transition in a global context for people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities.

9/19/2022

Why is it so difficult to change ableist language?

We have moved away from using many words with harmful and oppressive connotations over the past couple of decades, but why has knowledge, understanding, and change of ableist language remained limited?

9/19/2022

WVU CED Launches New Disability Micro-credentials/Badges for Faculty and Staff

Informational Flyer (285KB) [download]

A new micro-credential (badge) available at West Virginia University focuses on disabilities and disability services and supports within the university setting (https://cedwvu.org/badges/). Specifically designed for faculty, instructors and staff from any university, this badge series provides information you may choose to use for: Enhancing your classroom environment and course experience for students. Enhancing your clinical/professional first impressions with patients and clients.

9/16/2022

Mild traumatic brain injury increases risk of behavioral and emotional problems in kids

Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers, found children with a mild TBI experienced a 15-percent increased risk of an emotional or behavioral problem. The risk was the highest in children around ten years old. This study used MRI and behavioral data from the Adolescence Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The University of Rochester is one of 21 sites collecting data for this study.

9/16/2022

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Launches Community Life Video Series

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ UCEDD/LEND) launched a new Community Life Video Series created through funding from New Jersey's Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities and in partnership with people with developmental disabilities. The Community Life Video Series is meant to illustrate key concepts of the federal Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule which requires that people with developmental disabilities have full access to community life and receive services in the most integrated setting possible. In each video, people with developmental disabilities share why community life and aspects of the Rule that support it are important to them.

9/15/2022

Building Futures Together Recognition Ceremony

On May 24, the Building Futures Together program held a recognition ceremony on campus for its trainees. Fifteen paraprofessional trainees from the first cohort received Certificates of Completion for Level 2 (on-the-job training) and 20 paraprofessional trainees from the second cohort received Certificates of Completion for Level 1 (didactic coursework training). Congratulations to all!

9/15/2022

Georgetown UCEDD Hires New Associate Director

The Georgetown UCEDD hired Pamala Trivedi, PhD, NCSP, to be the new Associate Director. Dr. Trivedi Pamala is a licensed psychologist, nationally certified school psychologist, policy expert, and applied behavioral health researcher with more than two decades of experience supporting children, youth and adults across a range of developmental levels, as well as the providers and families who care for them.

9/15/2022

Neurodiversity in the Workplace A Collaborative National Conference

Join the collaborative conference that brings together a community that is committed to improving employment outcomes for the neurodiverse workforce. Through collective impact, we will engage in dynamic discussions, learn from expert presenters, and build a network of change-makers who utilize diverse and inclusive employment practices. This conference empowers employers to build a dynamic workforce and enhance the workplace.

9/15/2022

New Hampshire Leadership Series Spring Awards Night

At the NH Leadership Series Spring Awards Night held at UNH Manchester on June 7, many Leadership alumni, family, friends, and IOD staff were present to reunite, network, and connect in the unique way all Leadership graduates and family do. Folks also attended virtually via Zoom, which was a first for the series and a fantastic way to share the experience with those unable to attend in person.

9/15/2022

The "I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work" (iGROW) Project

The "I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work" (iGROW) Project is a one-year pre-employment and leadership-training program for up to 20 students with disabilities who are currently enrolled in middle school and high school (ages 14-22). The purpose of the program is to provide a training environment to support students with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.

9/15/2022

The 2022 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award Staff Winner

Ashley Salmon, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research Associate at the Center for Leadership in Disability at the School of Public Health has been awarded the 2022 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award.

9/15/2022

UNH-4U Accepts Two New Students

Two new students have been accepted into the UNH-4U program. Grace and Nolan will be joining the four current UNH-4U students this fall on the Durham campus. The new cohort of students will be taking classes in various colleges, participating in student life activities, and accessing the many benefits and opportunities that college life provides to young adults. Welcome, new Wildcats!

9/14/2022

Alaska Traditional Transition Skills Curriculum

The Alaska Traditional Transition Skills curriculum project goal is to improve the quality of life, connection to local community, and increase work related skills for teens and young adults with disabilities who live in rural Alaska. It provides tools teachers can use to incorporate traditional values and knowledge into Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Transition Plans. Though each chapter of this project ties to the cultural values and topics of a specific region of Alaska, the skills can be used and adapted.

9/14/2022

Dr. Arnold, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Receives Elaine Schlosser Award

Dr. Arnold, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, will be receiving the Elaine Schlosser award for research in Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder at the October American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) meeting. This 5k award will be put towards the New Treatment Research Fund. Congratulations Dr. Arnold for receiving this prestigious award!

9/14/2022

Frontline Initiative: The Diverse Voices of Direct Support Professionals

he new issue of Frontline Initiative features diverse voices of 18 direct support professionals from underrepresented communities, broadening our understanding of lesser-heard voices. Funded in part by AUCD, this free newsletter, published bi-annually by the Institute on Community Integration and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, is for DSPs and frontline supervisors who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in living the lives they want in their communities of choice. Alt text for photo: A store employee with his direct support professional. Both people are Black.

9/14/2022

Inaugural "The Style Show: A Runway to Empower"

Rare by Design hosted their inaugural event "The Style Show: A Runway to Empower" to give a platform, or in this case a runway, for all. Rare by Design was founded by Kendra Gottsleben, a marketing and communications specialist with the University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities (SD UCEDD/LEND). Gottsleben is a disability/rare disease advocate, author, and seeks to expand the region's diversity mindset. that makes us beautiful.

9/14/2022

Joan Beasley, PhD, Promoted to Research Professor

Institute on Disability (IOD) is proud to announce the promotion of Joan B. Beasley, PhD, to Research Professor at the University of New Hampshire. The promotion is granted to faculty who have a background in successful research, marked by maturity and experience that have earned them a national or international reputation in their field. UNH research faculty bring a substantial proportion of the university's external funding, mentor graduate students, and deepen scholarly life across campus.

9/14/2022

MN LEND fellow co-founds Minnesota Autistic Alliance

Milena Bates (MN LEND 2021-22), co-founder of the Minnesota Autistic Alliance, is recruiting self-advocates for new projects supported by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Cultivate, a 10-hour online self-advocacy course covering how to identify needs, navigate barriers, and understand intersectionality (among other topics), begins August 23. It is designed for and by neurodivergent self-advocates. Lattice is a partnering program that will connect a team of three partners best suited to the support needs of a self-advocate. The group also is recruiting writers for an accessible, digital resource database.

9/13/2022

Screen Time Associated with Increased Inattention and Hyperactivity and Lower Language Scores in Young Children

In a new study of 36-month-old children showed that between a control group, children with an autism diagnosis, and children with ADHD symptoms, children with more inattention and hyperactivity had more screen time. They also had lower language scores. The root cause is still unknown, and this could be correlation. Children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders had a negative association with screen time.

9/9/2022

NIH Awards $100 Million for Autism Centers of Excellence Program

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a total of $100 million over the next five years to support nine Autism Centers of Excellence (ACEs). This endeavor funds large research projects to understand and develop interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Created in 2007, the ACE program is renewed every five years.

9/6/2022

Building Community Capacity for Accessible Vaccine Events

The UCEDD in the Institute on Development and Disability at OHSU worked with the Oregon Health Authority to create resources for vaccine events to be more inclusive. They made videos, guides, and checklists to go with a boxed kit of accessibility tools. This will help people with disabilities and people who speak languages other than English get vaccines in their communities. There are more videos and resources coming soon.

8/30/2022

FY 2023 Paper Forms

8/29/2022

AUCD 360 - August 2022

8/29/2022

Children with autism report greater gender diversity: study

Children with autism report higher rates of gender diversity - the way an individual experiences gender, which may be different from the gender they were assigned at birth - than their typically developing peers, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researchers have found.

8/29/2022

Funding Opportunity: Children's Mental Health Champions

Attachment 1. 2022 CMH Champions Logic Model 8-22.pdf (136KB) [download]

Attachment 2. TEMPLATE CMH Champions Workplan.docx (39KB) [download]

Through a cooperative agreement, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will support a pilot program of Children's Mental Health Champions. This funding opportunity is limited to AUCD network members in any state or Territory. The Champions will support AUCD's evaluation of the Children's Mental Health Champions program by documenting and reporting project activities and measurable process outputs and short-term outcomes via program reporting forms conducted at the two-time points (mid-year and end of the program year). AUCD staff will be available to support Champions in different components of the program, including providing training and technical assistance as needed.  

8/25/2022

LEND Family Mentorship Models

LEND Family Mentorship Models (1,761KB) [download]

The long-awaited LEND Family Mentorship Models are here! This document was written by LEND programs for LEND programs and contains several different versions of this experience from across the network. The LEND Family Discipline Network (LFDN) hopes you will use this document to help inspire or develop your own family mentorship experience in your LEND program.

8/23/2022

Mike Hoenig's Retirement Signals the End of an Era for Iowa's UCEDD

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), Iowa's UCEDD, is celebrating the end of an era. Mike Hoenig, long-time program coordinator for the UCEDD, has retired after twenty-nine years of service at CDD. Hoenig has played an integral role in a variety of programs and projects, including Living Well Iowa, our state's version of Living Well with a Disability.

8/22/2022

2022-2024 AUCD Emerging Leader Board Member

AUCD Board - Emerging Leader Nomination Form (56KB) [download]

The AUCD Board of Directors is seeking nominations from the network's Emerging Leader community to fill the newly created Emerging Leader Board Member voting position on the Board. The Emerging Leader Board Member will be a voting member on AUCD's national Board of Directors and serve as a representative of the Association and broader AUCD network. This position will bring the voice and perspective of the AUCD Emerging Leader Community, including but not limited to trainees and early career professionals in the network.

8/22/2022

CMS Offers Roadmap for States to Help Connect Children with Complex Medical Conditions to Critical Medicaid Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), recently unveiled guidance on a new Medicaid health home benefit for children with medically complex conditions.

8/15/2022

New Horizons of Discovery on Sex Differences in Autism

The sex ratio for autism, 3 boys for every girl, occurs long before the time of puberty and is observed in all populations around the world, but its cause has remained a mystery. The Washington University Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center has been hard at work for years trying to uncover the biology of this profoundly influential sex difference. This year, the IDDRC team joined the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative Collaboration on Sex Differences in Autism, an international effort to combine the technologies and work of a select group of scientists around the world to further advance understanding of the biological mechanisms that distinguish males and females in the recognition, expression, and incidence of autism.

8/12/2022

Inclusive, Accessible Health Care the Focus of Free Continuing Medical Education Course

A new Continuing Medical Education (CME) course aimed at facilitating more equitable and accessible health care for patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) is available through the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. The CME is a free and self-directed online course for physicians, nurse practitioners, and other licensed health care providers who require continuing education. Course completion grants three CME credit hours toward license renewal.

8/9/2022

ANCOR's COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit

Developed by ANCOR with funding from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), "As a DSP It's Up to Me" recognizes that people with I/DD should be able to live and thrive in their communities. We want them to live where they want to live, with whom they want to live. We want them to have jobs that are fulfilling to them. And we recognize achieving these goals requires isolating people with I/DD from the dangers of COVID-19. With a goal of keeping people with I/DD and the people around them safe and healthy, The COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit was designed with ANCOR members and other community providers in mind. You are an essential partner for this initiative, and these tools were designed for you-to make it as easy as possible for you to engage with your colleagues on the frontlines to get vaccinated.

8/9/2022

Wyoming Institute for Disabilities Speech-Language Pathologist Wins Distinguished Educator Award

Wyoming Institute for Disabilities speech-language pathologist has won the Bright Star Award for Distinguished Educators, presented by the Wyoming Governor's Council on Developmental Disability.

8/8/2022

CDD Psychologist Makes Going to the Dentist a Team Effort

A psychologist at Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development worked with a patient to create a successful visit to the pediatric dentistry clinic.

8/8/2022

New Certificate in Disability Rights, Policy, and Services (C-DRPS) at Indiana University

A new graduate certificate program, the Certificate in Disability Rights, Policy, and Services (C-DRPS) has been introduced at Indiana University Bloomington because of a partnership between the School of Education, School of Social Work, and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC). The C-DRPS program provides students the opportunity to explore critical concepts impacting the lives of individuals with disabilities across the lifespan.

8/8/2022

NH-ME LEND 30th Anniversary Video

The NH-ME LEND Program celebrated its 30th anniversary by creating a 7-minute captioned video that features LEND trainees, alumni, and staff reflecting on what LEND means to them and the impact it has had on their lives. The video was produced by the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability/UCED.

8/5/2022

University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies July 2022 eNewsletter

View the latest issue of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies eNewsletter.

8/5/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Introduces New Toolkits Promoting Neurodiversity and Self-determination in Early Childhood Services

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) recently introduced two brand-new educational resources promoting neurodiversity and self-determination in early childhood services. The toolkits were created by the VKC Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorder (TRIAD) and the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND Training Program.

8/3/2022

ToTAL Summer Enrichment Academy 2022

For the first time since 2019, the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) Summer Enrichment Academy provided in-person options to youth and young adults wanting to increase their employability skills. Beginning in 2018, IDS, through its Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) Program, has hosted youth and young adults for a multi-week training and internship experience during the summer.

8/2/2022

Equitable Health Care for LGBTQIA+ Individuals with Disabilities: A New Frontier for Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) and the Tennessee DD Network

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center leaders serve on the Executive Diversity Council for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). In Tennessee, the VUMC Program for LGBTQ Health is one of the only networks in the Southeast with health care providers who understand and welcome sexual and gender minorities. However, the Center does not have specific training in disability. We know we must forge a new frontier.

8/2/2022

Inclusive, Accessible Health Care the Focus of Free Continuing Medical Education Course

A new Continuing Medical Education (CME) course aimed at facilitating more equitable and accessible health care for patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) is available through the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

8/1/2022

Call for Research Project Proposals: National Research Consortium on MH/IDD at the University of New Hampshire

NRC Request for Applicants 2022.docx (195KB) [download]

The National Research Consortium (NRC) on Mental Health in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MH-IDD) is seeking innovation research grant proposals with a focus on improving the health and well-being of individuals with IDD-MH.

8/1/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; Reconciliation; Education; 504; Subminimum wage; HCBS

8/1/2022

Engineering non-hallucinogenic versions of psychedelics to treat psychiatric conditions

Psychedlic drugs like MDMA and LSD can promote neuroplasticity and help treat some mental illnesses in autistic adults. To lessen the risk of dangerous side effects, the Olson Lab created safer, non-hallucinogenic psychedelics that show promise in models.

8/1/2022

PEERS for CAREERS

There will be an estimated 700,000 autistic adults aging into adulthood over the next 10 years. Yet, a staggering 80% of autistic adults are unemployed. The UCLA PEERS for Careers program was developed to address the challenges faced by autistic young adults in their transition from college to career and to create a scalable solution to employment barriers faced by autistic individuals to serve as a model of higher education training for colleges across the country.

7/27/2022

Autism characteristics in individuals with Down syndrome

There is still much to be understood about the presentation of autism symptoms in individuals with Down syndrome, as some of the core characteristics of autism may overlap with intellectual disability. Individuals with Down syndrome and co-occurring autism tend to have more severe rigid and repetitive behaviors and greater challenges with social communication than do individuals with Down syndrome alone. However, the degree to which symptoms can be attributed to each condition remains understudied.

7/27/2022

Decline in looking at faces may signal onset of autism in infants

A new study from UC Davis Mind Institute supports earlier findings that children who were diagnosed with autism at age 3 had a decreased level of eye gaze as infants compared to children without autism. This gives new insights into development trajectories and may help children get identified earlier.

7/27/2022

Developing innovative methods to study the human genome

Medium or large changes to the genome are called structural variations (SVs). SVs are tied to many different diseases and conditions. Researchers at UC Davis Mind Institute are developing new models to understand and study SVs.

7/27/2022

The brains of children with autism may not always 'see' body language

Noticing and understanding what it means when a person leans into a conversation or takes a step back and crosses their arms is a vital part of human communication. Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester have found that children with autism spectrum disorder may not always process body movements effectively, especially if they are distracted by something else.

7/27/2022

The role of maternal autoantibody exposure in brain development and behavior in autism

A recent collaborative effort by MIND Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) investigators Judy Van de Water, Jill Silverman, and Jacqueline Crawley, as well as researchers from Canada and the United Kingdom, used an animal model to evaluate the effects maternal autoantibodies on offspring brain development.

7/26/2022

IGROW Project at Texas A&M University Student Highlight

The future is looking pretty sweet for this amazing young lady! M.W. spent her summer exploring the world of baking and bakery ownership with Liz Smith of Country Road Baking Co.

7/25/2022

Community Supports in Crisis: No Staff, No Services

All the progress toward community living that has been made in services for people with IDD over decades is now in jeopardy because of catastrophic labor shortages and pervasive high turnover rates in the direct support workforce. This white paper from ICI and its partners at HSRI and NASDDDS explores the depth of the crisis in the workforce and the impact on people with IDD and sounds the alarm about the nature and scope of the workforce crisis in the IDD service system.

7/25/2022

Fall CampLIFE to Take Place October 21-23, Registration to Begin August 1

LIFE - it stands for Leadership, Independence and Friends through Experiences, and it's what embodies the spirit of Camp LIFE, a unique and inclusive camping adventure for children with disabilities and their siblings. Held twice a year at the barrier-free facilities of Camp For All in Burton, Texas, Camp LIFE provides recreation for children ages 5 and up with disabilities and their siblings while offering a weekend of respite for their parents.

7/25/2022

MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley is working with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) IDD-BH Unit to administer and disperse Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Pandemic Emergency Assistance Funds (PEAF), which was authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (HR 1319). The TANF PEAF addresses housing and ancillary needs of needy families in which dependent children have or reside with a family who has a diagnosis of a mental health condition, intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), and/or substance use disorder and who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the provision of direct financial assistance or services aimed at short-term stabilization efforts for families.

7/25/2022

Project TAPP Now Offering Professional Development for Teaching Teams at No Cost

Texas A&M University's Project TAPP is excited to provide professional development for teacher and paraprofessional teams working with students with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will receive two-days of PD workshops in autism and. related interventions and follow-up support during the school year.

7/25/2022

Reduced levels of IGF-1 levels in the brain found to be an underlying cause for infantile spasms, hinting at a novel therapy

A breakthrough study from Baylor College of Medicine IDDRC-one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs)-has found an underlying cause & novel therapy for infantile spasms, a severe epilepsy in babies.

7/22/2022

AUCD 360 - July 2022

7/20/2022

CT UCEDD, AUCD, and National Partners Bring Disability Awareness and Inclusion Plenary Session to SOPHE 2022 National Meeting

The UConn UCEDD training director and coordinator of the Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health, Dr. Tara Lutz, was asked to moderate Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) 2022 first-ever plenary on disability and public health. Over 140 participants attended the March 25 virtual event.

7/20/2022

KU Multidisciplinary Team Awarded Research Rising Grant

The University of Kansas (KU) has selected a proposal submitted by the KU Life Span Institute for funding under the Research Rising initiative. The goal of the project, Advancing Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research at KU, is to transform understanding of and support for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

7/20/2022

Mailman Center for Child Development Publishes Annual Report

The Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami highlights innovative research, clinical services, and training in its 2018-2021 Annual Report.

7/20/2022

Maine LEND Final Presentations Demonstrate Leadership

The Maine LEND graduated 12 Trainees from the program in May 2022. As part of demonstrations of Maternal and Child Health Competencies and LEND tenets, the Trainees each participated in an elective project that was presented at the end of April.

7/20/2022

Maine LEND Leadership at Health Careers Camp

The Maine LEND program led two one-hour activity sessions focused on the work of health professionals who work with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families at the Annual Health Careers Explorations Camp at the University of New England.

7/20/2022

OHSU UCEDD Addresses Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

In 2021, the Oregon Health & Science University UCEDD partnered with the University of Southern California UCEDD at Children's Hospital Los Angeles to host an Emergency Preparedness webinar for people with disabilities. Then, after a winter of severe storms and early extreme heat waves in the Pacific Northwest, the OHSU UCEDD hosted a second webinar in 2022.

7/20/2022

RTC:Rural - Participatory Curriculum Development for Health and Independent Living for Disabled People: A Qualitative Study of Participant Experiences

A host of RTC:Rural researchers worked with Center for Independent Living staff members through participatory curriculum development to create and update curriculum for in-person, web-based delivery. Engaging members of the intended audiences in the curriculum development process in this way is a relatively new approach to health promotion. Developing curriculum for and with disabled people had not previously been done, and is shown to be a valuable, worthwhile approach.

7/20/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) ASD Study Explores Link Between Repetitive Motion, Depression

Research into depression risk and resilience factors for adults with ASD is also critical to guide proper screening and intervention efforts, said Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) member Jessica Schwartzman, Ph.D., author on a Frontiers in Psychiatry paper that examined the connection between repetitive behaviors and depression in autistic adults.

7/18/2022

Differences in Brain Wiring Associated With Changes in Autism Symptoms Across Childhood, Finds UC Davis

Colleagues at California's IDDRC at UC Davis recently published a study that helps to explain differences in the development of the brain's wiring in autism, and how these differences are associated with changes in autism symptoms across childhood. This recent study leveraged diffusion weighted MRI scans from the UC Davis Autism Phenome Project in order to chart the developmental course of white matter pathways in autism compared to typical development. They found that in autism, white matter differences in these pathways emerge over early childhood due to slower white matter development, which was found to be associated with a trajectory of increasing autism characteristics.

7/18/2022

Disability Policy News

ABLE Age, Long COVID, Transportation, Medicaid, CHIP

7/15/2022

Epo Does Not Help with Neurological Damage to Newborns

New research by UW School of Medicine, one of AUCD's Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Centers, finds that adding erythropoietin to cooling therapy for term newborns w/ birth asphyxia has no benefit over cooling therapy alone. The findings contrast with results from small trials in which erythropoietin appeared safe and effective, noted Dr. Sandra "Sunny" Juul, senior author of the study. The Alan Hodson Endowed Professor of Pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine, Juul is also the UW Medicine chief of neonatology (newborn medical care) and practices at Seattle Children's.

7/14/2022

The Story Behind Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism (MARA)

During pregnancy, twenty-three percent of mothers of children diagnosed with autism had the presence of "autoantibodies" that can attach to proteins in a developing fetus's brain, compared to less than one percent of mothers whose children do not have autism. The UC Davis MIND Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) used a new technology to examine specific patterns of these autoantibodies and their effects and found that all eight antibody patterns were associated with an outcome of autism in a child. The hope is that testing for Maternal Autoantibody Related Austim (MARA) autoantibody patterns can be used to assess the likelihood of a child having autism, in order to help families to prepare for supports and services their child may need.

7/13/2022

Columbia University Seeks Participants for Focus Group

Columbia University is seeking participants for a study that explores issues of trust in a type of medical research called "precision medicine research." The study looks at a person's genetics, environment, and lifestyle. It can help physicians improve prevention and diagnosis of diseases and develop new treatments.

7/7/2022

Bringing Evidence-based Intervention Strategies to Autistic Students in Public Schools Statewide: The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN)

The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) statewide initiative helps educators use evidence-based strategies with autistic students. A recent study from AUCD's IDDRC, UC Davis Mind Institute and San Diego State University found that teachers trained by CAPTAIN improved in their knowledge, attitudes, ad classroom ratings.

7/7/2022

Developing Digital Telehealth Assessments for Autism: Increasing access to early identification

While autism is becoming better understood, families do not always get prompt referral to appropriate services. Using video telecommunication technologies such as Zoom, families are able to connect with experts and access autism evaluations from their own homes. Importantly, developing a telehealth-based assessment for autism will increase access for families in rural and low-resourced areas.Researchers at UC Davis Mind Institute(an AUCD network member) developed a telehealth early evaluation system to screen infants for autism. They hope to increase access for families in rural and low-resourced areas. Read more

7/6/2022

Test Newsletter for ECL #1

Test Attachement 01 (778KB) [download]

Test Attachement 02 (264KB) [download]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus imperdiet mi sed augue rutrum, eu tristique sem euismod. In posuere nulla eu urna convallis, eget pretium ligula dictum. Proin in hendrerit massa, ut convallis neque. Nunc scelerisque nisi eget fermentum sagittis. Curabitur vitae tempor erat. Sed mattis, urna eu gravida laoreet, libero purus efficitur eros, eu consectetur orci mi non lorem. Suspendisse facilisis nisi suscipit, scelerisque quam facilisis, cursus justo.

7/5/2022

Disability Policy News

ABLE Age; FDA; ODEP; IDEA; Gun Control

7/5/2022

IDRPP Research Offers Skills List for College-bound Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Are you wondering what non-academic skills a college-bound student with intellectual disabilities should have before entering an inclusive program? AUCD's IDDRC, the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice in has research on that.

7/1/2022

CDC-AUCD Leadership Opportunity: Act Early Ambassadors-State or Territorial Liaisons to CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." Program

2022 Act Early Ambassador RFA and Application Updated.pdf (881KB) [download]

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) announce a funding opportunity for Act Early Ambassadors to work with CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early."

7/1/2022

Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice EDI Coach Reflects on the Places Where Disability and Diversity Meet

Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) is home to one of six equity, diversity and inclusion coaches who advise the nation's university-based centers on disability. Dr. Eduardo Ortiz's role with the Associated University Centers on Disability lasts through September 29. But he said work on understanding diversity and its intersection with disability should-and will-continue much farther into the future at IDRPP

7/1/2022

RTC:Rural - Creating Rural Community Outreach Materials Related to COVID-19 and Disability

RTC:Rural researchers have worked with a rural disability stakeholder group to develop a list of recommendations specifically for rural outreach. Researchers packaged this feedback into Practice Guidelines for Creating Rural Community Outreach Materials Related to COVID-19 and Disability.

6/27/2022

Statement of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities on Reproductive Health

AUCD Statement on Reproductive Health (55KB) [download]

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) issues the following statement. First and foremost, AUCD recognizes the significance and complexity of the impact of the decision on all people, including those with disabilities. For many, this is deeply personal. AUCD fully supports and advocates for people with disabilities to have the right and freedom to make their own decisions about healthcare.

6/27/2022

Statement on Gun Violence and Mass Shootings to Ensure the Safety of People with Disabilities

Statement on Gun Violence and Mass Shootings to Ensure the Safety of People with Disabilities (103KB) [download]

AUCD is concerned about the increased incidence of mass shootings and gun violence in the past few years, and we are grateful for the bipartisan efforts to address it. We recognize this issue is a complex balancing act of personal freedom and collective safety in the United States. However, we must also acknowledge that among developed economies, the United States has the highest level of gun violence, gun shots are the leading cause of death for children, and many of these deaths occur at home or in other homes and not in schools or mass shootings.

6/27/2022

Walking Gives the Brain a 'Step-up' in Function for Some

It has long been thought that when walking is combined with a task - both suffer. Researchers at AUCD's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester found that this is not always the case. Some young and healthy people improve performance on cognitive tasks while walking by changing the use of neural resources. However, this does not necessarily mean you should work on a big assignment while walking off that cake from the night before.

6/24/2022

AUCD 360 - June 2022

6/21/2022

Disability Policy News

Healthcare; Puerto Rico; Mental Health; Subminimum wage; Social Security and Medicaid; Employment

6/21/2022

Finding Our Place in the World

Even though Tribal Nations are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), some tribes have adopted ordinances that protect members with disabilities.

6/21/2022

Mailman Center ADA Award

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has awarded Alan M. Delamater, Ph.D., ABPP, director of research at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development, the Richard R. Rubin Award one of the highest awards attainable by a behavioral scientist in the field of diabetes.

6/21/2022

PATHS Graduate, Michael Bittar, receives EANSPIRATION Award Educational Impact

The award is given to those who display leadership and commitment to the district by making a positive, noticeable and significant impact. Michael Bittar is a former ATS student. He went to college via the Texas A&M PATHS program and received a certificate to be a paraprofessional.

6/17/2022

2021 PATHS Graduate, Brian Berg, passed his CDA license exam and in-class evaluation

The year of COVID (2020-2021) did not stop the PATHS program from teaching students, like Brian Berg, the skills needed to have successful and independent lives. The PATHS Program was forced to transition to an online program, but through zoom trainings and student online interactions the program experienced another successful year.

6/17/2022

Four Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) TRIAD Practices Accepted into AMCHP Innovations Hub; One selected as award-winner

Four best practices emerging from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD) were accepted into the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Innovations Hub Database. The Hub is an online platform that provides maternal and child health professionals and advocates with a variety of resources, including a searchable repository of "what's working" in the maternal and child health field.

6/17/2022

Georgetown UCEDD Names New Information Dissemination Coordinator

The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) has hired a new Information Dissemination & Product Development Coordinator, Jalyn Marks, to lead an effort to partner with disabled persons, their families, and the communities in which they live in the District of Columbia to share their stories of lived disability experiences. These stories will inform policy makers, legislators, and other constituency groups to promote change within the current system of supports and services in DC.

6/17/2022

Hawai'i UCEDD June 2022 eNewsletter Release

Highlighting Employment First Bill passing; Summer ASD Swim Facts with Dr. Kelle Murphy; 'Worry Time' Tips with Dr. Maya Matheis; Parent Resources Issues with Sandra Oshiro, Meriah Nichols, and Susan Rocco and SPIN (CDS Community Advisory Council members and partners); Dr. Thomas Conway's Retirement; featured artist Eben Hooey; Teen Survey and much more!

6/17/2022

Herron Named Interim Director of the Early Childhood Center at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Katie Herron, research scientist with the Institute's Early Childhood Center, has been appointed as interim director of the center. Herron is replacing Michael Conn-Powers, who has retired after serving as the center's director for 28 years. Herron has been with the institute for nearly a decade and brings her extensive background in psychology and belief in the center's research-to-practice mission to the role.

6/17/2022

Inclusive Pre-K Classrooms: Unlocking Potential

Ms. Diane Appel, Dr. Rebecca Landa, Ms. Shay Roemmich and Ms. Carrie Zetlmeisl were awarded funding from the Maryland State Department of Education for the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant Program at Kennedy Krieger Institute's Center for Autism and Related Disorders. This was one of only 50 grants awarded in a pool of 150 applicants for the 2022-2023 school year and we are thrilled that it enables us to further our mission of equity, diversity and inclusion at CARD

6/17/2022

Iowa LEND Trainees Explore the Intersection of Mental Health, Disability, and Incarceration

This year, 27 trainees completed the Iowa Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (Iowa LEND) program. Their graduation ceremony was held on May 5, two days after they had presented at the third annual virtual Iowa LEND Research Poster Symposium. As in previous years, the Symposium provided an impressive display of the talent, hard work and dedication of these emerging leaders.

6/17/2022

Louisiana LEND Scholars Recognized with Allied Health Honors

Louisiana's UCEDD, LSUHSC Human Development Center, is proud to see Louisiana LEND scholars receive honors from the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Allied Health Professions as they completed their respective programs on May 19th.

6/17/2022

MN LEND 2021-22: "We Grew and Learned from One Another"

From developing more inclusive 4-H programs to identifying best practices in teaching medical and dental students about intellectual and developmental disabilities, the 2021-22 MN LEND fellows made significant contributions. On May 19, the program celebrated their accomplishments.

6/17/2022

New IDDRC Twitter Account

The (University of Iowa) Hawk-IDDRC has a new Twitter account! Check out @Hawk_IDDRC and follow us! One of only 15 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers in the country, the Hawk-IDDRC is part of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

6/17/2022

NH-ME LEND, Dartmouth Health, and Northeast Regional LEND Consortium Host Tenth Annual Spring Conference

On May 9, 2022 over 150 interdisciplinary professionals from the Northeast Region participated virtually in the 10th annual spring conference "Trauma in Children and Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Impact and Evidence Based Interventions".

6/17/2022

PATHS Program Welcomes New and Returning Students

On June 19th, we will be welcoming 13 new amazing students and on June 20th we will be welcoming back 15 amazing students from our first two-year cohort. Both cohorts will be running simultaneously and our 2nd year cohort is super excited and cannot wait to start mentoring our newbies coming in. Both cohorts will learn valuable skills related to employment, self-determination, self-advocacy, and independent living.

6/17/2022

Successful Grant Submission to AIR-P

Dr. Calliope Holingue and Ms. Margaret (Maggie) Johnson received an "AIR-P Scholars & Pilot and Feasibility grant" for their submission titled "Recommendations for Improving Gastrointestinal Health among Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Community-Based Participatory Study". Calliope Holingue is an assistant professor at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Maggie Johnson is a traveling nurse, currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, who will be starting her PhD at Emory School of Nursing this fall.

6/17/2022

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute Kicks off Meaningful Conversations with Autistic Self-Advocates

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute kicked off monthly Meaningful Conversations with autistic self-advocates on June 8, 2022. In the inaugural session, our guest was Ms. Katelyn Szymanski. Ms. Szymanski is a Behavior Associate at Itineris in Baltimore, MD, and has just completed undergraduate training in social work.

6/17/2022

The University of Cincinnati UCCEDD Vision Read on Ohio Senate Floor

The University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD)'s vision was read on the Ohio Senate floor on May 25. Senator Antonio referenced our vision as she encouraged the Senate to pass SB202 Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in parenting.

6/17/2022

Traumatic Brain Injury Toolkit for Emotional Self-Regulation Project

The TBI Toolkit for Emotional Self-Regulation project aims to connect individuals with TBIs to assistive technology that can help them better identify and understand their emotional rhythms and gain awareness of their emotions.

6/17/2022

Two Iowa LEND Graduates Named 2022 Healy Award Recipients

Two graduates of the Iowa LEND program were recently named the 2022 recipients of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities. Each year, Iowa's UCEDD awards a trainee, or trainees, who are nominated by LEND core faculty after completing the LEND program with distinction. This year's recipients are Flannery Currin, Assistive Technology and Family trainee, and Sofie Dollison, Public Health trainee. Nominees share how the LEND program has demonstrated the importance of family-centered, coordinated, and culturally competent care, for individuals with disabilities and families. They also describe their future career plans and proposed leadership activities, which the award will fund.

6/17/2022

UK Human Development Institute Resources Formally Recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics for Families of Infants with Down Syndrome

In a clinical report released on April 18, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended resources administered by the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute to pediatricians across the nation.

6/17/2022

University of Kentucky Launches College and Career Studies Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

The University of Kentucky�s application to establish a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Program for students with intellectual disabilities has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The CTP at UK will be known as the College and Career Studies Program.

6/16/2022

Horticultural Options in Plant Sciences (HOPS) Holds Graduation

The HOPS Project at Texas A&M University is a two semester training program to provide instruction and support for individuals with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences to work in the horticulture industry. This first year, they had 8 students graduate from the program. Victoria Lynn Arevalo, Chloe Rose Mallette, Noah Samuel Martin, Kayley Marie McLean, Christopher William Green Pizana, Kylee Jean Rosier, Sofia Angelina Montemayor Thomas, and Breionna Lachea Toliver.

6/16/2022

Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Day

On May 15, 2022, the IOD and UNH-4U celebrated Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Day. IPSE Day is a day to raise awareness and spread the word about inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) options for students with intellectual disabilities. IPSE means that students with intellectual disabilities can go to college, regardless of their test scores and high school diplomas, just like their peers and siblings.

6/16/2022

IOD Received a Lifetime Achievement UNH Sustainability Award

On May 10, 2022, the IOD received a Lifetime Achievement UNH Sustainability Award in the staff category. The Sustainability Awards program at UNH celebrates and incentivizes individuals and teams doing important sustainability research, curriculum development and teaching, campus initiatives and culture, and external engagement work across and beyond the university.

6/16/2022

Mailman Center Associate Director Receives Highest Honor in from the American Occupational Therapy Association

Douglene Jackson, Ph.D., OTR/L, LMT, ATP, assistant professor and associate director of community engagement at the Mailman Center for Child Development, has received the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Award of Merit and Roster of Fellows Award at the organization�s 2022 Annual Conference and Expo.

6/16/2022

NH Leadership Series Graduate Receives SAR-TAC Fellowship

Nathaniel Livernois '22, has received a prestigious fellowship from the Self Advocates Becoming Empowered and ACL's Administration on Disabilities. The fellowship provides full funding for six self-advocates to carry out independently designed self-advocacy leadership and policy-related projects with host organizations.

6/16/2022

Retiring Va-LEND Faculty Member Leaves with a Song

During her time at Va-LEND, Power-deFur shared a couple of her fondest memories which included working with Va-LEND's interdisciplinary clinics, which are a core part of the curriculum at Va-LEND and the collaborative discussions during the in-person faculty meetings. Working with Hayes E. Willis Health Center, of Richmond, we frequently worked with Spanish interpreters/brokers and relied on their input to develop a meaningful plan.

6/16/2022

Steven Beetstra, DDS, MHSA Receives Award

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Beetstra, Program Director of Dental Services at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center, for receiving the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Special Care Dentistry Association!!

6/16/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Christine Brown becomes Ambassador for Charting the LifeCourse

Christine Brown, Clinical Research Assistant at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center, has completed the Ambassador training program through Charting the LifeCourse. She is now a full-fledged Ambassador and will be working with the Family Resource Network of Ohio to help educate and help self-advocates utilize the framework and tools of Charting the LifeCourse. Congratulations Christine!

6/16/2022

WI LEND Celebrates 10 Years of Welcoming Disability Advocates

Wisconsin's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (WI LEND) program is proud to celebrate the tenth anniversary of graduating disability advocates as LEND trainees! WI LEND offers interdisciplinary and leadership training to over 30 trainees a year across more than a dozen disciplines, including disability advocates (persons with a developmental disability) and family (family members of a person with a developmental disability).

6/10/2022

2022-2023 Council Trainee Representative Application Now Open

We are pleased to announce recruitment for the 2022-2023 AUCD Council Trainee Representatives! This is an exciting year-long leadership opportunity for current trainees to learn about AUCD, connect with established professionals, and engage in activities on a national level.

6/10/2022

MI-DDI Co-hosts Vaccination, Health Clinic for People with Disabilities and their Families

The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) co-sponsored a health and resource fair with Disability Rights Michigan, as a part of the Michigan Vaccination Partners. Here, a new ADA-compliant Wayne Health Mobile Unit offered vaccinations and boosters, as well as diabetes, cholesterol and kidney function screenings; blood pressure screenings; COVID-19 testing; HIV testing; mental health screenings; and referrals to health and care resources in the community.

6/10/2022

Spanish-Language Caucus Recruitment

AUCD is recruiting new members for the AUCD Spanish-Language Caucus (SLC). The Spanish-Language Caucus is a workgroup open to Spanish-speaking individuals within the AUCD network. We hope for representation from all network roles (Spanish-speaking faculty, staff, Self-Advocates and LEND, UCEDD, and IDDRC current and former trainees).

6/10/2022

UCEDD Success Stories - Sonoron UCEDD at University of Arizona

The Transition AHEAD Roundtable is a day-long, one-on-one set of activities. It is designed to purposefully engage both the young adult and their family in collaborative activities with Sonoran UCEDD staff and staff from outside agencies and organizations. In a holistic manner, the Roundtable addresses five key areas: Employment, Healthcare, Education & Training, Relationships and Community, and Independent Living. Importantly, this busy day culminates in a brief Roundtable presentation led by the young adult about what they have identified as their strengths, as well as key goals and meaningful supports they want in order to achieve their desired level of independence.

6/9/2022

Developments Newsletter: June 2022

6/7/2022

Call for Participation: Understanding Parent or Guardian Perspectives on COVID-19 Testing in Schools

The purpose of this study is to identify the issues most critical to student COVID-19 testing in schools. Questions are asked about family's well-being and child's school experience during the era of COVID-19.

6/7/2022

MN LEND Fellow Teaches People with IDD to Write Their Stories

Cow Tipping Press founder Bryan Boyce (MNLEND, 2020-21) recently wrapped another series of the organization's writing courses for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), bringing the cumulative number of students served to nearly 600. Through networking conversations with fellow MNLEND alumni, Boyce has begun offering courses beyond Minnesota's borders, a result of the surge in interest for online learning due to the pandemic. Most of the coursework can be completed online, but the Cow Tipping team goes on location at the end to present published books featuring students' work and celebrate the experience.

6/7/2022

Translational Research in Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

New research out of Boston Children's Hospital-one of AUCD's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs)-provides new insight into a group of genetic diseases called hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs). Features of HSPs include progressive motor impairment and moderate to severe intellectual disability.

6/6/2022

2022 Emerging Leaders Map: Supporting Resiliency and Self-Determination for All

This interactive map highlights Emerging Leaders from across the country. Check out what emerging leaders across the country are doing to support resilience and self-determination.

6/6/2022

LEND Capstone Poster Session and Celebration

On May 6, 2022, 17 trainees from the 2021-2022 NH-ME LEND program shared their scholarship and leadership development during the annual Capstone Poster Session and Celebration. The trainees' posters showcased their leadership development through community placements in settings that included state agencies, community health providers, advocacy organizations, and partners in each state's developmental disabilities network. The opening remarks were provided by Will Clyde, Associate Dean of the UNH Graduate School, followed by NH-ME LEND Program Director Betsy Humphreys. Congratulations to the graduates!

5/31/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; ABLE Age Adjustment Act; SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act; Mental Health Matters Act; White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

5/26/2022

Visual System Brain Development Implicated in Infants who Develop Autism

Researchers at AUCD's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, analyzed magnetic resonance images collected during infancy from younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They found that brain changes in the size, white matter integrity and functional connectivity of the visual processing systems of six-month olds are evident well before they show symptoms of autism as toddlers, and related to the severity of autism traits in their older ASD siblings, as reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

5/24/2022

AIR-B Network's Conference on Inclusion for Students with ASD

The academic and community partners of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network; PI: Kasari) gathered virtually in March and April for their 8th annual community conference on autism. Titled Optimizing School & Community Inclusion for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

5/24/2022

An ecological approach to understanding obesity risk among children with autism spectrum disorder

Led by Dr. Russell S. Kirby, investigators at the University of South Florida College of Public Health conducted a secondary analysis to better understand the social-ecological context for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obesity to address disparities in adolescents with ASD as they transition to adult health care. The study was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under grant number R41MC39340 and R40 Maternal and Child Health Field-initiated Innovative Research Studies Program.

5/24/2022

Power of Partnerships to Enhance Impact: MN LEND and MN Act Early

Partnerships have the power to transform our work. In Minnesota, we are fortunate to have a robust partnership between our MN LEND and MN Act Early projects. MN LEND and MN Act Early share a common mission to connect young children (birth to 5) to early developmental screening and critical early intervention services. These two programs have developed a strong and lasting partnership by identifying and supporting shared goals and seeking opportunities to advance a strategic vision for the field of early intervention.

5/20/2022

Health Care Transition Publication Supported by Autism Cares Act Funding

Cheak-Zamora 2022 Measuring HCT Across time and into the future JPN (2).pdf (394KB) [download]

The Health Resources and Service Administration, and Maternal and Child Health Bureau have measured HCT service provision since 2001 but the longitudinal use of this measure has never been examined. This manuscript highlights the consistent and inconsistent uses of HCT constructs in two prominent national surveys (the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) and the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH)) between 2001 and 2019.

5/20/2022

Supporting Children with Disabilities: Lessons from the Pandemic

MCHB is funding this virtual workshop hosted by the Board on Children, Youth and Families of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Dr. Houtrow chaired the planning committee with Emily Hotez from the UCLA LEND and Marc Taste from the OSU UCEDD serving as committee members.

5/20/2022

Texas LEND Programs Join Together at the Capitol in Austin

Developing leadership skills through policy education and advocacy is integral to LEND training. In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, the Autism Consortium of Texas LEND (ACT LEND) invited LoneStar LEND to join them at the Capitol in downtown Austin on Friday, April 8, 2022. Scott Daigle, Public Policy Director at the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, provided a full day of policy training to the LEND trainees.

5/18/2022

Developments: The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P)

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) is an interdisciplinary, multicenter research network that aims to increase the life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals.  

5/18/2022

Ignite Inclusion with SPARK for Autism

In 2016 the Simons Foundation launched a nationwide genetic longitudinal autism study with the goal of recruiting 250,000 persons with autism to better understand its causes and how the diagnosis impacts families and individuals. The Center for Autism (CARD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute is one of thirty-one clinical sites across the nation participating in this unprecedented research opportunity.

5/16/2022

Mentoring Autism Researchers to Advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At the Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention in San Diego, February 2022, Dr. Landa brought together current and past mentees to support their career development and foster exchanges between early investigators from diverse cultural, racial, and geographic backgrounds. Each of the mentees had the honor of presenting cutting edge research at this very prestigious scientific meeting.

5/15/2022

Diagnostic stability and phenotypic differences among school-age children diagnosed with ASD before age 2

Drs. Rebecca Landa, Rachel Reetzke, Calliope Holingue, Christine Hess, and Ms. Dana Herman published a manuscript in Frontiers in Psychiatry, March 2022, examining diagnostic stability and behavioral characteristics in school-age children diagnosed with ASD before age 2 years. We examined non-linearity in manifestation of ASD beginning before 24 age months, when ASD symptoms are beginning to consolidate, through the age of 36 months when stability of ASD diagnosis is reportedly high into school-age when increased demands may challenge previously successful compensatory processes and permit first ASD detection.

5/15/2022

Increasing Public Awareness of Autism Early Signs, Diagnosis, and Intervention

In March of 2022, Drs. Rebecca Landa, Paul Lipkin, and Mary Leppert shared the latest news about the early signs of autism spectrum disorder, how it is diagnosed, and what to expect in early intervention.

5/15/2022

Teacher Implementation of the Early Achievements Intervention Improves Preschoolers' Social and Communication Outcomes

At the International Society for Autism Research annual meeting in Austin Texas on May 12, 2022, Dr. Rebecca Landa, Ms. Anne-Michelle Engelstad and Dr. Calliope Holingue presented the results of an Institute of Education Sciences-funded randomized control trial focused on teacher-implemented intervention with autistic preschoolers in public school settings.

5/15/2022

Training Teachers to Utilize Developmentally Appropriate Play to Improve Social and Communication Learning

In the spring of 2022, Dr. Rebecca Landa provided virtual training to nearly 200 early childhood educators in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The focus was on young children with autism and other neurodevelopment disabilities. Dr. Landa explained stages of play development, how language and social development is intricately linked to play development, and how to integrate play-based activities into existing daily instruction to improve children's engagement and accelerate their play, language, and social development.

5/12/2022

Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

Children's Mental Health Awareness week is celebrated during the first week of May every year! Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. During Children�s Mental Health Awareness Week, AUCD focused on the importance of mental health parity laws, suicide prevention, support, and social skills development of Children and/or youth. In doing so we celebrated the work of the Children's Mental Health Champions. From May 1-7th the Champion�s projects were highlighted on social media platforms along with discussions using the hashtags #ChildrenMentalHealth and #Phis4Everyone.

5/10/2022

Bold Beauty Project Hosts its First College Edition at the University of Miami

The Bold Beauty Project, founded by the Mailman Center for Child Development's Leadership Training Initiatives Director Shelly Baer, LCSW, hosted its first college edition exhibition at the University of Miami on March 27th. The event was held in collaboration with the University of Miami chapter of Girl Up, an international United Nations Foundation organization that seeks to empower at-risk girls around the world.

5/10/2022

Listen to "Living That MI-LEND Life" from MI-DDI's podcast, Possibilities

In this episode of Possibilities, listen to Lily Slavin, MI-LEND Cohort 2020-2021, talk about her experience with the program and how it creates tomorrow's leaders in the disability community.

5/10/2022

Maine UCEDD Celebrates the Achievements of 22 Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Graduates

Twenty-two University of Maine students were honored on April 26th during the 2022 Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Celebration of Achievement. Dr. Alan Cobo-Lewis, Director of the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD) and Associate Professor of Psychology delivered the opening welcome.

5/10/2022

Promoting Learn the Signs, Act Early in the Latinx communities of Minnesota

Andrea Castillo is a Family and Caregiver Empowerment Specialist at CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) and University of Minnesota LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) fellow mentored by Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande, CDC Act Early Ambassador to Minnesota. Andrea's LEND project was to promote the public health campaign Learn the Signs, Act Early (LTSAE) to improve early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

5/10/2022

UCEDD Success Stories - Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the UC Davis MIND Institute

Highlighting Social Skills Groups and SibShop Integration.

5/10/2022

UCEDD Success Stories - Sonoron UCEDD at University of Arizona

Adults with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) have the right to access competent, accessible care in their own communities. Lack of primary care practices that provide this care contributes to health disparities in adults with IDD. Models of care for primary care practices must be developed and disseminated, and health care providers must be educated, in order to improve access to competent care and reduce health disparities for adults with IDD in Arizona (AZ) and in the nation.

5/9/2022

Disability Policy News

Budget; Senate Introduces the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act; Money Follows the Person Expansion; U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Released about Disability Discrimination in Artificial Intelligence (AI); U.S. Department of Education Announces Call for Public Comments About Amendments to Section 504 Regulations

5/6/2022

"On My Way to Kindergarten:" Assessing Visually Impaired Children's Kindergarten Readiness

The transition to kindergarten is a challenge for many children with visual impairment, their families, and teachers. Visual impairment includes those who have trouble seeing, even with eyeglass use or contact lenses, or people who are blind.

5/6/2022

Everything I Needed to Know About Leadership I Learned from the NJLEND Cohort Crest Project

Of the multitude of meaningful didactic and experiential learning activities afforded by the NJLEND program, none is quite as unique as the Cohort Crest project. This project, which runs the span of the fellowship, entails the cohort working together as a group to create a crest, or emblem of some sort, which represents our communal identity as a cohort. While a seemingly simple idea, this activity serves several purposes (both overt and covert) that help us to strengthen and hone our skills as emerging leaders.

5/6/2022

Expecting Acceptance: A Parent's Perspective

Nine years ago, when my son first spent a week at the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Camp Munroe, I hoped he would make a friend. As Autism Acceptance Month begins, my son -- who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum about 13 years ago -- is a member of his school's JRTOC Corps. He is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout.

5/6/2022

Indiana LEND Psychology Trainee Amani Khalil was Awarded the Division 33 APA Student Research Award

Indiana LEND psychology trainee Amani Khalil was awarded the Division 33 APA Student Research Award and will present her poster at the APA conference in Minneapolis in August. Amani Khalil is a PhD Candidate in Counseling Psychology at Purdue University. Her poster is titled "Help-Seeking Barriers for Racial-Ethnic Minority Caregivers Accessing Autism Interventions: A Systematic Review" and shares about work related to both her LEND leadership project and her dissertation.

5/6/2022

Kansas LEND Trainee Wins HRSA Public Health Award and is a Finalist at a Research Competition for Her Project about the Deficit of IDD Knowledge in Medical Education

Sydney Walls, a Kansas LEND Public Health Trainee, conducted public health research over the deficit of intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) knowledge in family medicine providers at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Sydney's research earned her the Midwestern Public Health Training Center Field Placement Award (a U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration program), and her presentation over her findings at KUMC's Student Research Forum was also awarded first place in her platform and was a finalist out of over 100 projects.

5/6/2022

Munroe-Meyer Institute Names New Director of Autism Center

Seeing a perfect fit with her professional expertise and interests, Alice Shillingsburg, PhD, will join the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute as its new director of the integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (iCASD). Dr. Shillingsburg's hiring fulfills MMI's goal to recruit a nationally recognized expert in autism to iCASD and its redesigned home in the new Munroe-Meyer Institute building.

5/6/2022

School Board Meeting Toolkit Created by the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities

Many decisions that impact students are made by local school boards. As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these decisions and their resulting consequences significantly impact students with disabilities. The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities has compiled the following tips and resources to help advocate to and with your local school board.

5/6/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Welcomes Adithyan Rajaraman as new TRIAD Director of Behavior Analysis Research

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment & Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD) announces the hiring of Adithyan Rajaraman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, as Director of Behavior Analysis Research. As an assistant professor in Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a VKC investigator, Dr. Rajaraman will lead the research and dissemination of TRIAD's innovative behavior analytic services and the growing portfolio of related projects

5/5/2022

Aggieland Sustainability Alliance Awards Dr. Marcia Montegue a the 2021 Faculty Champion

From its inception as a land-grant institution in 1876 to the additional sea-grant and space-grant designations, Texas A&M University has been a leader in research and education for how we interact with and impact our environment. In March 2008, The Office of Sustainability was founded to enhance these efforts by creating a culture of sustainability in Aggieland.

5/5/2022

Center on Disability and Development receives 2022 Texas A&M University President's Meritorious Service Team Award

The University President will present these prestigious awards to recognize 25 outstanding individuals, two outstanding teams and two supervisors for demonstrating their commitment to the Aggie core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service.

5/5/2022

Center Staff Awarded Aggie Green Fund Micro-Grant

The Center staff, Dr. Jacqueline Turner, Tanya Baker, Jessica Dees and Aimee Day, were awarded a micro-grant from the Aggie Green Fund to replace the water fountain on the 6th floor of Harrington Tower with a Bottle Filling Water Station.

5/5/2022

Collaboration between The Ohio State University Nisonger Center and Boundless Health, Inc

The OSU Nisonger Center is helping Boundless Health, Inc create a dental program to increase access to dental care for individuals with IDD. Dr. Beetstra, the dental program director at the Nisonger Center, discusses how the relationship is a win-win-win for the institutions and the community.

5/5/2022

Minnesota LEND Fellow Engages with Local Hmong Community

This spring, MNLEND Community Fellow Julie Li Yang is engaging in outreach activities to promote Help Me Grow resources with the Hmong community in the Twin Cities and surrounding area. Yang is mentored by Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande in the Minnesota LEND program at the Institute on Community Integration (ICI) at the University of Minnesota. By promoting early monitoring and early developmental screening resources at tabling events and through social media, Yang found that parents are often reluctant to discuss early intervention services due to the shame and stigma surrounding autism diagnosis, specific to the Hmong community.

5/5/2022

WI LEND Adds Family and Disability Advocacy Peer Mentors to Training Team

WI LEND, located at the Waisman Center UCEDD, introduced a new staff role of Peer Mentor at the beginning of the new grant funding cycle. Ida Winters and Stasia Wilson, both recent graduates of the WI LEND program, were hired to fill the roles of Family Peer Mentor and Disability Advocacy Peer Mentor, respectively. �Ida and Stasia were both standout trainees, and we are so excited to add them both to our staff, said the Training Director, Gail Chodron. WI LEND has had trainees and staff in the family discipline for over 15 years, and added self-advocacy trainees 10 years ago.

5/5/2022

WRP School Outreach Request

Register for the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) to provide employment opportunities to your students with disabilities! This free program connects postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities to federal employers who are seeking to hire for internship and full-time positions. The WRP is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Defense.

5/4/2022

Get featured on the 2022 Emerging Leaders Map. Nominate Yourself Today!

2022 Nomination Survey (122KB) [download]

AUCD is excited to announce that recruitment is now open for the 2022 AUCD Emerging Leaders Map! This year's theme is "Supporting Resiliency and Self-Determination for All."

5/4/2022

When it comes to the rarest of diseases, the diagnosis isn't the answer - it's just the starting point

Medical geneticist Melissa Wasserstein, MD, and neuroscientist Steven Walkley, DVM, PhD, explain how they established Gene Teams, in which parents, physicians, and interested scientists gather to share knowledge and experiences of Rare Disease.

5/2/2022

Disability Policy News

White House Increases Access to COVID-⁠19 Treatments and Boosts Patient and Provider Awareness; Office of Minority Health Releases Framework for Health Equity; Money Follows the Person Expansion; The Health Equity and Accountability Act; The Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act

5/1/2022

May 2022: Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

Follow AUCD and search #ChildrensMentalHealthAwareness and #PHis4Everyone to follow the conversation on social media. See the full list of projects from AUCD/CDC's Children's Mental Health Champions in observance of May 2022 Children's Mental Health Awareness Week.

4/29/2022

Scientists Find Oleic Acid is Key to Activating the Brain's 'fountain of youth'

Cognitive difficulties and learning disabilities are common in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. While searching for new ways to prevent or treat these and other related conditions, a team at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital identified a missing piece of the puzzle of how specific types of learning and memory are sustained and regulated in the brain.

4/28/2022

Analysis of 47,276 Brain Activity Scans Reveals Genetic Variants Influencing Brain

Researchers at AUCD's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) images from 47,276 individuals to discover and validate common genetic variants influencing intrinsic brain activity. They identified 45 new genetic regions associated with brain functional signatures as well as brain activity-associated loci associated with brain disorders, as reported in Nature Genetics.

4/27/2022

Encuesta En Linea: Proyecto de video de atencion medica

La Asociacion de Centros Universitarios sobre Discapacidades (AUCD) y Community Catalyst quieren aprender sobre las experiencias de las personas con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo al recibir atencion medica.

4/27/2022

Online Survey: Health Care Video Project

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and Community Catalyst would like to learn about the experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities when getting health care.

4/27/2022

Understanding Social Behavior in Autism: A Diverse World of Unique People

People use language to tell others what they want and need. In autism, some kinds of social communication (like language, eye contact, and hand movements) can be challenging. The goal of my lab at the Center for Autism Research is to understand and support social success for autistic people, especially in the areas of speech and language.

4/25/2022

Request for Proposals: NIRS Technical Assistance

Download a PDF of the Request for Proposal (164KB) [download]

The UCEDD Resource Center (URC) is seeking a consultant to support improvements to our technical assistance (TA) related to NIRS. The consultation will contribute to improving the quality of NIRS TA through developing recommendations for the type and delivery of TA resources and developing consistency in branding and formatting for NIRS TA Resources.

4/22/2022

AUCD 360 - May 2022

4/15/2022

AUCD 360 - April 2022

4/12/2022

Scientists Identify Overgrowth of Key Brain Structure in Babies Who Later Develop Autism

Research led by Mark Shen, PhD, Heather Hazlett, PhD, and Joseph Piven, MD, from UNC-Chapel Hill is the first to demonstrate overgrowth of the amygdala in the first year of life, before babies show most of the behavioral symptoms that later consolidate into a diagnosis of autism. This overgrowth may be unique to autism, as babies with fragile X syndrome show a different brain growth pattern.

4/5/2022

LTSAE Collaboration with Give Kids a Smile at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

On February 26th, MN LEND fellow, Kalee Abu-Ghazaleh, participated in the Give Kids a Smile event at the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Dentistry. Kalee organized an outreach table with "Learn the Signs, Act Early (LTSAE)" developmental resources. The event served 96 children and families from underserved communities and included interprofessional collaboration with other UMN health programs. Programs included: medical school, speech pathology, public health, veterinary, and dental hygiene.

4/5/2022

Mailman Center Hosts Successful Conference on Early Childhood Development in a Pandemic

Over 250 childhood personnel and allied health professionals including speech language pathologists, psychologists, social workers, and physicians participated in the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development Innovation and Connection Conference on February 8th, 2022. The conference, "Promoting Early Childhood Development in the Era of COVID: Practice, Policy, and Future Opportunities," brought together experts in early childhood development to discuss challenges and opportunities for the care and wellness of young children as they grow up in a pandemic.

4/5/2022

UCEDD Success Stories - Sonoran UCEDD at University of Arizona

The Transition Exploration Study funded by the AZ Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, focused on completing a statewide assessment of the current state of transition services in Arizona to identify exemplary practices, areas of need, and recommendations for improving post-school employment rates for youth with disabilities. A comprehensive qualitative and quantitative approach was utilized to gather information from multiple stakeholders involved with transition services for the purpose of contributing to data-informed policy and programmatic decision-making.

4/4/2022

AIR-P Pediatrics Supplement Now Published

AIR-P has been developing a supplement issue to be included in the Pediatrics Journal. The first supplement of articles has been published on April 1, 2022. Check out articles written by AUCD Network centers and members in this issue.

4/4/2022

Can Early Behavioral Therapy Interventions Improve Developmental Trajectories in Down Syndrome

While children with Down syndrome have broad developmental delays and quite often have difficulty with challenging behaviors, there are no standardized behavioral strategies or therapies to treat them. Without a well-researched therapeutic standard, there is great variability in the quality of the services offered and a lack of evidence that can be drawn on by advocates for improved health care services. Dr. Nicole Baumer is currently pioneering the JASPER Clinical Trial research program in Down syndrome. The main objective is to determine whether an intensive, targeted early behavioral therapy intervention can improve developmental trajectories in Down syndrome.

4/4/2022

KUCDD's Evan Dean Receives Fulbright Scholar Award in Iceland

Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities Associate Director Evan Dean, Ph.D., has been granted a Fulbright Scholar award in Iceland. Dean and his family have settled near the University of Akureyri, Iceland, where he is serving with the researchers and faculty in the Occupational Therapy department.

4/4/2022

LEND Fellow Project: PATH-IDD

A team of LEND fellows at the University of Minnesota Institute for Community Integration are valued members of the PATH-PWIDD project.The team has been instrumental in research and developing processes to further the project.Through a grant front the Administration for Community Living, multiple universities are working on conducting a scoping review of literature around training inter-profesional health students (medical, dental etc.) about IDD. In the coming year, this information will be used to develop an interdisciplinary curriculum to strengthen the healthcare workforce to appropriate support the needs of the IDD community.

4/4/2022

Missouri's Month-Long Effort to Increase Awareness Around Sexuality and Sexual Assault

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the UMKC Institute for Human Development and the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council are partnering on a month-long campaign to promote self-advocacy among individuals with I/DD.

4/4/2022

New Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Will Build Statewide Capacity to Serve Iowans

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), Iowa's UCEDD, has been awarded a grant from the Iowa Department of Human Services to establish a Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Iowa. CDD will collaborate with the Iowa Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation to create the new Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health to develop and implement evidence-based practices to support individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbances (SED), and co-occurring conditions.

4/4/2022

OHSU UCEDD Celebrates 50 Years

The Institute on Development & Disability at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) UCEDD celebrated big last month. In a March tradition, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was highlighted in a university sponsored event - this year, Pediatric Grand Rounds. A slice of the UCEDD's work in communication access was the focus of the event, alongside some history of the Institutes longest running program and founding center making its mark on campus with the construction of the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center 50 years ago.

4/1/2022

2022 Autism Acceptance Month Webinar Series

AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) is sponsoring a series of three webinars for Autism Acceptance Month.

4/1/2022

Aggie Guide Dogs and Service Dogs at Texas A&M University Needs Your Support

Aggie Guide Dogs and Service Dogs (AGS), is a student-run organization that began in 1997. Our purpose is to educate about, fundraise for, and promote the training and use of guide dogs and service dogs and to increase awareness about how these animals help the individuals, with disabilities who use them.

4/1/2022

April 2022: Autism Acceptance Month

During Autism Acceptance Month we will focus on the importance of mental health parity laws, suicide prevention, support, and social skills development of autistic people. Sponsored by AUCD's Autism SIG and ITAC, AUCD is hosting a series of webinars focused on mental health and ASD.

4/1/2022

Center Staff Attend the Texas Transition Conference and PATHS Staff Attend the Grimes County Transition Fair

The Texas Transition Conference was held on February 23-25 in Denton, Texas. This year's conference faced a few challenges as an unusual ice storm made travel difficult for many of the attendees and speakers. However the event was very successful and informative. With over 350 in-person attendees registered and over 200 online registrants. Those who registered, but could not attend, were given access to view sessions online during the event. Many positive comments and feedback were given.

4/1/2022

Collaboration Between Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND), Meharry Medical College Addresses Disparities in Autism Diagnosis for Black Families, Increases Understanding of Providing Equitable Care

Researchers from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD) and Meharry Medical College (MMC) are collaborating to better understand the diagnostic experiences of Black or African American families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

4/1/2022

In Twenty-Two Cents an Hour, Doug Crandell Uncovers the Harsh Reality of People with Disabilities in the United States Who are Forced to Work in Unethical Conditions for Subminimum Wages with Little or No Opportunity to Advocate for Themselves

Doug Crandell is Public Service Faculty at the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia UCEDD and the author of several books and novels, most recently They're Calling You Home. Doug's new book Twenty-Two Cents an Hour will be available starting APRIL 15, 2022

4/1/2022

Partnering with UCEDDs and LENDs to Develop a Statewide Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems of Personnel Development (CSPD)

The Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC) provides Technical Assistance to facilitate the implementation of Comprehensive Systems of Personnel Development (CSPD) for all disciplines serving infants and young children with disabilities and their families. A CSPD is a framework used to improve the quantity, quality, and effectiveness of the early childhood intervention workforce who provide services and interventions to facilitate the development and learning of infants and young children with disabilities and their families.

4/1/2022

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD) Announces Recipients of the 2021 Community Investment Fund

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities established the Community Investment Fund (CIF)to support innovative projects or programs that help Montanans with disabilities live, learn, work and play alongside people without disabilities. This year Children's Special Health Services matched Rural Institute funds so awards were given to three projects: Kalispell Mosaic Mural, Pumpkins for a Cause and BASE Film Making Extravaganza.

4/1/2022

Self-Advocates from WIHD interviewed by Fox5NY

Hear Our Voices at The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) has developed a Speaker�s Network of self-advocates who present at local, state, and national conferences. The Speaker's Network offers individualized coaching to young adults with disabilities that want to share their story. The program empowers self-advocates to use their lived experiences to increase disability awareness. After completing the program, participants have a custom professional presentation that reflects their passion on a relevant topic. They have presented at the New York Medical College, the Touro College of Dentistry, Sarah Lawrence College and various statewide and national conferences.

4/1/2022

The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities is Recruiting Participants for the Rural Transportation Interviews Project

The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) at the University of Montana is currently recruiting for a project in which researchers are interviewing people with disabilities who live in rural areas with limited transportation options. The one-on-one interviews ask about how they get around their communities and their experiences with different transportation services.

4/1/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Introduces Two New Toolkits to Ease Stress Caused by Needlesticks in Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) has introduced two brand-new toolkits created to alleviate fear and stress in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) when needlesticks are part of a medical appointment. One toolkit is designed for parents as they prepare their child for a shot during a visit to the doctor, and the other toolkit is for health care providers and clinical researchers who may give vaccines or perform blood draws on patients with IDD as part of their work.

4/1/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researcher Serves on Newly Designated Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center�s Center for Tourette Syndrome and Other Tic Disorders has been designated a Tourette Association of America (TAA) Center of Excellence. Among the center�s team members is Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher David Isaacs, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Neurology and Pediatrics. TAA currently recognizes 19 centers of excellence. The program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the first in Tennessee to receive the designation.

4/1/2022

WIHD Develops Post-COVID Roadmap to Recovery and Resilience

WIHD took on the challenge of strategic planning during these uncertain times in order to be well-positioned to respond to whatever scenarios may arise over the coming years. This effort culminated in the development of what we are calling our Post- COVID Roadmap.

4/1/2022

Yingying Zhao, Doctoral Student, has Joined the Center on Disability and Development

Yingying Zhao is a doctoral student at the developmental sciences program in the Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University (TAMU). As a third-year Ph.D. student, she has research experience using quantitative and qualitative methods. Yingying is originally from China, and she worked as a high school teacher for two years before her master's study in Education. She joined the CDD in January 2022, before which she worked at the Center for Teaching Excellence at TAMU as a graduate research assistant. She will be assisting Dr. Eric Roberts in the Capacity Building project and the TAMU Work-Based Learning project.

3/31/2022

Call for Participants: Health Care Video Project

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and Community Catalyst are holding a focus group to learn about the experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities when getting health care.

3/31/2022

CHOP Researchers Show Early Developmental Delays Predict Poor Long-term Outcomes in Leigh Syndrome Patients

Researchers from the Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found that developmental delays associated with Leigh syndrome, the most common pediatric mitochondrial disorder, may occur earlier than previously recognized - even before metabolic stroke and regression - which could provide clinicians with an opportunity for earlier diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. The findings were recently published online by the journal Molecular Genetics and Metabolism.

3/28/2022

Call for Host Applications - The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement

Calling all UCEDDs and LENDs interested in internationalizing their disability work, research, and practice! Apply to the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement to host a Fellow from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, or Ethiopia. Institute for Community Inclusion is currently accepting Host applications for the Fall 2022 Fellowship Exchange. Learn about the benefits of hosting a Fellow, how to apply, how we match Fellows with Hosts, and more details.

3/28/2022

Disability Policy News

COVID Guidance and Updates; President Biden's National COVID-⁠19 Preparedness Plan Released; Helping People with Disabilities in Ukraine; Civil Rights for Early Childhood Care and Education Systems; AbilityOne Commission Releases Strategic Plan for 2022-2026.

3/23/2022

Timotheus "T.J." Gordon. Jr.

"I took my vaccine shot so I can protect others in the disability community and continue to serve my people through advocacy and research" - Timotheus T.L." Gordon Jr.

3/22/2022

Familia Hernandez Rivera/Hernandez Rivera Family

"We decided to get vaccinated, because we believe that vaccines are effective, they have prevented people from dying or suffering from terrible diseases such as polio; preventing reaching a hospital is as simple as 3 doses, in the family we vaccinated as soon as possible and after more than two years of pandemic, we have remained free of covid."

3/22/2022

Susan Koller

I got vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 for several reasons, including wanting life back to normal, wanting to see family and friends, and wanting to protect myself against this horrible disease.

3/22/2022

UCEDD Resource Center Seeking Evaluation Consultant

One-Pager for URC Evaluation Consultant.pdf (226KB) [download]

AUCD's UCEDD Resource Center (URC) is seeking a consultant with evaluation expertise to help update the current evaluation process to reflect new requirements in a newly-awarded 5-year contract and evaluate the impact of the URC's work in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

3/21/2022

DDNJ Call for Reviewers

Reviewers are currently be recruited for an upcoming special edition of the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal (DDNJ) focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in disability services. This special issue is a collaboration between DDNJ and the AUCD Multicultural Council (MCC). Individuals with broad expertise are being saught in disability research, policy analysis, participatory action research, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

3/18/2022

AUCD 360 - March 2022

3/17/2022

ITAC Bulletin Board - March 2022

As you finish the current academic year and look forward to future cohorts, we recognize the importance of delivering relevant information and resources to your MCH training programs. We hope that you find the content of this newsletter helpful in supporting the work of your faculty, staff, and trainees.

3/17/2022

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Calls for the Support, Protection and Safety of Ukrainians with Disabilities

Download Statement in English (164KB) [download]

Download Statement in Spanish (186KB) [download]

Download Statement in Plain Language (155KB) [download]

The needs of Ukrainians with disabilities must not be ignored. Ukraine ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2010. CRPD Article 11 specifically addresses situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies and the protection obligations that exist in the context of armed conflict. UN Security Council Resolution 2475, unanimously adopted in 2019, also calls upon member states to "protect persons with disabilities in conflict situations and to ensure they have access to justice, basic services and unimpeded humanitarian assistance." These international humanitarian and human rights laws must be respected. AUCD strongly supports humanitarian efforts focused on the needs of people with disabilities and their families in Ukraine.

3/16/2022

The UIC IDHD 2021 Summary of COVID-19 Awareness Projects

Social Story Powerpoint (1,746KB) [download]

In the Spring of 2021, the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color with the support of the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD), partnered with the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) through a mini-grant, where Jae Jin Pak and Timotheus Garden created events and information on COVID-19 Vaccines, resources, and updates to the disability community in the Chicagoland area.

3/14/2022

Disability Policy News

Appropriations; Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act; Submit Comments on the U.S Department of Homeland Security�s Public Charge Rule; Submit Comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Request for Information (RFI) on Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & Children�s Health Insurance Program; AUCD 2022 Policy Priorities;Disability Policy Seminar 2022

3/12/2022

AUCD Members to be Appointed to President Biden's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Congratulations to AUCD's Shawn Aleong, Gabriel Martinez and Liz Weintraub! The Committee's mission is to provide advice and assistance to the President on a broad range of topics that impact people with intellectual disabilities and the field of Intellectual Disabilities.

3/11/2022

Spanish-Language Caucus Recruitment

AUCD is excited to announce the recruitment of new members for the AUCD Spanish-Language Caucus (SLC). The Spanish-Language Caucus is a workgroup open to Spanish-speaking individuals within the AUCD network. We hope for representation from all network roles (Spanish-speaking faculty, staff, Self-Advocates and LEND, UCEDD, and IDDRC current and former trainees).

3/10/2022

A College Exploration Conversation with Jake and Christy (Maine UCEDD)

It's a cold morning in late November and Jake, a high school junior, sits on' the edge of a leather couch in the University of Maine's historic Heritage House. He's accompanied by his mother, Christy; and Hailey Howard, his vocational rehabilitation counselor from the Maine Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

3/10/2022

Iowa's UCEDD Promotes Reading and Disability Representation as It Turns 50

Founded in 1972, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD/Iowa's UCEDD) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, the UCEDD is making a contribution to the Disability Resource Library (DRL) at CDD. The UCEDD will purchase a series of books for the DRL that promote reading and disability representation in books.

3/10/2022

Mailman Center Occupational Therapist Receives National Recognition

Douglene Jackson, Ph.D., OTR/L, LMT, ATP, research assistant professor and associate director of community engagement at the Mailman Center for Child Development, will receive the Roster of Fellows Award from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

3/10/2022

Mark Crenshaw Named Assistant Director of CLD

Mark Crenshaw, MTS, has been named the Assistant Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University (GSU). Mark currently serves as the Director of Interdisciplinary Training for GSU�s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and the Training Director for Georgia�s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (GaLEND) program. He also serves on the Executive Committee for Georgia�s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

3/10/2022

MI-DDI Community Trainers Talk About Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

Community Trainers from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute educate people and families through virtual meetings. Each Community Trainer created a video to share what HCBS mean to them.

3/10/2022

NH-ME LEND Spring Kickoff Event Helps Prepare Trainees for Disability Policy Seminar

In late January, the NH-ME LEND Program hosted a two-state panel discussion and a keynote speaker as part of their virtual Spring Semester Kick Off Event, Organizing to Influence Your State's Policy. The session was designed to help prepare NH and ME trainees to participate in the annual Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC on March 28-30, 2022.

3/10/2022

Prospects for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Epilepsy

Prospects for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Epilepsy (264KB) [download]

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a method for focal noninvasive cortical stimulation where small intracranial electrical currents are induced by a strong extracranial magnetic field. Unlike most brain stimulation techniques that are deployed for treatment in drug-resistant disorders, TMS stands out as a method with as much diagnostic as therapeutic capacity.

3/10/2022

Ukranian Students, Professionals and Human Rights Defenders: Use UC Davis Article 26 Backpack

Article 26 Backpack is a safe and secure platform to store academic credentials, documents and human rights advocacy work product. As the situation in Ukraine grows worse UC Davis encourages students, professionals and human rights defenders to use Article 26 Backpack.

3/10/2022

University of Wyoming College of Nursing Awards Peter K. Simpson Advanced Practice Nursing FAN Award

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming is pleased to announce that Canyon Hardesty, M.S, CHES, associate director of the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, is the 2022 recipient of the Peter K. Simpson FAN Award. This honor is in recognition and appreciation for work and commitment to the DNP program, its faculty, and students.

3/9/2022

Dr. Phillip Rumrill to deliver Hanoch Livneh Lecture on Psychosocial Adaptation Research

The Council on Psychosocial Adaptation Research (PAR) has invited Dr. Phillip Rumrill, Director of Research and Training at the UK Human Development Institute, to deliver the prestigious Hanoch Livneh Lecture on PAR at the 2022 National Council on Rehabilitation Education Conference in San Diego, California.

3/9/2022

Missouri's UCEDD and LEND programs partner to develop ACCESSIBLE, the Podcast

Topics across the disability field, including best practices, supports and services, advocacy, and leadership are part of the discussion in the new podcast, "Accessible". "The idea for a podcast grew from a conversation about how we, at the UCEDD, could support the Missouri Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities prepare students for work in the field of developmental disabilities," George Gotto, director of IHD, said. "We also want to educate other professionals in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) field who may not know the full extent of the existing support systems in Missouri."

3/9/2022

Opening Doors: UNH-4U Program Introduces Students with Intellectual Disabilities to Campus Life

Hats off to UNH-4U students on a successful first semester! UNH-4U students explored campus, attended classes, and made meaningful social connections. The IOD congratulates them on completing their first semester as UNH Wildcats!

3/9/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Clinical Trials Program is Recruiting Participants!

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's clinical trials team is currently recruiting participants for three studies, Axial, Otsuka, and Aurora.

2/28/2022

Call for Vaccine Confidence Stories

We want YOU to share your story! Why is getting vaccinated or boosted important to you? Have you talked to your friends or family about getting the vaccine? How did it go?

2/28/2022

Disability Policy News

Appropriations; HHS Guidance on Civil Rights Protections for People with Disabilities; Senate HELP Committee Hearing; PREVENT Pandemics Act; NDRN "Restraint and Seclusion" Federal Policy Update White Paper; Disability Policy Seminar 2022; Tuesdays with Liz

2/25/2022

MN LEND Fellow Receives Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship

Caroline Roberts (MN LEND 2020-21) has been awarded an Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship for the 2022-23 academic year, providing a stipend of $25,000 plus tuition. Roberts is a student in the University of Minnesota's Department of Educational Psychology and supports the work of a TeleOutreach Center workgroup that brings together Interdisciplinary MIDB researchers and clinicians focused on understanding and improving outcomes for children and youth who engage in self-injury.

2/25/2022

National Institute of Mental Health James Jackson Memorial Award

NIMH is pleased to announce the 2022 James Jackson Memorial Award! This award is named in honor of the late Dr. James Jackson, a renowned social psychologist who was the Daniel Katz Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan.

2/25/2022

Request for Applications- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coaches

Download Request for ED&I Coaches (171KB) [download]

The UCEDD Resource Center (URC) launched a multi-pronged technical assistance initiative to support UCEDDs in implementing the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan. In continuation of this initiative, the URC is seeking applications from UCEDD leaders across the AUCD network to serve as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion coaches. Coaches may provide individualized coaching to network members, respond to rapid response requests, and support implementation of the technical assistance initiative by presenting at webinars and supporting content of the ED&I Action Plan Implementation groups.

2/25/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Dental Services Program Director Dr. Beetstra serves on the IDD Dental Policy Academy

Stephen Beetstra, DDS, MHSA, Program Director of the Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Dental Services, is currently on the IDD Dental Policy Academy. The IDD Dental Policy Academy is a CMS/Delta Dental Foundation endeavor to improve dental access for individuals with IDD. A pilot project in Ohio with Medicaid is currently being discussed.

2/25/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's LEND Genetics Counseling Fellow Elianna Miller Receives Award

Elianna Miller, a LEND genetic counseling graduate student (class of 2022) was awarded the National Society of Genetic Counselors Assisted Reproductive Technologies special interest group award for her thesis work titled �Understanding Oocyte Donor Perceptions of Genetic Testing and Expanded Carrier Screening.�

2/25/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Pediatric Dentist Dr. Diego Solis Recognized as One of the Top Dentists in Columbus

Congratulations to Dr. Diego Solis, who is a pediatric dentist at the Nisonger Center's Johnstown Road Dental Clinic, for being included in the 2022 database of topDentists. The Johnstown Road clinic provides comprehensive dental services for young preschool and early school-age children with and without developmental disabilities through age 21.

2/23/2022

MN LEND Fellow: Telling Disability Stories Through Music

Music therapist Yue Wu (MN LEND 2019-20) is working on a second production of her show, "Light in the Well," which weaves together symphony movements and the real-life stories of people with disabilities. The show debuted to audience acclaim in October at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis.

2/17/2022

The ND Center for Persons with Disabilities Collaboration with the Morehouse National COVID - 19 Resiliency Network

Because of our participation in the regional community coalition meetings through the Morehouse National COVID Resiliency Network (NCRN), the ND Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) became increasingly aware of health inequities related to COVID-19 among vulnerable populations in our state Based on this increased awareness, NDCPD has established a variety of partnerships and launched several initiatives.

2/15/2022

The University of Cincinnati UCEDD Awarded Grant with the WITH Foundation

The WITH Foundation awarded a total of $250,000 to five organizations, including the University of Cincinnati UCEDD as a result of their joint RFP with the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). The RFP provided a unique funding opportunity for organizations to support projects that address the intersections of racial equity and healthcare equity for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2/14/2022

AUCD 360 - February 2022

2/14/2022

AUCD Professional Fellows: International Impact and Lessons

AUCD's Professional Fellows Programs (PFP) represent the network's most significant foray to date into the realm of international disability rights. From 2016 to 2021, AUCD implemented two overlapping U.S. Department of State federal awards that sponsored international professional exchange programs on inclusive education and employment.

2/14/2022

Community and Academic Partners Collaborate on Kindergarten Readiness and Graduation Rates in Neighborhoods Served by Mailman Center

Key indicators of child wellbeing have improved in East Little Havana and Overtown since these South Florida communities began community-academic partnerships (CAPs) with the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, a new study reveals.

2/14/2022

COVID Recovery Iowa Project Responds to Changing Needs

The COVID Recovery Iowa Project, based at Iowa's UCEDD, continues to support Iowans with disabilities and others who are struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2/14/2022

Disability Policy News

Appropriations; HHS Guidance on Civil Rights Protections for People with Disabilities; Senate HELP Committee Hearing; PREVENT Pandemics Act; NDRN "Restraint and Seclusion" Federal Policy Update White Paper; Disability Policy Seminar 2022; Tuesdays with Liz

2/14/2022

Dr. Dalun Zhang Awarded Funding for the Capacity Building Project from the Texas Workforce Commission

The purpose of the project is to expand transition services to students with disabilities from age 14 to 16. Traditionally, student have not been eligible to receive pre-employment transition in the vocational rehabilitation system until they reach 16 years of age.

2/14/2022

Dr. Stough Presents Research at Leadership Symposium with the Emergency Management Association of Texas

Dr. Laura Stough presented her research on the psychological and educational effects of wildfires on children with disabilities. Together with Dr. Elizabeth Ducy at Sonoma State University, their research describes the challenges and barriers families of children experienced during the Tubbs and Nuns wildfires in Northern California. Dr. Stough presented these results and their implications at the Leadership Symposium at the Emergency Management Association of Texas on February 9th.

2/14/2022

Families Needed for Home Literacy Study

The Home Literzy Project is looking for families with children ages 3-5 years old with and without autism spectrum disorder. We are interested in what takes place when parents and children share books together. We also want to compare reading with children with autism spectrum disorder with reading with children without autism spectrum disorder.

2/14/2022

Resources for Disasters and Disability

The REDDy Directory is an online searchable guide to disability-related resources, services, and information for those affected by COVID-19. The site allows visitors to search by zip code, key word, or resource type. Useful for case managers, organizations, and individuals.

2/14/2022

The Center for Learning and Leadership Oklahoma's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Distributes over 150,000 Masks Across the State

The Center for Learning and Leadership Oklahoma's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CLL/UCEDD), at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, received a large donation of KN-95 masks to offer to our community affiliates and academic partners at no cost thanks to their partnership with OU Health. Through this generous donation, the CLL/UCEDD was able to provide over 150,000 high-quality KN-95 masks to more than 25 university affiliates, and CLL-affiliated community-based provider agencies and programs that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families across the state of Oklahoma.

2/14/2022

Welcome 2021-2022 AUCD Trainee Liaisons

We are excited to announce the 2021-2022 cohort of Trainee Liaisons! Please join us in welcoming these new leaders to our community. Trainee Liaisons (TLs) are nominated trainees at LEND/DBP training programs, UCEDDs, and IDDRCs who volunteer to engage in information sharing and dialogue on trainee-related matters between their Program/Center, trainees at other AUCD member sites, and the AUCD national office.

2/11/2022

Employment First Missouri: Expanding Community Employment Efforts for People with Disabilities in Missouri

Employment First Missouri believes that everyone has the right to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing, based on their unique talents, gifts, skills, and interests. Employment First promotes integrated employment as the primary goal for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Missouri.

2/11/2022

Our Journey To Success: A Conversation on Disability, Inclusion, and Diversity

To be used as a resource for families of color who have a children with disabilities. Oftentimes, having a child with a disability comes with challenges and obstacles, but with families of color with children with disabilities another layer is added to the stack. Hopefully, this video series will serve as information and encouragement to those families.

2/11/2022

Think College Awarded US Department of Education Grant to Increase Access to and Visibility of Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Programs Nationwide

Congratulations to ICI's Think College and partners for accepting a $5.9 million three-year award from the US Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education to expand their remarkable work of translating and disseminating research and best practices on inclusive post-secondary education for colleges and universities across the US.

2/10/2022

COVID Vaccine Public Service Announcements

To address the significant health risks for people with IDD and direct support workers, the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with NADSP and support from AUCD, is producing a series of public service announcements encouraging direct support workers to get vaccinated. Please share these captioned videos across your networks.

2/10/2022

Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas Named Associate Director of CLD

Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas has been named as the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD)'s new Associate Director. Dr. Vinoski Thomas also currently serves as the CLD�s Director of Health and Wellness and a Research Assistant Professor within Georgia State University�s School of Public Health.

2/10/2022

iGROW - New Funded Grant

The "I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work" (iGROW) Project is a one-year pre-employment and leadership-training program for students with disabilities who are currently enrolled in middle school and high school (ages 14-22). The purpose of the program is to provide a training environment to support students with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.

2/10/2022

Jake's mice: Searching for answers to the puzzle of autism

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are using stem cells to study a rare form of autism linked to a specific gene mutation. To do that, scientists have bred mice that mimic a 16 year old boy name Jake's exact gene mutation in order to better understand the disorder.

2/10/2022

MN LEND Fellow Expands Practice for Children with Autism

Amal Mohumed (MN LEND 2019�20) recently opened a second location for her multilingual mental health therapy practice. "My time at LEND allowed me to look at each individual and each family and tailor services that fit them from their own perspective,� she said.

2/10/2022

Team for Infants Exposed to Substance Abuse: Supporting Families at Risk for Over 30 Years

The Team for Infants Expose to Substance abuse has been providing intensive home based services for pregnant and postpartum women affected by substance use and their families Kansas City.

2/10/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Graduate Program in the Department of Psychology is now accredited by the Psychological and Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)

The Ohio State IDD psychology graduate program is the only one of its type in the country to receive national accreditation. "Nisonger Center is proud to be associated with the Ohio State IDD Psychology Program, recognized by the PCSAS national accreditation as a rigorous and empirically-based clinical science program that embodies the highest science-centered standards of education and training." Marc J. Tass, PhD; Director, Nisonger Center.

2/9/2022

Alaska LEND Program Update

The University of Alaska in Anchorage-Center for Human Development LEND program started its second semester with didactics on Policy and Advocacy. This is in preparation for the 2022 Key Campaign and Legislative Priorities to be held in Juneau. We tracked down the movement of legislation of interest to the Alaska Mental Health Trust and partner advisory boards.

2/9/2022

MI-DDI, Wayne State receives $7M grant to address equitable access to vaccines for Michigan residents disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) at Wayne State University (WSU) recently received a 3-year, $7 million grant to address the need to ensure greater equity and access to COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and other vaccination needs in Michigan. The goal of the project is to increase the number of vaccinated people with disabilities, along with their family members and caregivers; people who are homebound or isolated; people with transportation limitations; and people living in communities with high social vulnerability index.

2/9/2022

Promising Practices from the Act Early Response to COVID-19 Project

AUCD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently developed two new Promising Practices for "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (LTSAE) as part of the Act Early Response to COVID-19 project. These promising practices represent the work of Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams who found innovative solutions for integrating and expanding the reach of LTSAE and supporting early identification of young children with developmental delays and disabilities during the pandemic.

2/9/2022

State of State Moves to KUCDD

The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a federally funded project that collects and analyzes data on public funds used to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has moved to the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD). This project is led by KUCDD Associate Research Professor Shea Tanis.

2/8/2022

Top Ten Most Viewed Concurrent Sessions Post #AUCD2021

For two months following the AUCD 2021 Virtual Conference, attendees were able to access content from the Conference at their leisure and absorb the wonderful knowledge presented by AUCD network members, partners, advocates, and other leaders in the disability community. Whether you attended #AUCD2021 or not, take this opportunity to check out the top ten concurrent sessions that were viewed in December and January.

2/7/2022

2020-2021 UCEDD Resource Center (URC) Evaluation Report

Download 2020-2021 UCEDD Resource Center (URC) Evaluation Report (9,705KB) [download]

In 2020-2021, the UCEDD Resource Center (URC) accomplished all our goals from the prior year. The first full year of website analytics data from all three URC websites has been leveraged for strategic decision-making. An accessibility evaluation for online communications was completed in August 2021 and will inform improvements to be implemented in the coming year. The global survey was adapted into Spanish and plain language to ensure linguistic accessibility in our data collection process.

2/7/2022

A Commentary from Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist, TRIAD Co-director on ABA Controversies and the Need for Substantive Community Engagement

This opinion piece is shared by A. Pablo Juarez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, co-director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD). This commentary is not meant to be a definitive resource documenting numerous issues surrounding the use of applied behavior analysis, but to instead provide a surface-level overview of conversations currently being held among self-advocates and disability support professionals.

2/7/2022

Request for Proposals: AIR-P Research Day at Autism CARES 2022

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) is pleased to launch this call for proposals to present at the semi-annual AIR-P Research Day at Autism CARES 2022. This event aims to highlight innovative life course intervention research in the six Research Nodes supported by AIR-P and will include a section for rapid-fire presentations.

2/4/2022

2022 EHDI Conference Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

AUCD is offering scholarships to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Annual Conference on March 13-15, 2022. All current LEND audiology trainees, including those in their externship year, are eligible to apply.

2/4/2022

Become a better leader! Apply today for the AUCD Leadership Academy

The AUCD Leadership Academy is a program that lasts one year. It is designed for current and emerging leaders from the disability community. The goal is to develop and improve leadership skills. The Academy teaches people how to improve systems of support and services

2/4/2022

Engaging Young Adults with IDD-MH and Researchers in Comparative Effectiveness Research

The Center for START Services is proud to announce the launch of a new website that can support meaningful partnerships between people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and mental health service experiences (IDD-MH), family members, mental health providers, and researchers. View the website to learn more.

2/4/2022

National Advisory Council Convened to Inform Coordinated and Integrated Data Systems for the Early Identification (CIDSEI) of Young Children with Developmental Delays or Disabilities Project

On January 25th, 2022, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the Help Me Grow National Center (HMG National) convened its first national advisory council meeting to inform the Coordinated and Integrated Data Systems for the Early Identification (CIDSEI) of Young Children with Developmental Delays or Disabilities project. The advisory council is made up of the following members from national organizations and federal agencies.

2/4/2022

RENEW Expands in New Hampshire!

The Center for RENEW Implementation has received a grant from the NH Charitable Foundation to provide the RENEW (Resilience, Empowerment, and Natural Supports for Education and Work) model in New Hampshire to youth and young adults involved in the juvenile justice system or who are in residential treatment.

2/4/2022

University of Massachusetts Boston Institute Launches International Fellowship Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement

Download Press Release (97KB) [download]

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion (HI), has been awarded a grant from the US Department of State to develop and implement the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement, a new professional program for emerging leaders in Africa to exchange and implement best practices for inclusive civic engagement.

2/1/2022

Call for Participants: COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Study by NCRN

COVID-19 Vaccine Study Flyer (833KB) [download]

AUCD is doing a study to test COVID-19 vaccine ads. This study is an online survey that tracks your eyes when you are looking at an ad. This study will be done on a computer or laptop that has a camera. Participants must be a person with an intellectual or developmental disability between the ages of 18-24. All participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card stipend.

1/31/2022

Disability Policy News

What's Happening in Congress; PREVENT Pandemics Act; Distributing At-Home, Rapid COVID-19 Tests to Americans for Free; 2021 Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of IDEA; Every SEA received approval of their ARP ESSER plan; U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection Public Comment Period; Safety for Students in School; NDRN Report on Illegal Informal Removals; ODEP and EBSA Financial Toolkit for People with Disabilities; Disability Policy Seminar 2022; Tuesdays with Liz

1/31/2022

Vacunda? Vacundo? Vacundx?

AUCD participated in NCRN's Regional Community Coalition to increase COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Read a story from one of our AUCD Network members, who engaged in this coalition.

1/24/2022

Act Early Network News, Winter 2022 Issue

1/21/2022

AUCD 360 - January 2022

1/18/2022

Disability Policy News

What's Happening in Congress; Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act; The Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development Co-Launched a New Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC); IRS Raises Limit for ABLE Accounts; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Guidance on Mobile Crisis Services; COVID-19 CDC Guidance; U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection Public Comment Period; Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Brief on Paid Family and Medical Leave; Disability Policy Seminar 2022; Tuesdays with Liz

1/14/2022

2022 AUCD Board Special Election: Nominations Requested

AUCD Board Member Representational Seat Nomination Form (35KB) [download]

AUCD is currently seeking nominations for the Representational Seat on the AUCD Board of Directors.

1/12/2022

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children with Developmental Disabilities: Parent Survey of Willingness and Concerns

Children with DD Vaccines Paper.pdf (196KB) [download]

Compared to the general pediatric population, parents of nearly 400 children with a DD were more willing for them to receive COVID-19 vaccines. In this new pre-print by the RFK UCEDD (Bronx, NY) and SCDD UCEDD (Rochester, NY), parents of 75%, 49%, and 38% of children aged 12-17, 6-11 and 0-5 years-old, respectively, had gotten or would get their child vaccinated ASAP. (the study was fielded when vaccines were authorized for children aged 12+ years.)

1/12/2022

Don't Forget about Transportation!

Safe, accessible, reliable, and affordable transportation is a key to the ability of individuals with disabilities, seniors, and those with low income to access health care, education, employment, and community services. But, too often, creating mobility and transportation partnerships is an afterthought in service planning.

1/12/2022

Excellence in Autism Support Award Goes to Delaware UCEDD Research Manager

For her "Outstanding Research on Autism in Higher Education," Jessica Monahan, research manager with the University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies' Spectrum Scholars program, has won an inaugural Excellence in Autism Support award from the College Autism Network.

1/12/2022

It's Up to You: Reaching Out to DSPs

Funded by AUCD, the MN UCEDD, in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, has produced a series of short public service announcements (PSAs) of direct support professionals encouraging their colleagues to get vaccinated against COVID-19, an urgent need.

1/12/2022

KU and UNC Collaborate on Propel Project

Launched in 2020, the Propel Project will examine the impact of a comprehensive intervention combining the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction and Peer Supports, on academic, social, and functional outcomes for autistic secondary students in inclusive general education classrooms. This collaboration between the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of North Carolina (UNC) is led by KU Center on Developmental Disabilities Director (KUCDD) Karrie A. Shogren, KU Juniper Gardens Children's Project Director Brian Boyd, KUCDD Assistant Research Professor Sheida K. Raley, and UNC Associate Professor Kara Hume.

1/12/2022

Listen to Possibilities Episode 2 on Medication Management

Episode 2 of Possibilities, a podcast produced by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI), is here! In this episode, Clinical Pharmacist Dr. Steven Erickson talks about medication management, and how to make the process efficient and safe for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

1/12/2022

Mailman Center Launches Prevention Research Program for Children with Special Health Care Needs

A research program led by the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine received funding of $900,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The study "Health Equity at the Intersection of Disability and Ethnic Group Status: Adaptation of 'Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children' for Children with Special Healthcare Needs (HC3)" will implement and evaluate the effectiveness of an obesity prevention program for children with developmental, physical, and/or intellectual disabilities.

1/12/2022

MN LEND Fellows Support Sensory-Friendly Vaccine Clinics in the Community

In December 2021, AUCD trainee Alicia Zhang worked with MN LEND fellows Raniya Yimam and Brittany Miller to support a community-based, sensory-friendly vaccine clinic in Minneapolis, MN. Zhang, Yimam, and Miller are mentored by Dr. Jen Hall-Lande and Dr. Lynda Lahti Anderson at the MN LEND program at the Institute on Community Integration (ICI), which is also the MN UCEDD. This sensory-friendly clinic is a collaboration among community partners, including the Autism Society of Minnesota (AUSM), the Multicultural Autism Action Network, and Hennepin County Healthcare.

1/12/2022

Post-Secondary: Moving Minnesota Ahead

Federal law creates college opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities, but Minnesota lags behind on that promise. Working with ICI staff and others, MN LEND fellow Sally Sexton returns to ICI to develop a website promoting post-secondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities. ALT text for photo: Sally Sexton (MN LEND, 2020-21).

1/12/2022

Supporting Families Summit: Celebrating 10 Years

In recognition of the complex roles of family caregivers, and the challenges they face, leaders in the disability field came together at the 2011 Wingspread Summit to develop policy recommendations to improve supports for family caregivers. UMKC-IHD's Associate Director, Sheli Reynolds played a role in helping to plan the Wingspread Summit and later co-authored a report, "Building a National Agenda for Supporting Families with a Member with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities."

1/12/2022

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center LEND Trainees Address Health Disparities through Virtual Sessions for New Mothers

Moms2B, a community-based pregnancy program for low-income mothers in central Ohio, was established by The Ohio State University Medical Center in 2010 to decrease high infant mortality rates in the state and help mothers deliver healthy, full-term infants. This community-based program meets weekly throughout pregnancy and through the infant's first year to provide education and support to moms. In-person meetings occur in a safe, familiar space where Moms can ask questions, receive education on infant development and reproductive health, and connect with local services.

1/12/2022

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Launches Innovative Transition Care Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities

Transition from pediatric health care to adult-oriented health care can be especially complicated for people with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions. To make this transition easier, the Mailman Center for Child Development in the Department of Pediatrics, in collaboration with the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, recently launched the Progression Across Transition in Healthcare (PATH) program.

1/12/2022

Updates from the CU Pediatric PT Residency Program

The University of Colorado Pediatric Residency is a post-professional physical therapy residency program of the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program in the School of Medicine and JFK Partners. The residency was established in 2011 under the Founding Director, Mary Jane K. Rapport, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, and it received initial accreditation in 2012.

1/12/2022

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Produces Trio of Videos on the COVID-19 Vaccine and Individuals with Intellectual Disability

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VKC UCEDD)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) has produced three brief videos to build COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the disability community. These videos feature an adult with an intellectual disability and a parent and her daughter with autism, who share their personal experiences, hesitancy, and decision-making related to getting themselves or their child vaccinated.

1/12/2022

WIHD Selected as One of the 2021 Best Places to Work in Westchester

WIHD was recently named as one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in Westchester! The awards program began in 2021 and is promoted by 914INC. in partnership with Best Companies Group. This regional survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Westchester, benefiting the region's economy, workforce and businesses.

1/12/2022

Wisconsin UCEDD SaferKids Program

Benji is a bright-eyed and energetic six-year-old. He and his two brothers keep their mom, constantly on her toes. But Benji, who was recently diagnosed with autism, was exhibiting some behaviors that were leaving his mother fearful for his safety. While at the Waisman Center Benji's mother mentioned her concerns to one of the clinic's family navigators. That's when she was told about the Waisman Center's SafterKids program.

1/11/2022

Request for Reviewers for URC & ITAC

Request for Reviewers.pdf (183KB) [download]

The UCEDD Resource Center (URC) and the Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center (ITAC) seek reviewers for plain language and Spanish language materials development and review. Attached is the Request for Reviewers with all details. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 24, 2021.

1/10/2022

Georgetown UCEDD Creates COVID-19 Video Series featuring Family Physician

The Georgetown UCEDD created a COVID-19 video series featuring a family physician, called "Ask Dr. Kim." This series answers questions like "What is COVID-19?" and "What is all the talk about needing a booster shot?"

1/6/2022

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.

12/30/2021

AUCD Launched Podcast - AUCD Network Narratives

This fall, AUCD launched its first ever podcast called AUCD Network Narratives: Real Stories from Our Members. The podcast shares real stories from network members who are working to change systems and structures that impact people with disabilities. Each AUCD Network Narratives episode features a conversation about experiences at a LEND, UCEDD or IDDRC, especially highlighting emerging leaders and the voices of BIPOC disabled people and their families.

12/23/2021

Liz's Top 5 Favorite AUCD2021 Concurrent Sessions

Liz Weintraub from AUCDs hit series, Tuesdays with Liz, shares her favorite concurrent sessions from the AUCD 2021 Virtual Conference. Here are the sessions that attendees should check out via the conference platform!

12/20/2021

AIR-P Scholars & Pilot and Feasibility Funding

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) is currently in its second year of funding under the direction of UCLA and Project Investigator Dr. Alice Kuo! AIR-P establishes and maintains an interdisciplinary, multicenter research network for scientific collaboration and infrastructure to increase the life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals. The mission of the AIR-P is to develop a robust research infrastructure that will foster measurable improvements in optimal physical health and well-being of autistic individuals and their families across the lifespan

12/20/2021

COVID-19 Vaccines & Children with Developmental Disabilities: Let's Talk

Dr. Lisa Shulman is a developmental pediatrician who specializes in the care of children with autism and is the Interim Director of the Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC) at Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) in the Bronx, New York. For the past 10 years, she has given a lecture entitled "Shattering the Myths around Vaccination" for families in the Bronx as well as worked with pediatricians on communicating with vaccine hesitant families.

12/20/2021

HRSA Awardees Study Impact of COVID-19 on Receipt of Services and Parent Mental Health in Children with ASD

University of Delaware�s Dr. Anjana Bhat, associate professor in physical therapy, and JP Laurenceau, professor in psychological and brain sciences, have been awarded a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for a new study to analyze the impacts of COVID-19 on receipt of behavioral, speech, occupational and physical therapy services and parent mental health in 9,000 children with autism from the SPARK cohort and to determine value derived from these services in an online capacity.

12/20/2021

Kennedy Krieger Faculty Receive Grant to Build Capacity to Deliver Evidence Bsed Mental Health Intervention

Dr. Deepa Menon, of the Kennedy Krieger LEND Program and co-PIs Kathryn Van Eck, PhD and Nikeea Copeland Linder, PhD, MPH were recently awarded a Jesse DuPont Bell grant to address mental health and COVID-induced trauma in patients with autism and other special health care needs. By utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) training, Social Work trainees from collaborating HBCU�s will receive mentoring and training to deliver an evidence-based validated program through telemedicine to address student stress and anxiety, and to build coping skills and resilience.

12/17/2021

AUCD 360 - December 2021

12/16/2021

AUCD's Children's Mental Health Champions Project Extended for 2021-2022

AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health continues its work with the Children's Mental Health Champions project for a second year. This project is made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Building on the efforts of the year one Champions, 2020-2021, twelve Champions were selected for 2021-2022 to continue to provide timely support for children and their families. The Champions developed state-specific work plans to implement effective strategies for mental health promotion, prevention supports, and the creation of networks (e.g., school, healthcare, and community) to promote better connections between these systems. The 2021-2022 Champions represent American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

12/16/2021

Inclusive Public health Quarterly - Winter Edition 2021

12/13/2021

AIR-P/OAR Funding Opportunity: Community Grant Competition

Description: Applications for the AIR-P and the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) Community Grant Competition opened on Friday, October 8, and will close on April 30, 2022. Find details about the grant, application requirements, an FAQ, and a link to start your application!

12/13/2021

Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) Updates

Autistic Researcher Review Board (ARRB) member Mornik Giwa Onaiwu was featured on AUCD's podcast, AUCD Network Narratives: Real Stories from Our Members. The episode is titled "Using Storytelling to Connect Research and Lived Experience". The episode covers an important discussion on the need for respectful, affirming, and accurate language as well as the difference between person-first language versus identity-first language.

12/13/2021

CSS's New Medical Training to Address the Needs of People with IDD

A research team from the Center for START Services at the IOD at UNH has been approved for a $50,000 grant awarded by the WITH Foundation to develop a companion training curriculum for the Integrated Mental Health Treatment Guidelines for Prescribers in IDD.

12/13/2021

Grants Create New Center to Address Native American Disability Challenges

Two grants totaling more than $1.3 million will help establish the foundation for the Native Center for Disabilities, which is aimed at bringing Tribal communities together to improve disability services and employment access for youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

12/13/2021

Growing Self-Advocacy in the Heartland

The second SOAR Conference sponsored by four Midwestern UCEDDs was held virtually this fall, with Iowa's UCEDD taking the lead for 2021.

12/13/2021

HDI Introduces New Mental Health Project: Merge

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute introduces a new project: Merge. The project will strengthen the existing training framework serving Kentuckians with co-occurring mental health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (MHIDD). By evolving current training, Merge aims to increase and improve the application of person-centered services and referral systems.

12/13/2021

How Improving Emergency Management for IDD Community Will Help All

Recent research by Dr. Laura Stough, an IDD scholar in the Department of Education Psychology at Texas A&M University, points out the flaws of crisis management for the IDD community and shows where there is room to improve.

12/13/2021

IOD's 2021 Facts & Figures Now Available

IOD's annual report Facts & Figures: 2021 Report on Disability in New Hampshire is now available. Facts & Figures focuses on characteristics of the population with disabilities in NH, with comparisons to neighboring states and the nation.

12/13/2021

Iowa's Legacy of Policymaking Inspires LEND Trainees

LEND trainees, faculty and staff recently visited the Harkin Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. The visit, which served as part of the program's policy curriculum, will become an annual event.

12/13/2021

It's Worth the Shot!

The second video in a series of the Worth The Shot Campaign by the Mississippi Developmental Disabilities Network is now available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkHUA1cRv4w. In this video, Taylor shares his journey of getting vaccinated and how the vaccine has helped him get back to doing the things he loves: advocating for the disability community and creating awesome things.

12/13/2021

MI-LEND Team Develops Telehealth Module for National Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) Core Curriculum

In 2020, the Michigan Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (MI-LEND) was selected to be part of an AUCD and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) project focusing on telehealth. The goal of the project was ultimately to support both providers and families to access telehealth and other distance care services for pediatric care. To achieve this goal, MI-LEND Directors, Dr. Sharon Milberger and Dr. Jane Turner, along with MI-LEND Fellow, Sean Jones, developed a curriculum focused on telehealth.

12/13/2021

Oral Health Complications Higher in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Developmental Disabilities (ODDs) with Obesity Compared to Healthy Adolescents

For this study, the authors used an analytical sample of adolescents of ages 10 to 17 years (n=68,942) using data from 2016 through the 2019 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). We categorized the analytical sample into 4 groups for comparisons: adolescents with ASD/ODDs and obesity (Group A), adolescents without ASD/ODDs but with obesity (Group B), adolescents with ASD/ODDs but no obesity (Group C), and adolescents without ASD/ODDs or obesity (Group D). Almost 7% of the sample were ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity representing approximately 2.31 million high-risk U.S. adolescents. Parents completing the survey, answered questions on their child's demographics, health status, health care utilization, and other relevant health-related information.

12/13/2021

Recovering Routine: A family's fight for normalcy

Sixty-one million adults in America live with a disability as of 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disabilities come in many forms and are essentially any condition, mentally or physically, affecting on's ability to complete certain activities.

12/13/2021

Show-Me College to Build Better Resources for College-Bound Students with IDD

More and more students with intellectual and developmental disabilities are going to college, thanks to legislation like the Individuals with Disabilities ACT of 1975 and the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, which authorized the creation of comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs, and made financial aid available. The Show-Me College website is being developed to provide information and resources about college-going opportunities in Missouri for students, families, educators and counselors.

12/13/2021

Telehealth and Individuals with IDD: Challenges and Best-Practices

On October 21, the WITH Foundation announced a $50,000 award to the Institute on Disability for a one-year initiative to investigate best practices for offering telehealth care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Under the direction of Research Assistant Professor Kimberly Phillips, the research team will undertake a scoping review to identify challenges and best practices associated with providing telehealth to individuals with IDD

12/13/2021

UNH IOD to Lead Development of New Children's Behavioral Health Resource Center

The NH Executive Council approved a $4.3 million, three-year contract to the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (IOD) to develop a new Children's Behavioral Health Resource Center (CBHRC). Working in collaboration with other institutions, family groups, providers, and youth and families, the CBHRC will strengthen the network of behavioral health supports for children across NH.

12/13/2021

University of Wyoming ECHO Collaboration Wins Innovation Award

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND), in partnership with the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences is pleased to announce their joint article has won the 2020 Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing (JCEN) Innovation Award

12/9/2021

AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health Funds Pilot Studies using Administrative Data to Evaluate "Child Find" Early Identification Systems in Indiana and Minnesota

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with the funding of two, one-year pilot studies using administrative data to evaluate "child find" early identification systems in Indiana and Minnesota. This "child find" pilot is made possible by a cooperative agreement with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

12/8/2021

$17 Million Grant Contracts in Autism and Behavior Awarded to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) TRIAD

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (VKC TRIAD) was awarded two grant contracts by Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) totaling $17 million. The grant contracts enable TRIAD to continue its 22-year partnership with TDOE by providing professional development and behavior intervention services across the state.

12/8/2021

University Research Center Will House Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health

The Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, a Georgia State University research center housed in the School of Public Health, has been chosen as the future home for the Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health (GA-AIMH). The center will be the first umbrella organization to house GA-AIMH.

12/8/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) UCEDD Community Advisory Council Crafts and Approves VKC Equity Statement

During a 2020 Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) Community Advisory Council (CAC) meeting, VKC director Jeffrey Neul, M.D., Ph.D., asked the group to help come up with a plan to increase the diversity of the VKC in a manner to better reflect the communities it serves.

12/7/2021

Listening Sessions for the All of Us Research Program

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is looking for nominations for individuals to participate in listening sessions on the All of Us Research Program. The All of Us Research Program is a precision medicine initiative from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the goal of helping researchers understand more about why people get sick or stay healthy.

12/7/2021

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) of 2021 Explainer

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) of 2021 Explainer Sara Bovat, (161KB) [download]

People with disabilities want to work, live independently and be able to pay their own bills. Jobs under 14(c) certificates are often in places called "sheltered workshops," where they are working separately from co-workers without disabilities and from the community.

11/30/2021

Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment Act

2021 1130 Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment Act.pdf (98KB) [download]

"No one should be paid less than minimum wage simply because they have a disability," said Martin Blair, Executive Director of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana. Blair was referring to the bi-partisan, Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCEIA) introduced last week in the U.S. Senate by Montana's Senator Steve Daines and Pennsylvania's Senator Bob Casey. Daines and Casey are leading a national effort to end employment discrimination against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill will support employers transitioning to paying competitive, fair wages to people with disabilities.

11/23/2021

AUCD2021 Virtual Conference Closing Plenary Cheat Sheet

Download 2021 Virtual AUCD Conference Closing Plenary Cheat Sheet (171KB) [download]

Did you enjoy hearing from the members of Congress who gave remarks during the closing plenary? We did! Here's a recap of the different bills that the Congressional speakers addressed in this document.

11/22/2021

2021 AUCD Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Julie A. Fodor, PhD during the AUCD Virtual Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

11/19/2021

AUCD Thanks U.S. House for Passing Build Back Better Act & Stands Ready to Work with Senate

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is pleased to see the Build Back Better Act pass the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill contains critical investments in health, education and economic security programs that will improve the lives of people with disabilities, allow them to live in the community, and become economically self-sufficient.

11/19/2021

AUCD360 - November 2021

11/19/2021

Friends and Family Campaign

As we move into the fall and winter, we'll see our friends and families on special occasions. Our "Friends and Family" Campaign shares tools on how to keep encouraging vaccine confidence in non-judgmental ways. Ask a friend or a family member that you may have who is in a local community or civic group and reach out together to listen to any questions or concerns and share information in a kind way.

11/18/2021

Congratulations to Mrs. Melina Cavazos on her passing dissertation Defense on a topic about school psychologists' involvement in transition planning

Mrs. Melina Cavazos will be graduating with her doctoral degree in school psychology from Texas A&M University in December 2021. She has just defended for dissertation titled Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) Involvement in the Assessment and Planning of Postsecondary Transition in Texas.

11/18/2021

PATHS Virtual Open House

The PATHS Certificate Program at Texas A&M University will be hosing a virtual open house on Thursday, December 9, 2021 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. PATHS stands for Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services

11/18/2021

The PATHS Program application is now open and available for applicants to apply for the 2022-2024 cohort!!

The Postsecondary Access and Training in Human Services (PATHS) Certificate Program prepares individuals for jobs as Direct Support Professionals and Child Care Professionals. Upon completing the two-year program at the Center on Disability and Development, participants earn a certificate that combines classroom instruction with hands-on career building experiences.

11/18/2021

Think College Awarded Us Dept. of Education Grant to Increase Access to and Visibility of Inclusive Post-Secondary Education Programs Nationwide

Congratulations to ICI's Think College and partners for accepting a $5.9 million three-year award from the US Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education to expand their remarkable work of translating and disseminating research and best practices on inclusive post-secondary education for colleges and universities across the US.

11/17/2021

2022 Texas Transition Conference

Registration is now open for the 2022 Texwill bas Transition Conference e held on February 23-25, 2022 in Denton, Texas. This year, we are offering the option to attend a live conference or online.

11/17/2021

A Community-Based Health and Nutrition Initiative for Families of Children with Developmental Delays and Disabilities

Good nutrition is an essential aspect of the health and well being of children at risk for and with developmental delay and disabilities. Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) physician faculty and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) trainee are implementing an innovative community-based initiative that supports nutrition education for parents of young children who have young children at risk for and with developmental delay and disabilities.

11/17/2021

Alumni Update: Deeqaifrah Hussein (MN LEND, 2017-18)

Deeqaifrah Hussein (MN LEND, 2017-18) is the interim executive director of special education and health services for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), the district recently announced.

11/17/2021

CAC Chair Receives Wisconsin Diehard Award

Maria Nogueron, the Waisman Center's Constituent Advisory Committee (CAC) Chair from 2015-2021, was awarded the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities Diehard Award in October.

11/17/2021

Charting the LifeCourse Nexus Ambassador Badge Academy

In the summer of 2021, Charting the LifeCourse Nexus piloted the Ambassador Badge Academy courses with a select group of LifeCourse Nexus Coaches. And, after a successful pilot run, the Ambassador Badge Academy courses are now available to all certified Charting the LifeCourse Ambassadors.

11/17/2021

Coordinated and Integrated Data System for the Early Identification (CIDSEI) of Young Children with Developmental Delays or Disabilities

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with a one-year project to identify states or territories with coordinated and integrated data systems for the early identification (CIDSEI) of young children with developmental delays or disabilities and to use this information to develop and pilot tools, materials, and resources to support additional states and territories in the development of a CIDSEI.

11/17/2021

CORE Meeting Minutes November 2021

CORE Meeting Minutes November 2021 final.pdf (142KB) [download]

11/17/2021

GAIPSEC Receives 'Access to Education' Award

The Georgia Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium (GAIPSEC), a project of the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University, was honored at the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) Soiree of Stars Gala on October 21, with the Access to Education award.

11/17/2021

Grants to Help Parents/Future Parents with Disabilities

The University of Cincinnati UCEDD's Associate Director, Kara Ayers, is the co-investigator for two research centers that will help improve the experience of parenting and pregnancy for people with disabilities. These grants will fund research that address gaps in support and challenges that parents with disabilities may face.

11/17/2021

Hitting New Strides

Tonya Hinrichs was just cold-calling, really. Her 3-year-old son, Bentley, has pachygyria, a rare genetic brain disorder, and she was looking for intensive therapy options when she dialed the Munroe-Meyer Institute and left a message for Sandy Willett, PhD, director of the physical therapy department.

11/17/2021

Introducing BoggsCast: A Podcast by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ UCEDD/LEND)

Introducing BoggsCast: A Podcast by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ UCEDD/LEND) The Boggs Center is excited to introduce BoggsCast, a podcast where faculty and staff explore best practice, showcase success stories, and help listeners envision possibilities for innovation through interviews with state and national experts.

11/17/2021

Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development Publishes Its Post-COVID Annual Report

At the end of 2019, while working on the new strategic plan for the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD, Iowa's UCEDD), we had no idea what lay ahead. We began 2020, challenged by tightening resources, and the ongoing need to build capacity to meet the demand for clinical services and community supports. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we responded with even more dedication to that mission, working together so that people with disabilities and their families enjoy healthy, independent lives in the community

11/17/2021

Mailman Center Associate Director Dr. Jeffrey Brosco to Lead Population Health Initiative

Jeffrey P. Brosco, M.D., Ph.D., professor and associate director of the Mailman Center for Child Development in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been appointed the department's inaugural associate chair of population health.

11/17/2021

MHDD EDI Webinar on Intersectionality of Mental Health, Disabilities, and American Indian Culture

The MHDD EDI webinar from October 2021 highlights what AUCD is working on during November - Native American Heritage Month. It is a great way to learn more about these intersections and improve your cultural competency.

11/17/2021

Michael Baca Named Administrator of Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development

Michael Baca was recently named administrator of the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. CDD is home to Iowa's UCEDD and it's the state's tertiary level diagnosis and evaluation center for people with disabilities. Baca serves as a member of the core faculty for Iowa's LEND program, also based at CDD, and as administrator of its newly awarded IDDRC.

11/17/2021

Partners in Maine DD Network Collaborate on COVID-19 Vaccination Video PSAs

Partners in the Maine Developmental Disabilities Network (the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Disability Rights Maine, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, and Speaking Up for Us) collaborated with Gray Media Group (WAGM-TV) to design, produce and broadcast seven video public service announcements (PSAs) to help increase COVID-19 vaccinations among people with disabilities and direct support professionals; the individuals who support people with disabilities where they live and work.

11/17/2021

Putting Faith to Work: How Faith Communities Can Support Employment for People with Disabilities

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher and VKC UCEDD co-director Erik Carter, Ph.D., collaborated with Bill Gaventa, M.Div., for a guest blog post on the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

11/17/2021

Registration for the National Training Institute on Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behavior 2022 is now open! Register today!

The National Training Institute provides an in-depth learning experience built around the #PyramidModel. The Institute, sponsored by Florida Center for Inclusive Communities and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (OSEP) brings together experts from around the country who skillfully present three-hour workshops and 1-hour toolkit sessions offering practical, ready-to-use information on systems and practices to promote social-emotional development in young children.

11/17/2021

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The first video in a series of the Worth The Shot Campaign by the Mississippi Developmental Disabilities Network is now available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWORTVZdfyA. The video is available in long format and a 30-second format that will air on local television stations.

11/17/2021

The Indigenous Communities Workgroup

The Indigenous Communities Workgroup will be meeting December 8 4-5pm ET. This meeting provides a space for programs to collaborate on effective and culturally competent indigenous engagement.

11/17/2021

The NCED Family Navigation Network: Mapping the Maze

As most parents know, mapping out healthcare when you have a child with a special health care need is anything but simple. Located with the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, the Family Navigation Network offers family-led healthcare system navigation. Staffed by family members of children and youth with a variety of health conditions, we support other families in their own leadership and advocacy journey, and we promote family-centered care and family/professional partnerships.

11/17/2021

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Behavior Support Services provides training to OSU East

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Behavior Support Services is now working with OSU East to provide training to nursing staff on working with individuals with developmental disabilities and challenging behavior while they are hospitalized. They will also be available to provide case specific consultation as needed.

11/17/2021

Virginia UCEDD Announces New Executive Director

Dr. Parthenia "Parthy" Dinora has been named the new Executive Director of the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Dinora has spent her career in the disability field administering direct service projects focused on community participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, conducting research and evaluation studies focused on disability services and supporting families, and generating new focus areas at the UCEDD.

11/17/2021

WVU Expands Options for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

This fall six new West Virginia University students with intellectual and developmental disabilities are paving the way for future students to be able to go to college, live on campus and gain academic and career preparation.

11/9/2021

AUCD and ecoAmerica Partner to Bring Disability Perspective to Climate Justice

"We look forward to partnering to proactively work on these issues. People with disabilities need to be engaged at every level of climate justice. We must work with climate and health partners to foster connections, build trust, create sustainable relationships," says John Tschida, AUCD's Executive Director. "Our work is to help partners identify opportunities for disability inclusion in local planning and show how to take action."

11/9/2021

Translation of the Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) into Tagalog, Samoan, and Chuukese

The California-Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (LEND) Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, directed the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)-funded Health Professional Support Program for Children with Zika Virus Infection in American Samoa and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Basin. After working with American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam and traveling to American Samoa, the CA-LEND team collectively identified that developmental screening tools were not available in languages that are commonly spoken in the islands

11/3/2021

Build Back Better Act Framework Explainer: What Does It Mean for the Disability Community?

Build Back Better Explainer.pdf (211KB) [download]

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, President Biden released the Build Back Better Act framework (BBB) and corresponding legislative text. This expansive bill covers a wide range of social service needs, supporting direct support professionals (DSPs), health care services, the climate crisis, universal Pre-K, and other essential services. We highlight key parts of the BBB framework that impact people with disabilities and direct support professionals (DSPs) in this document.

11/2/2021

Plain Language Fact Sheet on President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan

Plain Language Fact Sheet on President Biden's COVID+10 Action Plan (320KB) [download]

The latest vaccine guidance continues to be released based on the most up-to-date information. President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan has been updated with the latest vaccine, testing, and mask rules. In this document we answer frequently asked questions about President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan.

11/1/2021

LEND Representation in the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Elizabeth Cleveland, PhD, CCC-SLP, Director of Training for the AR LEND, has been elected as the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association President-Elect for the 2022 calendar year. Dr. Cleveland was also recognized earlier this year as a Distinguished Early Career Professional through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Center.

10/26/2021

AUCD Launches New Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Hub website

AUCD is excited to launch the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Hub. This new hub expands the former Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit, to now host a broad array of existing resources related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural and linguistic competence. The hub includes a new Resource Crosswalk as well as episodes from AUCD's new podcast, AUCD Network Narratives: Real Stories from our Members.

10/26/2021

AUCD Welcomes Cindy Smith as Director of Public Policy

Cindy Smith will serve as the Director of Public Policy for AUCD, working to formulate and implement AUCD's legislative and advocacy priorities and strategies. She will begin on November 8. Cindy began her career as a Research Study Coordinator and Database Manager at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) in Boston. For the last 11 years, Cindy has worked in public policy and advocacy for the DD Act partners at the state or national levels. Most recently, she served as Deputy Director for Policy and Public Affairs at the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

10/26/2021

SMA Highlights: Updates from Biogen

Biogen Q3 2021 SMA Community Statement (2).pdf (613KB) [download]

Biogen is excited to share several highlights from the last few months. We Biogen announced the presentation of new data from the SPINRAZA (nusinersen) clinical development program and their plans to initiate a new clinical research study called ASCEND.

10/22/2021

AUCD 360 - October 2021

10/19/2021

Conscious Collaborations for Equitable Research

In this interactive session, a panel of leaders will share their experiences and perspectives regarding equity in research. They will discuss what equity in research means and looks like throughout the lifecycle of a research project from conception through implementation to dissemination. Panelists will explore with one another the who, what, when, where and how of meaningfully involving diverse individuals and partnering with diverse communities throughout the process of scientific discovery.

10/19/2021

Do You See Me? Missing Disability Data on Research Impact and Public Health

Join this dynamic session as we explore disability data, gaps in data and collection, and the impact of missing disability data on current research and public health efforts. Examples from state health departments, universities, and community partners will be reviewed as we share challenges and opportunities for research and the disability community. Insights into the lack of data in public health programs, its impact and how this is changing will be shared. We will explore policy levers to support disability data to enhance full inclusion and meaningful lives for all.

10/19/2021

Engaging with Congress to Connect Research and Lived Experience to Influence Policy

Join us on Wednesday during the conference for the Closing Plenary: Engaging with Congress to Connect Research and Lived Experience to Influence Policy. Learn about the legislative work and priorities of elected disability advocates in Congress and how you can influence their work. We will be joined live by Donna Shalala, former US Congresswoman from Florida and President of the University of Miami, the longest serving U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Presidential Medal of Freedom winner. Dr. Shalala will be interviewed by our own AUCD Conference Chair and Director of the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami, Danny Armstrong. Their conversation will discuss disability policy, higher education, and the importance of inclusive research.

10/15/2021

Announcing our 2021-2022 Emerging Leaders Interns!

We are excited to announce the AUCD Emerging Leaders Interns for the 2021-2022 training year! These trainees will serve as visible ambassadors to the broader AUCD network, interacting with AUCD staff at all levels and the AUCD Board of Directors' Emerging Leaders Representative.

10/15/2021

Human Development Center Supports Developmental Screening for Over 600 Young Children

HDC reaches milestone in developmental screening through new collaborative partnerships while simultaneously providing training and consultation in 25 early learning centers.

10/15/2021

IHD Awarded Second Five-Year, $5M Cooperative Agreement to Provide Training and Technical Support to Tribal VR Projects Nationwide

For the last six years, the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Training and Technical Assistance Center (AIVRTTAC) has played a vital role in supporting vocational rehabilitation personnel who help American Indians with disabilities obtain gainful and fulfilling employment. Now, thanks to another five-million-dollar, five-year cooperative agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, this important work can continue. A

10/15/2021

Iowa's Pipeline Programs Promote Self-Advocacy, STEM and More

Iowa's UCEDD has continued to focus on pipeline activities to develop future leaders, and to promote diversity and inclusion as we build capacity in our state. This summer, we hosted two pipeline projects, which we expect to continue as annual activities in Iowa.

10/15/2021

Kennedy Krieger Room to Grow Conference

On September 14, the Office for Health, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity at Kennedy Krieger Institute hosted the 11th annual Room to Grow: Journey to Cultural and Linguistic Competency Conference. The event was co-sponsored by the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger; the Institute's Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program; and the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

10/15/2021

Louisiana LEND Scholar Receives Fellowship Position at RWJF

2020-21 Louisiana LEND scholar Natasha M. Lee-Johnson, MSW, MED has been selected for a competitive fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as a Health Policy Research Scholar.

10/15/2021

Maryland's UCEDD Faculty Takes on Social Inclusion as Social Justice

Mirian Ofonedu, PhD, LCSW-C, is the Director of Training at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Maryland's one and only UCEDD. Dr. Ofonedu coordinated efforts to launch the Diverse, Racial, Ethnic and Multicultural Special Interest Group (DREAM-SIG) of the American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (Division 37).

10/15/2021

NH-ME LEND Program Launches 30th Year With Fall 2021 Kickoff Event

In early September, a new cohort of trainees from New Hampshire and Maine traveled to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for the Fall 2021 Kickoff. Faculty and trainees had the opportunity to meet in person, participate in team-building activities at The Browne Center for Innovative Learning (UNH's outdoor educational center), and gather the following day for the Leadership Boost, a core LEND activity

10/15/2021

Public Health Researcher Receives Federal Funding to Help Address Mental Health Needs of Youth

The School of Public Health at Georgia State University has received a $624,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to implement a mental health awareness training program for adults who regularly interact with youth. The program aims to increase community capacity to identify mental health concerns in children ages 12 to 18 and improve their access to needed supports and services.

10/15/2021

University of Miami Audiology Professionals Recognized by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Daniela Berrios and Molly Smeal, two audiology professionals from the University of Miami Health System, received the Distinguished Early Career Professional (ECP) certificate from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The award was created by ASHA to recognize and identify ECPs in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology who are making an impact in the areas of leadership, volunteering, or advocacy at the local, state, and/or national level.

10/14/2021

Act Early Network News, Fall 2021 Issue

10/14/2021

HDI Launches Storytelling Website

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute Digital Storytelling Initiative highlights the stories and lived experiences of people with disabilities. Interviews address multiple life experience living and working in the community. Most recently, the Vaccine Confidence and Access for People for People with Disabilities Initiative interviewed with people with disabilities about their vaccine experience and the importance of keeping our communities healthy.

10/13/2021

AUCD 2021 Hill Day Virtual Meeting Request

HillDay VirtualMeetingRequest.docx (30KB) [download]

We have provided a sample script that you may individualize to set-up a meeting with members offices for the #AUCD2021 Virtual Hill Day. Note: you will need to fill in the editable fields and delete the highlighted text before sending.

10/13/2021

Creating a Map to Navigate Missouri's Abuse and Neglect Investigations System

UMKC Institute for Human Development has partnered with the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council to develop the Missouri Adult Abuse & Neglect Investigations System interactive Map. The map has multiples uses, including Missouri reporting agencies to improve the abuse reporting system, and for training and educational purposes.

10/13/2021

Getting and Keeping Iowa ON-TRAC for Health

Iowa's UCEDD recently received an award from ACL to implement a plan for community-based transition to adult health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

10/13/2021

Mailman Center Welcomes Three New Faculty Members

Three new faculty members are joining or taking on new roles at the Mailman Center for Child Development: Dr. Douglene Jackson, Dr. Paula Karina Perez, and Dr. Luiza Vianna Mali.

10/13/2021

NCED Path to Independence Student and Faculty Featured on Autism Goes to College Podcast

Path to Independence (P2I) offers young adults (age 18-28) with intellectual disabilities access to college through a 2-year, non-degree seeking certificate program. One of the program's students and the Academic Coordinator were invited guests on the podcast, Autism Goes to College. Listen to the conversation in Episode 7 on Spotify,

10/11/2021

Equality vs. Equity in the Olympic Games

I haven't been watching the Olympics. The more I think about it, the more unfair the Olympics become. The Olympics are based on the idea of "equality." Equality means everyone gets the same thing and performs under the same conditions. The Olympics strives to create a controlled environment where the only variable is the athletic talent of the Olympians. But this concept is inherently flawed in that not all athletes are the same. In fact, all athletes,like all people, are a little different. And the challenge with equality is that when everyone is submitted to the same conditions it will inherently advantage some and discriminate against others.

10/11/2021

LEND Programs Collaborate For ECP Initiative

A new collaboration between Va-LEND, UCEDD, LEND-Pitt, and the University of Connecticut UCEED & LEND will occur over the next 5-year grant cycle. The Early Childhood Partnerships (ECP) initiative, is an expansion of a pilot program that was conducted in previous years between LEND-Pitt and VA-LEND.In years one through five of the grant, trainees from each organization who are interested in early childhood will gather virtually. This is an opportunity for them to network, to engage with one another, and to learn best practices in early childhood. A total of four virtual activities a year will be conducted for the ECP initiative.

10/11/2021

Listen to the New MI-DDI Podcast Series, Possibilities

The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) is excited to announce a new podcast series, Possibilities. Possibilities examines topics that affect people with disabilities and their support systems. The podcast features guest speakers who work to improve quality of life for people with disabilities.

10/11/2021

PATHS Program Hires New Program Coordinator, Melanie McCurry

The PATHS Program at Texas A&M University is proud to announce our newest team member, Melanie McCurry! Melanie will be responsible for the day-to-day program coordination of the PATHS Program. Melanie brings a wealth of experience and unmatched passion for working with individuals with disabilities at the postsecondary level and we are proud to have her join the PATHS family!

10/11/2021

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center received a $2.8 million CDC grant to help improve lives of adults with disabilities in Ohio

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded a $2.8 million, 5-year grant to Ohio State's Nisonger Center, which is part of the Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, Office of Health Sciences and Neurological Institute. This funding will support efforts to improve the health of adults with mobility limitations as well as adults with intellectual disabilities in Ohio.

10/11/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center TRIAD Program Partners With Zoological Association to Develop 'Inclusive Communities of Science'

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) is collaborating with Oregon State University's STEM Research Center and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to support the Modeling Zoos and Aquariums as Inclusive Communities of Science (MoZAICS) project.

10/11/2021

Your Shot to End COVID

Hear from people with disabilities, their families and direct support professionals on why they got or are looking forward to getting, the COVID-19 Vaccine.

10/6/2021

Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University Announces a New Funded Grant

The "I Generate Rural Opportunities for Work" (iGROW) Project is a one-year pre-employment and leadership-training program for students with disabilities who are currently enrolled in middle school and high school (ages 14-22). The purpose of the program is to provide a training environment to support students with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.

10/6/2021

State and Territorial Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams Receive a Second Year of Funding to Support Early Childhood Systems

State and Territorial Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams have been awarded a second year of funding for the grant opportunity for Support for Early Childhood State Systems through the Act Early Network. This second year, beginning 9/1/2021, has been made possible by an infusion of funding to support an Act Early Network-wide response to COVID-19 through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

10/4/2021

MMI Contributes to Study on Whole Genome Sequencing

For nearly three years, Kristen Fishler, a genetic counselor at the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Genetics, and her colleagues at UNMC and MMI, have been working with sites across the country to document the impact of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as a diagnostic tool for acutely ill infants with a suspected genetic disease.

10/4/2021

OHSU UCEDD Director wins Excellence in Teaching Award

Rhonda Eppelsheimer, co-Director and Associate Professor at the Oregon Institute on Development & Disability UCEDD/LEND was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Department of Pediatrics at Oregon Health & Science University.

10/4/2021

UD's Spectrum Scholars Students Attract Media Attention

Delaware Public Media spotlights the University of Delaware-JPMorgan Chase Spectrum Scholars program and two of its participating students. Both secured internships, an outgrowth of the Center for Disabilities Studies-administered program's attention to career development.

10/4/2021

Zephyr James (MN LEND, 2018-19) Returns to LEND a Perspective

Zephyr James (MN LEND, 2018-19), who has autism, will address the current class of MN LEND fellows in October about deficits/traits. "Any trait can be seen as a deficit if you frame it a certain way," she said. ALT text for photo: Zephyr James (MN LEND, 2018-19).

10/1/2021

New Resources from AAP Telehealth Available

As part of the "Supporting Providers and Families to Access Telehealth and Distant Care Services for Pediatric Care" project, with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau, there are several new resources available for pediatric care providers, as well as for supporting medical home teams in building partnerships with families and implementing family-centered telehealth.

9/28/2021

Inclusive Public Health Quarterly - Fall Edition 2021

9/27/2021

What You Need to Know About "Long COVID" and Your Rights Under Disability Rights

What You Need to Know About (297KB) [download]

Most people who get COVID-19 recover within days or weeks of contracting the virus. However, some people experience Long-COVID conditions for weeks or even months longer. Long COVID conditions are also often commonly known as "Post-COVID conditions," "long-haul COVID," "post-acute COVID-19," "long-term effects of COVID," or "chronic COVID."

9/22/2021

Coming Soon! AUCD Launches a New Podcast

We are proud to present AUCD's new podcast-- AUCD Network Narratives: Real Stories from Our Members. The podcast shares real stories from network members who are working to change systems and structures that impact people with disabilities. This first season focuses on network members promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion and reducing disparities for Black and brown disabled people. Be on the look in the next couple of weeks when our first episode will air.

9/22/2021

ECHO Autism: Training Community Clinicians to Provide Quality Care for Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Primary care providers-physicians, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants- are invited to participate in ECHO Autism videoconferencing sessions focusing on caring for the unique needs of autistic adults.

9/21/2021

AUCD 2021 Conference Scholarships Available!

AUCD places great importance on having a diverse group of participants at the AUCD Conference. We seek to make the conference and all information presented as accessible as possible to as many people as possible, and recognize that cost can often be a barrier to attending. The AUCD Virtual Conference continues to provide a reduced registration fee for students, individuals with disabilities, and family members of individuals with disabilities. We are also providing both Leader and Conference scholarships this year to offset the cost of the virtual registration. Learn about the opportunities available this year and see if you are eligible to apply.

9/20/2021

AUCD's 12 Children's Mental Health Champions Complete Their Projects for the 2020-2021 Year

In 2020, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with the launch of a new pilot program, Children's Mental Health Champions. This effort was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twelve Champions were selected, representing American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia, to serve as liaisons to the CDC's Children's Mental Health project in 2020-2021.

9/17/2021

AUCD 360 - September 2021

9/17/2021

Get the Facts: Managing Resources to Help Youth with Disabilities Transition from School to Employment

Employment First Massachusetts Partnership for Transition to Employment (MPTE) has released a series of fact sheets for family members and support providers of youth with disabilities who are transitioning to competitive integrated employment.

9/17/2021

New Nationally Certified Training for Vocational Rehabilitation Leaders

View Press Release (235KB) [download]

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston is announcing the Transformational Rehabilitation Leader Training (TRLT), a new, nationally certified, professional education program in partnership with the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI).

9/16/2021

AUCD International Activities Survey

AUCD is collecting information about international activities across all member centers and programs. We are hoping to capture both the competency and capacity of the network. The results of this survey will inform activities of the AUCD Board of Directors and International Committee, and the level of support AUCD Central Office provides to network members regarding international activities.

9/16/2021

Request for Application: Trainee and Training Director Stipend Opportunity for Local Vaccine Outreach

Request for Application: Trainee and Training Director Stipend Opportunity for Local Vaccine Outreach (310KB) [download]

Through an upcoming single-source award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a selection of Trainees and Training Directors from the AUCD network members will conduct COVID-19 vaccine outreach with the disability community as part of a larger effort, Local Vaccine Outreach with the Disability Community. Successful applicants will propose innovative message delivery streams and local modalities to reach people with disabilities (including individuals not connected to service delivery systems), their families, and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), with the overarching goal of boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates in the disability community.

9/16/2021

Research Survey Opportunity (with a $10 gift card) for Parents and Guardians of Youth with Disabilities

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute (Maryland's UCEDD) and the University of Missouri Kansas City's Institute for Human Development (Missouri's UCEDD) are seeking parents and legal guardians of school-age children with intellectual or developmental disabilities to participate in an online survey to help us understand their concerns about their child's return to school in-person during COVID-19.

9/15/2021

Dr. Laura Stough awarded the Knowledge Award for Excellence in Education or Research

This summer Dr. Laura Stough was awarded the Knowledge Award for Excellence in Education or Research from the Texas Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. It was awarded for significant contributions to the dissemination of knowledge in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities through education and/or research.

9/15/2021

PATHS Program Begins their First Semester and First Day of Class as a 2-year Certificate Program

The two-year PATHS certificate program prepares graduates for employment in a career serving people with disabilities or working with children. Students have begun their first year and are excited to get started. After spending a few weeks this summer living in dorms on campus and learning how to navigate the buses and getting around on campus. This semester they are living in housing off campus and taking classes.

9/15/2021

The Center on Disability and Development Joins Forces to Make Sure People with Disabilities Can Get Vaccinated

Want to learn more about the Covid 19 vaccine or need help getting it (1,316KB) [download]

The Center on Disability and Development joins forces to make sure people with disabilities can get vaccinated The CDD has joined forces with our DD network partners in Texas and other organizations to make sure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to get vaccinated!

9/15/2021

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe as They Head Back to School During COVID-19

Worried about your child being exposed to COVID-19 you can take to ensure they have a safe return to school. Produced by the University of Cincinnati UCEDD.

9/15/2021

TTAP Battles Social Isolation with Connectivity Kits

In light of the pandemic and increased isolation in our communities, the Aging and Disability Resources Center of the Capital Area (ADRC) and the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) has partnered with the Texas Technology Access Program (TTAP) to create Connectivity Kits to help reduce social isolation by increasing connectivity for older persons, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers.

9/13/2021

Meet the 2021-2022 Autism SIG Vice Chairs!

The Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) is pleased to announce the new vice chairs for the 2021-2022 year. The vice chairs of the Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) will work closely with the co-chairs Brian Be and Dr. Laura Carpenter on SIG activities and events throughout the year.

9/9/2021

CORE Meeting Minutes September 2021

CORE Meeting Minutes Sepetmber 2021 final.pdf (127KB) [download]

9/7/2021

COVID-19 Screening in Schools for Children with IDD

Since November 2020, investigators at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine have studied whether weekly saliva-based screening testing of staff and students and mitigation strategies may help keep children with disabilities safe at school.

9/7/2021

FEMA Multimedia Resources and Links in Multiple Languages for Ida Response

As clean up efforts begin across several states, this page from FEMA offers general and state-specific information and resources related to applying for assistance, post-storm safety and news and multimedia products.

9/6/2021

Mailman Center Awarded Two FAAST Grants to Support Assistive Technology Program

As part of its mission to improve the quality of life for Floridians with disabilities by increasing access to assistive technology, the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Inc. (FAAST) has awarded two grants to support the Mailman Center for Child Development's Assistive Technology program.

9/3/2021

ITAC Bulletin Board - September 2021

Welcome to another academic year! As orientations conclude and seminars begin, we hope that you find the resources and other items in this newsletter useful in supporting the work of your faculty, staff, and trainees.

9/3/2021

Request for Application: Regional Hub for Local Vaccine Outreach

Request for Application: Regional Hub for Local Vaccine Outreach (210KB) [download]

Through an upcoming single-source award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a selection of up to four (4) centers or programs from the AUCD network members will lead regional hubs to coordinate local and regional COVID-19 vaccine outreach with the disability community as part of a larger effort, Local Vaccine Outreach with the Disability Community. Successful applicants will propose innovative strategies to rapidly share effective message delivery streams and local modalities to reach people with disabilities (including individuals not connected to service delivery systems), their families, and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), with the overarching goal of boosting COVID-19 vaccination rates in the disability community.

9/3/2021

Truth and Reconcilation Activity from START/UNH

Event Flyer (249KB) [download]

Are you a young adult with a developmental disability and mental health condition (IDD- MH)? Are you a family member of a young adult with IDD-MH? Would you like to learn more about how people with IDD-MH, their families, and researchers learn can do research together? Researchers at START/UNH, the University of Florida, and Georgetown University are inviting you to attend a "Truth and Reconciliation" activity. Reconciliation means to make things better.

9/2/2021

Connectivity Kits at Texas Center for Disability Studies

The Texas Technology Access Program, within the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin collaborated with the local Aging and Disability Resource Center (Capital Area Council of Governments) to assemble connectivity kits for persons with disabilities, older adults, and their caregivers. The intent is to reduce isolation while connecting people to their community and to telemedicine.

9/2/2021

Dr. Emily Graybill becomes new Director of Georgia UCEDD, Center for Leadership in Disability

Emily Graybill, PhD, has been a faculty member at the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU) since 2011. During that time, she has led impactful work that has strengthened Georgia's systems of care for children, adults, and families living with disabilities. Dr. Graybill transitioned into the role of Director on June 1st of this year following the retirement of CLD's founding Director.

9/2/2021

Dr. Jennifer Walton elected to the Executive Committee of the Section on Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Jennifer Walton, MD, MPH from the Ohio State University Nisonger Center was elected to the Executive Committee of the Section on Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Term to begin November 1st.

9/2/2021

Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice Salutes New Division Director

Dr. Tim Riesen is the new director of the Research and Training division of the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice. To him, the research and training are connected: conduct the research, strengthen the training.

9/2/2021

Meet Members of Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council

The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) is highlighting members of its Advisory Council (GAC) through a series of videos. The three newest members to participate are Wilma Elen, a parent of a person with an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD); Rebecca Salon an advisor to Project ACTION! and a representative from the State Office on Policy, Planning, and Innovation for the District of Columbia's Department on Disability Services; and Robert Kennedy, a member of Project ACTION!, an advocate, and a person with the lived experience of developmental disability.

9/2/2021

MI-DDI and FEMA Flood Disaster Speakers Panel

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to host a webinar featuring several speakers from FEMA on August 25, 2021. The session focused on resources and aid available to Michiganders affected by the severe storms and floods of June 2021. The webinar and links to resources and information can be accessed on MI-DDI's video resources page.

9/2/2021

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Next Chapter Book Club Updates

Each of the 11 Next Chapter Book Clubs in central Ohio, which had been meeting virtually for the past year, voted in July to either return to in-person meetings, remain virtual, or create a hybrid schedule. Seven clubs eagerly chose to begin meeting in-person again, and members and facilitators in these clubs have been greatly enjoying the chance to be together.

9/2/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center UCEDD Co-director Aims to Expand Inclusive Higher Education in the U.S. Through Accreditation Committee Work

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UEDD, LEND) UCEDD co-director Elise McMillan, J.D., recently served on a national workgroup of experts to develop model program accreditation standards for inclusive higher education (IHE) programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The 2021 Think College! National Coordinating Center Accreditation Workgroup wrapped up its work with the recent release of its latest five-year report.

9/1/2021

New Hawk-IDDRC in Iowa

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute (INI) are joining forces with other researchers, clinicians, physicians, and scientists across the UI enterprise to form a new center aimed at advancing care for Iowans with IDDs. The center will be funded over 5 years by a $6.2 million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health. The new center, dubbed Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, or Hawk-IDDRC, will partner with CDD to integrate clinical care, teaching, and community outreach using a unique model found at only a handful of other health care institutions in the country.

9/1/2021

Nisonger Center & AUCD Professional Fellows Win U.S. State Department Award

The U.S. Department of State has awarded a $32,000 AEIF grant to AUCD Professional Fellows alumni and a Nisonger Center team led by Dr. Margo Izzo and Dr. Paula Rabidoux. The AEIF award (U.S. Department of State Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund) will sponsor the expansion of an online inclusive education & employment training partnership that connects Ohio LEND faculty, staff, and trainees to teachers in Tanzania's schools.

9/1/2021

Skills and Strategies for Health Care Decision-Making with Children Guide

The Skills and Strategies for Health Care Decision-Making guide was developed by URLEND trainees supported by the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at the University of Montana. The free guide may be printed or downloaded as a fillable PDF.

9/1/2021

Summer Enrichment Academy 2021: It's Time to Find the Superhero in You

When you think of summertime, you probably think of taking vacations, soaking up the sun, spending time with family and friends, and having time away from school. In Mississippi, 22 youth and young adult students with disabilities chose to make their summer a work learning experience instead. These students attended the ToTAL (Transition of Teens to Adult Life) 2021 Summer Enrichment Academy.

9/1/2021

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Welcomes Psychiatrist Dr. Ashley Byrd

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center at Wexner Medical Center welcomes Ashley Byrd, MD, psychiatrist. Dr. Byrd is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in The Ohio State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.

9/1/2021

Trainee Voice: What I Learned in LEND by Victoria Murray

In May 2021, the Hawaii MCH LEND Program congratulated 22 long term trainees on their successful completion of the Program. At the final training session, trainee Victoria Murray (Discipline: Self-Advocacy) shared a beautiful poem with the cohort that captured what she learned in the Program. We wanted to share that poem with all of you.

9/1/2021

UNH Approved for $4.86 Million in Research Funding for Study of Telehealth Services on Mental Health Outcomes for People with IDD

Research associate professor Joan B. Beasley and a research team from the Center for START Services at the Institute on Disability (IOD) at UNH has been approved for a $4.86 million funding award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for their study: Evaluation of Telehealth Services on Mental Health Outcomes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The project will include partners from the University of Florida and Johns Hopkins Kennedy Krieger Institute

8/30/2021

Crip Camp Screening and Conversation with Judy Heumann

IOD staff and faculty recently participated in a unique professional development opportunity with renowned disability rights activist, advocate, and author Judy Heumann. The virtual event kicked off with a screening of the ground-breaking, Academy-award nominated film Crip Camp-in which Judy starred-and was followed by an enriching discussion on the creation of the film and Judy's thoughts on the current state of disability in America.

8/30/2021

Dan Habib Accepts New Role at the Westchester Institute for Human Development

Dan Habib, Project Director and Filmmaker at the UNH Institute on Disability (IOD), has accepted the position of Inclusive Communities Project Director at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) in Valhalla, NY. Habib assumed his new role on July 26.

8/30/2021

Guidelines to Improve Mental Health Treatment for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Center for START Services� (CSS) IDD-MH Prescriber Guidelines is designed to improve health outcomes by aligning primary and mental health practices with lived, user experience. Contrary to existing psychiatric prescriber�s guidelines, CSS engaged prescribers, mental health clinicians, and people with lived experiences throughout the study�s research and development process.

8/30/2021

IOD Programs Celebrate Major Milestones

The IOD celebrated two major programmatic milestones this summer. In the month of June, the Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) recognized 10 years of ensuring all New Hampshire residents have access to person-centered options to allow them to live and age in the communities of their choice. Since 2011, CACL, a collaboration between the Institute on Disability (IOD) and the Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at the University of New Hampshire, has been actively engaged in projects related to aging and long-term care.

8/30/2021

MMI Camp Uses VR Games to Achieve Therapy Goals

In August, the Munroe-Meyer Institute held a two-week Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Training (HABIT) camp.The institute has held the camp three times in the past. The purpose of the camp is to allow children with cerebral palsy and other conditions to work on bimanual therapy (using both hands to complete a task) in the form of play. This year, however, there was a new twist with the introduction of virtual reality games, designed by James Gehringer, PhD, and the MMI Virtual Reality Lab, that incorporated the therapeutic play concept into video games.

8/30/2021

Nisonger Center & JPMorgan Chase Collaboration

Six students from The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College participated in paid internships through the Autism At Work program with JPMorgan Chase Consumer & Community Banking at their Polaris Campus.

8/30/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Efforts Enhance Inclusivity in Clinical Trials

Following the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center�s (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) renewal as a national Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center in 2020, the center underwent a shuffling of their four scientific cores that support basic and applied research on intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

8/26/2021

What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine and Your Rights Under the ADA

What You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine and Your Rights Under the ADA (257KB) [download]

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides individuals with disabilities with legal protections and guarantees of rights applicable to vaccination, and vaccine and mask mandates. Here we answer some common FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine and your rights under the ADA.

8/25/2021

2021 Report on UCEDD-University Relationships and Agreements

University-UCEDD Relationships and MOUs Report.pdf (1,229KB) [download]

This new report explores the relationships between UCEDDS and their home university by analyzing responses to a fall 2020 survey on UCEDD-university relationships and shared Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or other official agreements. It explores commonalities and unique features of these relationships and offers some guidance for UCEDDs revisiting their agreements or relationships.

8/25/2021

2021 Report on UCEDD-University Relationships and Agreements

Download Report (1,229KB) [download]

This new report explores the relationships between UCEDDS and their home university by analyzing responses to a fall 2020 survey on UCEDD-university relationships and shared Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or other official agreements. It explores commonalities and unique features of these relationships and offers some guidance for UCEDDs revisiting their agreements or relationships.

8/24/2021

MI-DDI Spanish Language COVID-19 Vaccine Infographics

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute is excited to share six Spanish plain language infographics on the COVID-19 vaccine. Access these resources on their COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence landing page, under "Plain Language Infographics (Spanish)". Help share these resources to promote vaccine confidence!

8/20/2021

Request for Applications: AUCD-funded Pilot Study Using Administrative Data to Evaluate "Child Find" Early Identification Systems

Request for Applications: Pilot Study Using Administrative Data to Evaluate (843KB) [download]

Informational Call FAQ (21KB) [download]

This project will support evaluation of Child Find activities in 1-2 states using existing administrative data from the state early intervention (Part C) program and at least one other early childhood program such as preschool special education (Part B of IDEA), Medicaid, and developmental screening registries or a data system that already includes linked data from the Part C program and other early childhood programs.

8/18/2021

AUCD 360 - August 2021

8/17/2021

PFP-IDE Alumni Ronald Kasule & Hassan Waddimba Launch Uganda's First Disability Accommodations Website

Ugandan Professional Fellows alumni Ronald Kasule and Hassan Waddimba have officially launched the DASUNS online platform (Diversity Ability Support Network System), which will broaden access to critical services for people with disabilities in their country. DASUNS (Diversity Ability Support Network System) is a social enterprise that provides information about disability resources and services in order to connect people with disabilities, service providers, and agencies. Its new website is a historic step forward for online access to disability accommodations in Uganda.

8/16/2021

AUCD 2021 Exhibitor and Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

AUCD is committed to providing sponsors and exhibitors with the opportunity to engage with and reach out to a vast network of community leaders, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, professionals, advocates and students. A virtual platform will allow for recognition on both AUCD's conference website and the virtual event website, free registrations for your group to attend the conference depending on sponsorship level, an opportunity to sponsor and have banners at the top of virtual conference events, targeted and individualized interactions with attendees, and much more.

8/12/2021

AIR-P Scholars & Pilot and Feasibility Funding Program

AIR-P 2022 RFP (392KB) [download]

The Autism Intervention Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) seeks applications for the AIR-P Scholars & Pilot and Feasibility funding program during January-December 2022 project year. Proposals must address a topic or topics related to autism and physical health with a focus on enhancing the health and well-being of autistic people. Preference will be given to projects with an emphasis on underserved groups.

8/11/2021

Child Care Aware of Kentucky Regional Administrator selected for 2021 Exchange Leadership Initiative

Hans Peterson, Regional Administrator of the Jefferson region of Child Care Aware (CCA) of Kentucky has been selected to participate in the 2021 Exchange Leadership Initiative. According to ChildCareExchange.com, the Exchange Leadership Initiative has been making leadership more visible in the field of early care and education to provide vision, stability, and direction.

8/11/2021

In Recognition of Senator Mike Enzi

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities extends our condolences to the Enzi family. Former Senator Michael B. Enzi was a champion for Wyoming and for individuals with disabilities, especially developmental disabilities. As a four-term senator with strong conservative principles, he sponsored, supported, and worked in bipartisan fashion to enact legislation to improve rights, services, health care, education, and employment for individuals with developmental and other disabilities.

8/11/2021

Kentucky Supported Higher Education Partnership Launches Website

The University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI) launches the Kentucky Supported Higher Education Partnership's (KSHEP) website. KSHEP is a network of institutions of higher education (IHEs) committed to increasing higher education options, access, and success for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Kentucky.

8/11/2021

New Book Spotlighting Parents with Disabilities Hits Shelves

A new book being published in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Avocado Press and the Center for Accessible Living contains the stories of thirty families, where one or both parents have disabilities. In enabling these parents to tell their stories, �A Celebration of Family: Stories of Parents with Disabilities� illustrates the infinite variety of the American family.

8/11/2021

University of Miami Mailman Center NextGen Students Join the Vaccine Confidence Grant Project

Aricle Summary (177KB) [download]

This past April, the Mailman Center for Child Development was awarded an AUCD grant to encourage responsiveness to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities to increase vaccine confidence. Collaboration amongst network partners to engage in continued conversation around issues is the primary goal, as well the creation of materials and resources to disseminate information about vaccines and the vaccination process.

8/10/2021

AUCD's Prepared4ALL Initiative Selected for 2021 Horace G. (Hod) Ogden Award

AUCD's Prepared4ALL initiative has been selected for the 2021 Horace G. (Hod) Ogden Award from the American Public Health Association's Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section. This award is highly competitive and honors outstanding use of humor to promote better health education, health promotion and health communication practice.

8/10/2021

PFP-IDE Alum Aneth Gerana Trains Women with Disabilities to Become Independent Business Leaders

AUCD Professional Fellows alumna Aneth Gerana completed a groundbreaking self-employment and business leadership training initiative for women with disabilities in Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Using lessons from her PFP-IDE Virtual Fellowship in 2020, Aneth delivered a series of trainings on practical and business skills to women with disabilities who aspire to own and manage small enterprises that produce and sell food. As of July 2021, 50 Tanzanian women with various auditory, visual, physical, and developmental disabilities have graduated from Aneth's new program, which has helped them start and strengthen their own small enterprises.

8/10/2021

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Appoints Dr. Karen Brown Dean of the School of Education

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) has appointed Dr. Karen Brown to serve as Dean of the School of Education after an extensive external search for a permanent hire. She has more than 20 years of higher education experience and 14 years in higher education leadership. Dr. Brown joined UVI in 2015 as an associate director of the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) and served as interim dean for two academic years.

8/6/2021

Haley Potter Awarded Burberry Award

The University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI) has awarded the prestigious Paul Kevin Burberry Award to Haley Potter. Haley is a full-time HDI staff member working across multiple projects at HDI. As part of her studies in the Universal Design Certificate Program, she created a guidebook for performing arts professionals to implement accessibility, inclusion, and universal design in their organizations.

8/5/2021

Upcoming Leadership Opportunity for Trainees: 2021-2022 AUCD Emerging Leaders Internship

AUCD is excited to announce (3) openings for the AUCD Emerging Leaders Internship for the 2021-2022 academic year. Ideal candidates are interested in learning more about information sharing, resource development, and stakeholder engagement in a national non-profit organization setting. Interns will represent the AUCD Emerging Leaders Community a network of current and former trainees, including early career professionals, and act as connection points between their respective centers/programs and the broader AUCD network.

8/2/2021

Disability Policy News

Editor's Note; Fiscal Year 22; Bipartisan Infrastructure; Budget reconciliation; Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act of 2021; CDC Guidance; National Council on Disability; Long COVID; Vaccine Distribution; AUCD Policy Talk; Tuesdays with Liz

8/2/2021

ICI Partners on Two US Department of Labor Awards to Expand Inclusive Apprentiship Opportunities

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) will partner with Jobs for the Future and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to modernize and diversify registered apprenticeship programs. Jobs for the Future's Diversity and Inclusion Technical Assistance Center of Excellence will focus on expanding opportunities in Registered Apprenticeships for justice-involved individuals, people of color, people in rural communities, people with disabilities, women, and youth.

8/2/2021

ICI Staffer Elected Chair of Melrose Commission on Disability

David Hoff of the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston was elected in May as chair of the City of Melrose Commission on Disability. The 7-member commission, formed in 2020, is working to enhance inclusion of people with disabilities.

8/2/2021

SELN Kicks Off Membership Year 16

July 2021 signals the start of the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) membership year 16! Founded in 2006 this collaborative effort is jointly managed by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)/University of Massachusetts Boston and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Currently 23 state IDD agencies have committed to improving integrated employment outcomes for the 2021-2022 membership year. Common strategic themes will be explored through state-specific technical assistance and network-wide discussions.

8/2/2021

The Latest ThinkWork State Date Blue Book is Here - What's happening in your state?

What does the data say about employment and economic self-sufficiency for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in your state? Since 1988, the ICI has collected data from state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) agencies, the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system, the Social Security Administration, US Census, the Department of Labor, and other entities to describe trends in day and employment services for individuals with IDD.

7/27/2021

30 Years of Community Living

"30 Years of Community Living for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities," a free digital book from the Administration for Community Living written in accessible language, features infographics, photos, and personal perspectives on community living and inclusion shared by people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, who served as advisors to the project.

7/26/2021

Disability Policy News

Infrastructure and budget reconciliation; Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA); Subminimum Wage; Public Charge; Vaccine Distribution; AUCD Policy Talk; Tuesdays with Liz

7/26/2021

Recognize Exemplary Leadership - Submit an AUCD Award Nomination by September 3rd  

The annual AUCD Awards gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals, programs, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made outstanding contributions. We honor leadership, advocacy, research, policy, and practice that further diversifies and creates more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families. Comprised of 10 categories, the AUCD Awards represent the exemplars within our network, and local, state, and federal partners.

7/22/2021

Free Coaching Available for UCEDD Staff to Implement the ED&I Action Plan

Free Individualized Coaching is available for UCEDD members on Implementing the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan. Meet the coaches and sign up for a free coaching session.

7/21/2021

AUCD 360- July 2021

7/19/2021

Disability Policy News

Infrastructure and budget reconciliation; Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers; Appropriations; Voting; Biden-Harris Administration; COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance; Vaccine Distribution; AUCD Policy Talk; Tuesdays with Liz

7/19/2021

Mailman Center for Child Development's Families First Program: The Impact of a Community-Based Program on Parenting

Download Article (133KB) [download]

The University of Miami's Families First Program, funded by The Children's Trust since 2004, delivers free parenting services to at-risk families with children ages birth to 3 throughout Miami-Dade County. Goals include building resources for parents, strengthening families, promoting optimal child health and development and reducing parental stress. Families First partners with over 20 community organizations including childcare facilities, places of worship and healthcare sites to offer two evidence-based/best practice parenting groups in English and Spanish at times and locations convenient to families. Baby & Me, developed by the University of Miami's Perinatal C.A.R.E., is a ten-session curriculum for parents and their infants ages birth to 12 months.

7/19/2021

Path's Graduate Abigail Junek

Abigail is excited about working at River Bend Elementary School and feels confident and prepared to begin her work as a paraprofessional in a SpEd setting in the fall. She is looking fo growing and learning in her career. Her ultimate goal is to earn a degree from Texas A&M University and become a certified Special Education Teacher. She stated that the PATHS program was a great first step for her.

7/16/2021

29 MN LEND Fellows Complete Year

Capping a year of learning and interacting almost entirely online, the 29 graduates of MN LEND certificate program recently closed out their final ceremony with messages from Minnesota's lieutenant governor, state senators from both political parties, a former MN LEND fellow, and others.

7/16/2021

Louisiana DeafBlindess for Youth (Louisiana UCEDD)

Louisiana's UCEDD, Human Development Center (HDC), is featured in Helen Keller National Center's 2021 DeafBlind Awareness video campaign. DeafBlind Awareness Week 2021 runs from June 27- July 3. HDC's DeafBlind initiative, Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth (LADBP), is supported by the US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs. LADBP identifies and supports students with varying degrees of combined hearing and vision losses throughout the state of Louisiana.

7/16/2021

Nisonger In 'Sights' Photo Contest

Photo Contest Flyer (1,393KB) [download]

The Nisonger In'Sights' Photo Contest first began in 2014 as a way to help increase positive images of individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities and their families. Since then, with themes varying from 'at work' , 'technology' and 'families'; we've received over 500 photos and been able to use them in a multitude of settings and variety of media including our website, facebook page, and various promotional, educational and research materials - THANK YOU!

7/15/2021

All in the Family: Salma Hussein (MN LEND, 2012-13)

Salma Hussein (MN LEND, 2012-13), recently selected as a 2021 Bush Fellow, will use the $100,000 fellowship to complete her doctorate degree in educational leadership and continue the non-profit organization she runs with her sister, Fatimah, the Girls Initiative in Recreation and Leisurely Sport (GIRLS). Trained as a social worker while attending MN LEND, she is now an assistant principal at a Saint Paul, Minnesota high school.

7/15/2021

Celebrating ADA in Good Health

Jennifer Hall-Lande of MN UCEDD/MN LEND in 2016 at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where, as the Minnesota Act Early Ambassador, she was trained to promote early identification, screening, and intervention for autism and related neurodevelopmental disabilities in culturally- and linguistically-diverse communities across Minnesota.

7/15/2021

Dan Habib of UNH's Institute on Disability Accepts New Role at the Westchester Institute for Human Development

Dan Habib, Project Director and Filmmaker at the UNH Institute on Disability (IOD), has accepted the position of Inclusive Communities Project Director at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) in Valhalla, NY. Habib will assume his new role on July 26.

7/15/2021

HHS Announces New Membership of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee: AUCD Network Members Added

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the appointments of new and returning members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Several AUCD Network Members were appointed.

7/15/2021

Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic at Rose F Kennedy UCEDD Site

On Friday June 11th, the RFK UCEDD's clinical site held a 'Pop- Up' Vaccination Clinic. The day was a huge success! A total of 40 patients were scheduled and 34 were vaccinated!Our space was carefully configured and even allowed for a safe, separate area for children and adults with behavioral or sensory issues.

7/15/2021

Prenatal Laws: Down Syndrome Information Acts

A state-by-state guide to Down Syndrome Information Acts. On October 8, 2008, the "Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act" was signed into law "to increase the provision of scientifically sound information and support services to patients receiving a positive diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions." Unfortunately, the federal law was never funded; therefore, several states have proposed and/or passed similar legislation.

7/12/2021

Disability Policy News

Infrastructure and budget reconciliation; Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing; abuse and neglect; Surprise Medical Billing; Voting; Biden-Harris Administration; American Rescue Plan; PICORI; IACC; AUCD Policy Talk; Tuesdays with Liz

7/9/2021

AUCD 360 - June 2021

7/7/2021

CLD Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Initiative

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University is launching a new public health initiative: COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence for People with Disabilities. This initiative is focused on building vaccine confidence in the disability community through conversations among people with disabilities, families, and the direct support workforce during the 2021 summer months.

7/7/2021

Congratulations to Marc J. Tasse, PhD

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Director Marc J. Tass�was awarded the AAIDD Exceptional Service to the Field and Association Award during the AAIDD 2021 Annual Meeting held on June 22nd. Dr. Tass�, is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry and is also the Director of Nisonger Center, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, at The Ohio State University. Marc has more than 30 years of experience in conducting research and providing clinical services in the field of intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other related neurodevelopmental disorders.

7/7/2021

IMPACT: A Special Issue on Crisis Management for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Impact contains contributions from researchers at Texas A&M University's Center on Disability and Development and the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Center for Disability Studies. Dr. Laura M. Stough, served as edition editor, along with Mary Sowers, Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, and Ren�ta Tich�, Co-Director of the Global Resource Center for Inclusive Education at the Institute on Community Integration. Note that this interactive digital edition also provides a voiced reader to increase accessibility.

7/7/2021

Kennedy Krieger Institute Hosted Special Vaccine Clinics for People with Disabilities

Kennedy Krieger Institute recently partnered with Johns Hopkins Medicine to offer a series of free, drive-through vaccine clinics for people with disabilities. The clinics were held at the Baltimore-based Institute. More than 100 volunteers helped to plan and carryout the well-attended clinics, which were designed especially for individuals with intellectual disabilities, serious mental health disorders, behavioral disorders and those with complex medical conditions. Volunteers administered 580 shots.

7/7/2021

OHSU UCEDD has been developing disability professionals for 20 years

The Institute on Development & Disability at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) UCEDD starts each summer with a group of fresh-faced interns hoping to inspire a career path that includes helping people with disabilities. Sometimes the UCEDD is lucky enough to be part of students� journeys beyond the eight-week summer internship program. �We are so fortunate to be a part of shaping the next generation of disability and health professionals. I am especially proud that our program focuses on training opportunities for students with disabilities or students who are from diverse communities and backgrounds. Occasionally we come across a student with a strong passion for the work who then continues on with us as they finish their high school or college career, such as Aleena West. It is a mutual learning experience as our students contribute so much.� says Rhonda Eppelsheimer, UCEDD Director.

7/7/2021

Ribbon Cut on New Home of Munroe-Meyer Institute

The UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute celebrated its new home June 8 with a ribbon-cutting event that showcased the innovation, care and commitment that went into creating the building at 6902 Pine St., near the University of Nebraska at Omaha Scott campus.

7/7/2021

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center receives $3.6 million grant from HRSA

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration awarded a $3.6-million, 5-year grant to the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center.

7/7/2021

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center's Early Learning Program Collaborates with Early Head Start

The Early Learning Program at the Nisonger Center just received an expansion to collaboration with Early Head Start; they will be providing social-emotional, developmental, and behavioral supports for an increased number of children/families, and will be hiring a social worker to assist their existing staff with these activities.

7/7/2021

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities Announces Partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) is pleased to announce its partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming. The Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado has expanded their territory to include the State of Wyoming as of July 1, and WIND will provide infrastructure and support that will assist the Epilepsy Foundation's advocacy and outreach across the state.

7/7/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) TRIAD and TEIS Partnership Continues, Expands Early Intervention Services

The Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) has renewed its contract with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) to continue and expand a partnership with Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS). The $4 million grant will continue to be driven by a shared mission to facilitate quick access to high quality early assessment and intervention services.

7/6/2021

New COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Tools and Videos for People with Disabilities

AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health is excited to share new COVID-19 Vaccine Resources to promote vaccine confidence for people with disabilities, their families, and Direct Support Professionals. The new resources include Vaccine Confidence Plain Language Talking Points to support and promote conversations around the COVID-19 vaccine for people with disabilities; Social Media Graphics featuring plain language text and a diverse array of characters; and short Videos of Vaccine Stories from individuals with disabilities and their family members from across the country. New videos and messaging tools are added continuously, and all are available for your use!

7/2/2021

Disability Policy News

Disability Policy News Special Edition: Infrastructure and Budget Reconciliation

7/2/2021

Texas Center for Disability Studies Receives LEND Grant

Texas has taken an important step forward in training leaders in service to children and adolescents with autism and other disabilities. The University of Texas at Austin�s Texas Center for Disability Studies (TCDS) was awarded the prestigious LEND grant to develop the next generation of interdisciplinary leaders prepared to improve the lives of youth with disabilities and their families

6/29/2021

Inclusive Public Health Quarterly - Summer Edition 2021

6/28/2021

Disability Policy News

Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, Better Care Better Jobs Act, Work Without Worry Act, Prescription Drug Pricing, Executive Order, Child Tax Credit, Eviction Moratorium, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

6/25/2021

HRSA Expands National Access to the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) Program

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently awarded 60 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) grants to universities and children's hospitals across the United States, expanding national access to interdisciplinary leadership training to meet the complex needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disorders (DD).

6/24/2021

Waisman Center UCEDD Partners with Community to Address Health Equity for Latino Families of Children with Developmental Disabilities with Funding from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Padres e Hijos en Accion and the Waisman Center University for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), University of Wisconsin-Madison announced a $330,000 grant to improve local health care responsiveness to the needs of Latino families of children with developmental disabilities and other special health care needs in Dane County. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the three-year campaign is part of the Community Solutions for Health Equity program led by Community Catalyst, a national non-profit health equity advocacy organization.

6/21/2021

#AUCDsleeveup Tuesdays with Liz Contest

We are excited to announce the new #AUCDsleeveup Tuesdays with Liz Contest! We are looking for short videos from persons with disabilities, their family members, and other friends of the disability community sharing why you got the COVID-19 vaccine! Videos will be posted to AUCD social media and available for you and others to share with your own social media. The top 3 videos with the most likes, comments, and shares on social media will *win* AUCD gear and the person with the top video will also win an interview on Tuesdays with Liz episode!

6/14/2021

Disability Policy News

Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021, Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, Recovery Proposals, Child Tax Credit, U.S. Department of Education, Employment Guidance, COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

6/8/2021

CORE Meeting Minutes June 2021

AUCD Core June 8 2021 Notes final.pdf (114KB) [download]

6/7/2021

Alaska LEND Alumni Erin Main Joins the Alaska AgrAbility Program

The Alaska LEND Without Walls is pleased to announce that Erin Main, a 2020 LEND alumni, has joined the Alaska AgrAbility program as service administrator. Erin will work part-time and assist with program development to include work with partnerships and community stakeholders. She will be developing the relationship with the AgrAbility program and UAA students in the Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. She will also work with the team to continue to expand outreach to build understanding around occupations, health, disabilities and agriculture. Erin's work with AgrAbility was synthesized throughout her LEND experience and LEND leadership project.

6/7/2021

Disability Policy News

President's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, Recovery Proposals, Biden-Harris Administration, Rationing of Care, American Rescue Plan, COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

6/7/2021

MI-DDI to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute is excited to #VaccinateByADA! Follow us on Facebook (@MIDDIatWSU) and Twitter (@DDIatWSU) to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines and why they are important for people with disabilities and their caretakers, family, and friends. Help spread the word by reposting and sharing our content to help reduce access barriers and promote vaccine confidence.

6/7/2021

National Vaccine Month of Action

Beginning June 4, Made to Save is launching a month-long mobilization effort in support of the Department of Health & Human Services' We Can Do This campaign to ensure as many people as possible get vaccinated by July 4th. From June 5th through July 4th, we're hosting community-level events across the country and online to encourage people-especially those in communities hit the hardest by the pandemic-to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community.

6/7/2021

Researchers Strive to Increase Neurodiversity in STEM Fields

There is wide agreement that the United States needs to grow our STEM workforce to remain globally competitive, but how can we ensure the workforce reflects the neurodiversity of our population? Importantly, do our higher education institutions serve as facilitators or barriers to neurodiversity in STEM?

6/7/2021

Second Annual Iowa LEND Virtual Research Poster Symposium

Iowa's LEND trainees participated in the second annual virtual research poster symposium in May. Twenty-eight trainees from a variety of disciplines presented. Though the poster session went virtual last year due to the pandemic, and was held virtually again this year, the format has proven to be a very successful platform for the event.

6/7/2021

Va-LEND Cohorts Complete New Pediatric PT Residency

May 2021 marks the first-year anniversary of the accreditation of the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. The program officially started in July of 2019 with its Director Terry Solano, PT, DPT. Solano is also a Va-LEND Faculty member and former Va-LEND Trainee. Jennifer Brashears, PT, DPT was one of two Va-LEND Trainees who were accepted into the program for the 2020-2021 academic year. "Residency programs are a relatively new idea in physical therapy, and even more so in pediatrics, so the process is competitive. Not all programs allow two residents, so this was unique and quite beneficial," said Brashears.

6/2/2021

Center Director Dr. Daniel Crimmins to Retire After 12 Years of "Leadership in Disability"

Dr. Daniel Crimmins celebrated his retirement from the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) on May 28, 2021 - after an illustrious 12 years at the helm of the organization, which was established at Georgia State University in 2008. Through multiple virtual celebrations, Dr. Crimmins was joined by friends and colleagues alike to mark the occasion.

6/2/2021

Congratulations to Katherine Walton!

Kathern Walton, Program Director of the Early Learning Program at The Nisonger Center, was selected as the recipient of the Department of Psychology Distinguished Teaching Award for 2020-2021!

6/2/2021

Innovation in Self-Advocacy and Family Networks Award Winner

Tracey Manz, the lead parent facilitator and program coordinator of Aspirations at the Nisonger Center, was awarded the Innovation in Self-Advocacy and Family Networks Award by the National Charting the LifeCourse Nexus.

6/2/2021

Invited lecture at the Boggs Center at Rutgers University

On May 21st, Andrea Witwer, Director of Training for the Nisonger Center and LEND Co-Associate Director, was invited to give a Lecture for the Boggs Center Developmental Disability Lecture Series sponsored by the Boggs Center at Rutgers University. "Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities".

6/2/2021

OSU TOPS Program Celebrates 2021 Graduating Class

The TOPS Program celebrated its seventh graduating class yesterday in an intimate, socially-distanced ceremony. The four graduates of the Class of 2021 were recognized for their hard work and effort, especially the ability to navigate their college experiences during a global pandemic. The TOPS Program staff are incredibly proud of these students, Congratulatons!

6/2/2021

Providing Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Direct Support Professionals Survey, 12-Month Follow Up

Over the past 12 months, direct support professionals have experienced high risks of infection, financial hardship, and exhaustion. Many have become ill and lost loved ones. The voices of DSPs matter, now more than ever. Show them you care about their wellbeing by passing along this confidential survey. The University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration, in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, developed this survey to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on direct support professionals and identify the most effective ways to protect DSPs and the people they support.

6/2/2021

The Boggs Center Celebrates the Graduation of the 2020-2021 NJLEND Fellows at the 5th Annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium

The Boggs Center celebrated the graduation of the 2020-2021 NJLEND Fellows at the New Jersey Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NJLEND) program's 5th annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium. Held virtually this year in response to COVID-19, the event featured a keynote address, "The Meaning of Resilience: Building Self-Healing Communities," by Dave Ellis, Founding Executive Director The Office of Resilience New Jersey Department of Children and Families, and was attended by those from the Rutgers community, New Jersey's Department of Children and Families and Department of Health, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, and other state and community organizations. There were brief video presentations by each of the 20 graduating NJLEND Fellows sharing their personal definitions of leadership, the culmination of the year-long Defining Leadership: Charting Your Trajectory Learning Exercise.

6/2/2021

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities Hosted a Virtual Graduation Ceremony to Celebrate the Accomplishments of the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Class of 2020-2021

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 11 self-advocates and 14 parents prepared to work toward meaningful change in our state.

6/2/2021

The Experts in the Room: Sonoran UCEDD students train Reid Park Zoo staff on accessibility, inclusion

Kayla was one of three other students who helped create and deliver a training focused on accessibility and inclusion at a local Tucson zoo. Kayla and her colleagues agree that the experience to apply what they learned and help make a difference in the community was a fulfilling experience.

6/1/2021

Disability Policy News

President's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, Biden-Harris Administration, Keeping All Students Safe Act, Recovery Proposals, Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities

6/1/2021

Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities Community and Professional Development Training Program Hosts its 2021 Summer Learning Series Virtually

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute is hosting its 2021 Summer Learning Series, consisting of 15 virtual workshops with interdisciplinary topics focused on working with children, youth, and adults with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities, and their families. The workshops will run from June 1 through July 29 to help disseminate critical information to providers, parents and caregivers, and people with disabilities across a wide range of topics.

6/1/2021

MN LEND Fellows Help Faith-based Organizations with Inclusion

Plenty of mission statements for faith-based organizations talk about welcoming everyone. When it comes to people with disabilities, however, it takes more than words and a wheelchair ramp to achieve true inclusion. MN LEND fellows, along with the MN UCEDD, are working with a Twin Cities-area church and mosque to think differently about how they serve worshippers with disabilities. MN LEND is an interdisciplinary leadership development program, funded by the U.S. Maternal & Child Health Bureau, that spans more than 16 disciplines across the University of Minnesota.

6/1/2021

New Tech Opens up Physical Therapy Opportunities

The new Munroe-Meyer Institute building was created to be on the cutting edge of clinical care and therapy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and one improved technology already is in use and garnering a positive response from therapists and clients. The ZeroG Gait and Balance System includes a safety harness that runs along an 80-foot-long track in the mobility lab in the department of physical therapy, but it is far from a traditional body weight harness, said Sandra Willett, PhD, director of the MMI Department of Physical Therapy.

6/1/2021

NH-ME LEND Trainees Display Scholarship and Leadership in 2021 Capstone Poster Session

On May 7, 2021, twenty-four trainees from the 2020-2021 New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NH-ME LEND) Program shared their scholarship and leadership development during the annual Capstone Poster Session and Celebration. In keeping with federal and state Centers for Disease Control (CDC) health and safety guidance, the event was held online. For the second year in a row, the trainees remotely collaborated with faculty mentors and leadership partners to complete their capstone projects throughout Maine and New Hampshire.

6/1/2021

Rett Syndrome Clinic Headed by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Researchers is Redesignated as International Center of Excellence

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is one of 15 institutions across the U.S. being honored with the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF)'s Center of Excellence designation or redesignation. The award recognizes the Vanderbilt Rett Syndrome Clinic's continued dedication to providing best-in-class clinical care for Rett syndrome, a rare neurological and developmental disorder.

6/1/2021

Rural Institute Launches Montana Voices Amplified

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, based at the University of Montana, has launched Montana Voices Amplified, a collaboration between the Montana Family to Family Health Information Center and the Rural Institute. Montana Voices Amplified (MVA) provides a microphone and audience so the stories, lessons, causes, and advice of individuals with disabilities and their families are heard. The project offers a stage so people can speak for themselves.

6/1/2021

The University of Miami Mailman Center LEND Program Empowers the Next Generation of Physicians

The Mailman Center LEND program has teamed up with the medical school's NextGenMD program to develop a pathway in Child Health, Development, and Leadership. The Next GenMD curriculum pathway provides a longitudinal, structured learning opportunity for a non-dual degree medical student in the form of didactic sessions, required coursework, research under the direction of faculty mentors, experiential learning, professional development through participation in organizations, societies and scientific meetings, and self-directed learning activities, both conventional and web-based.

6/1/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and ACM Lifting Lives Welcome New and Returning Campers to Virtual 2021 ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp

New and returning Music Campers from all over the U.S. and Canada came together via videoconference from Apr. 25 through May 2 to participate in a week of virtual activities and sessions, joined by ACM recording artists and songwriters including Priscilla Block, Ross Copperman, J.T. Harding, HARDY, Parmalee, Restless Road, Payton Smith, and Lainey Wilson.

5/26/2021

Seeking Conference Proposal Reviewers

AUCD is seeking network members to serve as reviewers for proposals received for the AUCD 2021 Conference. Your time and expertise will have a direct impact on ensuring the content presented at one of the nation's premier disability conferences is of the highest caliber and relevant to attendees. Our goal is to have the task be interesting while not requiring an overwhelming time commitment from reviewers. We are seeking individuals with expertise in a variety of topical areas and a diversity of perspectives and representation.

5/24/2021

Disability Policy News

Biden-Harris Administration, Credit for Caring Act, All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act, Recovery Proposals, COVID-19 Guidance, COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, American Rescue Plan, National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters, Organizations Object to Offensive Remarks, Annual Report, Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities

5/21/2021

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Organizations Leaders Object to Offensive Language Made by Albert Watkins

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Organization.pdf (157KB) [download]

AUCD and leading intellectual and developmental disability organizations object to the offensive language made by Albert Watkins. Read our joint statement below

5/17/2021

Disability Policy News

Biden-Harris Administration, Voting Rights, American Rescue Plan, Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021, Recovery Proposals, Vaccine Requirements for Facilities, Direct Support Professionals, School Reopening, Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities

5/12/2021

AUCD 360 - May 2021

5/12/2021

Parent Navigator Team's COVID-19 Response at the USC UCEDD

The Parent Navigator (PN) Project provides three full-time Parent Navigators, who are parents of individuals with developmental disabilities themselves and have extensive experience in system navigation, to assist families with linkage to Early Intervention Services, the CA Regional Centers, and other appropriate community resources.

5/11/2021

Act Early Network News, Spring 2021 Issue

5/11/2021

AUCD2021 - Submit Your Proposal Today!

AUCD has made the decision to conduct the 2021 Conference as a fully virtual event. With the theme of "Learning Together: Connecting Research and Lived Experience," AUCD2021 will continue to serve as a forum for meaningful collaborations around important topics, best practices, and issues that affect the disability community, our network, and beyond. AUCD is also excited to continue 50th anniversary celebrations during the virtual conference. The 2021 AUCD Conference will take place online November 15-17 and more details on exact times and other potential events will be shared going into the summer. Submissions are now closed.

5/11/2021

New RTC Rural Research Brief: COVID-19 vaccination among disabled people

RTC:Rural's newest fact sheet explores how people with disabilities are experiencing COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the United States. Addressing this knowledge gap is critical to ensuring that people with disabilities are considered as vaccination efforts progress during the ongoing pandemic and future health crises.

5/10/2021

Disability Policy News

SENIOR CARE Act, CARE Opportunity Act, Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2021, Impact of COVID-19 on Students with Disabilities, Eviction Moratorium, Vaccine Access, Pfizer Vaccine for 12 Year-Olds, Recovery Proposals

5/10/2021

RETAIN Kentucky Receives Grant to Expand Services

The UK Human Development Institute will collaborate with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to implement the $21.6 million RETAIN Kentucky award from the US Department of Labor to deliver return-to-work/stay-at-work services through strategic partnerships, early intervention strategies, and innovative support services for people who have acquired an injury or illness outside of the workplace that makes it difficult to work.

5/7/2021

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Initiative to #VaccinateByADA

Download Press Release (194KB) [download]

Just in time for Mother's Day, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is launching a new public health initiative, COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence for People with Disabilities, engaging 23-AUCD network centers strategically located across the country to reach local disability communities, reduce access barriers, and promote vaccine confidence. The goal is to vaccinate all eligible people with disabilities by the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th.

5/7/2021

HDI Collaborates on NIH Research Education Program Grant

The UK Human Development Institute in collaboration with the UK College of Engineering and the UK College of Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine have received a National Institutes of Health R-25 Research Education Program grant: Team-Based Design of Assistive Technology Devices. This program invites students to apply for an opportunity to complete courses in engineering and universal design, participate in a clinical immersion experience at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, and gain practical skills and knowledge by working with people with disabilities who use assistive technology devices.

5/7/2021

Koeller Named WKU Child Studies 2021 Alumnus of the Year

Stephanie Koeller, a Professional Development Coach at Child Care Aware of Kentucky / University of Kentucky Human Development Institute has been named WKU Child Studies 2021 Alumnus of the Year. Stephanie has been a great leader and advocate for children during her more than two decades of service in the early childhood community.

5/7/2021

Public Health Learning Agenda Toolkit: Apply to be a Pilot Tester!

The Public Health Learning Network is recruiting 20 pilot testers (individuals or teams) from around the country to better understand how the Public Health Learning Agenda Toolkit can be used to strengthen learning for systems change. Each individual or team will be asked to complete the activities listed below, and will receive a $1500 stipend for their effort.

5/7/2021

Putting Faith to Work Highlighted on Disability Podcast

Putting Faith to Work (PFTW), an employment model created by four UCEDDS (TN, MN, KY, TX), was featured on a recent episode of the podcast Navigating Life as We Know It. Developed in 2014 through a Signature Employment Grant awarded by the Kessler Foundation, the PFTW model focuses on building the capacity of faith communities to support employment for members with disabilities.

5/7/2021

Request for Proposals: UCEDD Leadership Development

Download Request for Proposal (682KB) [download]

The UCEDD Resource Center (URC) is seeking consultation to develop a UCEDD Network Leadership Development Map ("Map") and TA plan. The Map will provide UCEDD network members with concrete information about the knowledge, skills, and abilities that they need to advance their careers within the UCEDD network and about existing strategies, resources, and opportunities to acquire those knowledge, skills, and abilities. The TA plan will identify gaps in the UCEDD network career pathways and provide the URC with recommended activities to address those gaps. Both documents will specifically attend to the unique needs of the network and network members to enhance career opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented communities.

5/7/2021

Supporting Families in Crisis

Recently I read a blog that shared how families that have a loved one with a disability are just waiting for the next battle to happen. That life seems to be going well and then the rain begins and the storm moves in. This blog written by the mother of a child with a developmental disability resonated with me. Even in the good times, it seems like that storm or battle could come at any time. It swoops in and changes our perspective and our priorities. At that moment, nothing else matters except winning that battle and coming out on the other side of the storm.

5/7/2021

The Cicadas are Coming - Social Narrative

The cicadas are coming if they are not here already. This social narrative talks about what to expect with the cicadas and how to deal with them.

5/6/2021

Arizona's UCEDDs Collaborate, Provide Support for National Events

Arizona's University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) helped support two virtual conferences, the 2021 African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD) and the 17th Annual American Indian Disability Summit.

5/6/2021

HDI to Partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association

The Kentucky Inclusive Health Collaborative at the UK Human Development Institute is excited to partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association (AMAA) to develop training modules for a web-based certificate course for instructors to increase capacity for adaptive martial arts in their academies.

5/6/2021

Person Centered Planning comes to Nebraska

During a person's education, people with disabilities usually get an IEP (Individual Education Program). When a person leaves school, they often can feel lost. This may be good time to consider a person-center plan. Just what is person-center Planning?

5/6/2021

TCDS Joins Steve Hicks School of Social Work

The Texas Center for Disability Studies (TCDS) is excited to announce its move to the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin."Along with the shift to the Steve Hicks School, TCDS welcomes their new director,"Sandy Maga" a, Ph.D., who is Professor in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at UT Austin.

5/6/2021

UNH Contract Expands Treatment for Youth and Young Adults with Substance Use Disorders in NH

The NH Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Children's Behavioral Health and Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services recently awarded UNH's Institute on Disability (IOD) a $244k contract to expand the Creating Connections NH program, a behavioral health initiative that supports youth and young adults with substance use disorders.

5/6/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center researcher Zack Warren Named Director of Vanderbilt Division of Developmental Medicine

Zachary Warren, Ph.D., professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Special Education and executive director of the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND), has been named director of the Division of Developmental Medicine in the Vanderbilt Department of Pediatrics. His appointment began April 1.

5/6/2021

WebAIM Celebrates Anniversary by Offering Scholarships to People with Disabilities

WebAIM celebrated its 20th year by giving back. The WebAIM team, located in the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University, trains individuals and corporations on web and digital document accessibility. As part of their anniversary celebration, they are offering free enrollments to their accessible documents course to people with disabilities, many of whom work in the accessibility field.

5/3/2021

$6M Grant Gives IU' Indiana Institute Ability to Continue work of Indiana Center on Teacher Quality

Download Press Release (175KB) [download]

Indiana University's Center on Education and Lifelong Learning has received funding to continue the work of the Indiana Center on Teacher Quality as part of a federally funded $6 million state personnel development grant to the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education. Indiana was one of only five states to receive funding in this award cycle. The grant will focus on rural Indiana schools and communities.

5/3/2021

Disability Policy News

American Families Plan, Home and Community Based Services/HCBS Access Act, Accessible Voting Act, Guidance for fully-vaccinated persons, Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, Executive Order to Raise the Minimum Wage to $15 for Federal Contractors, Opportunity for Input: Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response Programs

5/3/2021

Dr. Marcia Montague was recognized as a 2021 Sustainability Champion by the Texas A&M Sustainability Office

The Sustainability Champion Awards recognize individuals and teams who have demonstrated exemplary effort, dedication, and leadership throughout the year to make Aggieland more environmentally, economically, and/or socially sustainable and those who foster a campus culture of sustainability. Faculty Sustainability Champion Marcia Montague, Ph.D., after attending a town hall event in early August, recognized that PK-12 students and parents would need support to make it through the COVID-19 crisis.

5/3/2021

Pathway Program Adjusts to Remote Internships During Pandemic

Pathway at UCLA Extension has taken great pride in our robust internship program, which matches students with internship sites based on their career interests. For the last 15 years these internships have been in person. When Covid-19 restricted in-person internships for our safety in Los Angeles, Vocational Advisor, Rachael Ambler, started thinking outside the box. "Internships give our students a sense of purpose and responsibility, and even though in person opportunities were on hold, this need remained."

4/29/2021

Autism Special Interest Group Vice Chair Position

This is an exciting leadership opportunity for an up-and-coming leader in the Autism Community. The Vice Chair of the Autism Special Interest Group will work closely with the SIG co-chairs Brian Be and Dr. Laura Carpenter.

4/29/2021

Developments: April 2021

4/29/2021

Effect of Family Navigation on Diagnostic Ascertainment Among Children at Risk for Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial From DBPNet

4/29/2021

MCHB Minute - April 2021

In the DC area, signs of spring are all around us - a welcome appearance after what felt like an especially long winter. They bring renewed hope and energy for what is ahead. I am also feeling energized about the opportunities in front of us, particularly around achieving equity for children, adolescents and families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilities (DD). With a focus on achieving health equity at all levels of the Biden-Harris Administration, we are poised as the Autism CARES network to take stock of our equity goals and of the current and potential impact of our work. This may include reflection on our collective accomplishments over time and charting a course for equity for the next 10 years.

4/29/2021

Now Available: AUCD 2020 Annual Report

We are pleased to present the Annual Network Report for AUCD covering fiscal year 2020. Throughout the pandemic crisis, AUCD's national network has proven to be an invaluable resource in amplifying the voices of the disability community and providing support to an otherwise overlooked population. Learn more about the policies, personal stories, supports, lessons learned, and resources developed and shared by our network of experts.

4/29/2021

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

2021 has arrived! Despite the challenges we have all faced during COVID-19, our Community of Learners have persevered and made excellent progress in their work. To learn more about each grantee's work, check out their state profiles on the SPHARC webpage.

4/28/2021

A Fellow's Perspective: Virtual Opportunities through Rochester LEND's Collaborations in Central America

It has been more than a year since we started adapting to the "new conditions" of living in a world with the COVID-19 pandemic. Transitioning from face-to-face to all-virtual interactions was not as much fun as the option of "working and studying from the bedroom" sounded. Not only did we start missing familiar faces, but we had to limit new relationships to connections traveling through router devices and Zoom platforms. Despite these limitations, the pandemic has triggered a virtual realm of opportunity. It has challenged our creativity and our passion to keep pursuing the visions and missions we sought out in "normal" times. It invited us to think outside the box and has extended connectivity and networking beyond local boundaries. The 2021 LEND cohort has experienced this firsthand.

4/28/2021

AIR-B Network Continues Outreach in Diverse Communities

Although much of the research activity has moved virtual, the Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network; PI: Kasari) continues its research-community partnership in the COVID-19 era. The AIR-B is a network of researchers at UCLA, UC Davis, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, Drexel University, University of Kansas, University of Washington and each site's local community partners working to increase equity in access to ASD information and interventions for families of children with ASD.

4/28/2021

AIR-P (UCLA): Progress to Date

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) is a multi-disciplinary, multi-site network that supports innovative life course intervention research and promotes optimal health and well-being of autistic individuals across the lifespan. In September 2020, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was awarded funding by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in the Health Resources and Services Administration to lead and develop the network with the primary goal of increasing the life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals.

4/28/2021

Autism Friendly Initiative

Patients on the autism spectrum have various sensory and communication needs which can make the fast-paced and often over-stimulating hospital environment particularly challenging. In response, Boston Medical Center (BMC) launched the Autism Friendly Initiative in order to improve the healthcare experience for patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.

4/28/2021

Increasing Access to Diagnostic Evaluations and Ongoing Care for Autism Across Washington State

University of Washington LEND is excited to report initial outcomes of ECHO Autism Washington: our new ECHO program supporting primary care providers (PCPs) in Washington State in diagnosing and managing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ECHO Autism Washington is supported by UW LEND in collaboration with the Washington State legislature and Washington State Health Care Authority. We launched our first cohort of 28 PCPs from 15 counties in Washington in December 2019 (see Map).

4/28/2021

Interprofessional Group of NJLEND Faculty and Nutrition Fellow Write Article for Exceptional Parent Magazine

An article on oral health and nutrition concerns for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) written by an interprofessional group of NJLEND Faculty and Nutrition Fellow was published in the February 2021 issue of Exceptional Parent Magazine. Jane Ziegler, DCN, RDN, LDN, NJLEND Nutrition Faculty, Evan Spivak, DDS, NJLEND Dental Faculty, and Karen Stanfar, MPH, RDN, LD, NJLEND Nutrition Fellow, authored "Oral Health and Nutrition Concerns in Autism Spectrum Disorders" to provide information about autism-related behaviors, dietary habits, medical comorbidities, and medication use which may contribute to oral health and nutrition concerns.

4/28/2021

Nisonger LEND Leadership Project: Pilot ECHO with AMSEN School in Tanzania

Nisonger LEND Leadership Project: Pilot ECHO with AMSEN School in Tanzania This year a team of LEND trainees and faculty developed an Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) pilot project with an AUCD Professional Fellow and other teachers from the Al Muntazir Special Needs School (AMSEN) in Tanzania. According to the 2012 Tanzania Disability Monograph only one major university in Tanzania produces teachers for students with ASD/DD.

4/28/2021

Reflection on CCSN Experience Three Years Later

During my time as an undergraduate at Tufts University, I interned at the Center for Children with Special Needs. Prior to this experience, I did not have much experience with children with special needs. Through this internship, I had the opportunity to not only learn about different developmental-behavioral disorders, but also to interact with and learn from children with these disorders as well. I began to see and understand how much support these children require, and I was inspired to help and learn more about the field. This internship inspired me to take my current job as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). 

4/28/2021

Southern LEND Regional Collaborative

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental & Related Disabilities (LEND) trainees and faculty from the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas participated in the Southern Regional Collaborative Seminars on November 20th and March 5th virtually via Zoom. The Southern Regional Collaborative Seminar is an opportunity for each state's program to come together to learn more about each other's programs and to give trainees an opportunity to network.

4/28/2021

UCLA All Brains

UCLA All Brains was established in 2017 after students recognized the unmet need of UCLA as a neurodiverse-friendly campus. At the first town hall meeting, many neurodivergent students expressed the lack of resources and communities. As a result of this need, All Brains was formed. All Brains works as a community intervention model with three branches including socials, peer mentoring, and training/workshops. Although we are UCLA based, all of our services are open to all students.

4/26/2021

Disability Policy News

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine, Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities, Budget & Appropriations, Racial Justice, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, Biden-Harris Administration, Infrastructure, USDA Waivers Through 2021-2022 School Year, Opportunity for Input: Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act Opportunity for Input: Home and Community Based Services, Disability Policy Seminar

4/26/2021

Females with Autism Reach Puberty Earlier, says Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researcher

Blythe Corbett, Ph.D., professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and investigator with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND), recently led a study which found that on average, females with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experienced the onset of puberty 9.5 months earlier than their peers.

4/26/2021

LEND an Ear: On-Demand Disability Training

Fellows from the Institute on Community Integration are contributing to a podcast series that delivers on-the-go training and insight to child welfare workers. The current and former fellows are from ICI's Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) program, an interdisciplinary leadership training program that brings together more than 16 disciplines across the University of Minnesota.

4/26/2021

Request for Application: Vaccine Confidence Dissemination Innovation Mini-grants

Download Request for Application (204KB) [download]

Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is pleased to support a selection of AUCD network members to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the disability community with targeted outreach and messaging efforts through Dissemination Innovation Mini-grants. The Mini-grants will be used to adapt messages and materials in local regions across the country, either directly or through community partners or cultural brokers, to support sharing of accessible and credible vaccine information to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the disability community.

4/26/2021

UC Davis MIND Institute Takes Its Social Skills Group Online

The UC Davis MIND Institute has offered Social Skills Groups for children, preteens, teens, and young adults since 2001. Traditionally, groups ran for 25 weeks, and catered to 8-15 children at a time. Groups were offered for children (ages 8-10), tweens (ages 11-13), and teens (ages 14-17).

4/23/2021

Diego Solis D.D.S, Pediatric Dentist

Congratulations Dr. Diego Solis for receiving recognition as a top Dentist in Pediatric Dentistry for 2021 by topDentists - for the 5th year in a row!! We are so pleased to see your peers recognize your skills and compassion for the work you do everyday. Thank you for your leadership and service to children with special needs and their families.

4/23/2021

National Covid-19 Resiliency Network Regional Community Coalition

Download Flyer (272KB) [download]

The Regional Community Coalition (RCC) is a sub-committee of the National Community Coalition Board (NCCB) of the National Covid-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN). The RCC fosters collaboration and networking to create sustainability among Community Organization and Strategic Partners for future cross collaborative work and activities for the successful and immediate response, recovery, and residency reduction of COVID-19 among impacted populations.

4/22/2021

Morehouse School of Medicine National COVID-19 Resiliency Network

Download Summary (297KB) [download]

The Morehouse School of Medicine is working on a project called the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network, or NCRN. This project brings together organizations from across the country to meet the COVID-19 needs of people from minority races and ethnicities.

4/22/2021

You're Invited to AUCD 2021!

We are excited to have our AUCD community explore the connection between people with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who carry out research about disabilities.  How we talk about research and the words we use make a big difference in how we think about research.  We hope the conference will give us a chance to learn about ways to talk about research that everyone can understand. 

4/21/2021

2021 Trainee Council Representatives Selected!

We are pleased to announce our 2021 Council Trainee Representatives.

4/21/2021

AUCD 360 - April 2021

4/21/2021

Governor Appoints Dr. Kiriko Takahashi to Hawai'i State Council on Developmental Disabilities

Download News Release (244KB) [download]

On March 31, 2021, the Hawaiʻi Senate voted to approve Governor David Ige's recommendation (GM581) to appoint Dr. Kiriko Takahashi to serve as a member of the Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities (DD Council).Effective immediately until June 20, 2022, she will join the 28 Governor appointed members that include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, parents, family members and representatives from public and private agencies that serve this population.

4/20/2021

ITAC is Hiring! Seeks Bilingual Program Manager

Interested in working for a national disability organization in the Washington, DC area?  Passionate about growing diverse and skilled leaders? If you or someone you know can answer "yes" to any or all these questions, consider working for AUCD!  

4/19/2021

Alumni Update: Mia Donley

Winning a state government award last month for getting a food assistance program up and running during the pandemic was an impressive achievement for Mia Donley, (MN-LEND 2015-16). What makes it even more impressive was the timing. Donley, a registered dietician who received a master's degree in public health from the University of Minnesota, joined the Colorado Department of Human Services in March 2020 as an education and outreach coordinator for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

4/19/2021

American Occupational Therapy Foundation Intervention Research Grant 2021

Jewel Crasta, PhD,OTR/L who is an assistant professor in Occupational Therapy at The Ohio State university was awarded a pilot grant characterizing occupational therapy interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Marc J. Tasse, director of The Nisonger Center, will be her mentor.

4/19/2021

CNMI DD Network in the News!

A Developmental Disabilities Conference for Families of Individuals Who are Deaf & Hard of Hearing was held on Tinian at the JC Caf� on March 13, 2021. The participating disabilities network partners are the Public School System Special Education & Early Intervention Programs, the Developmental Disabilities Council, Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc., the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.- Maternal & Child Health Bureau and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

4/19/2021

Creation of a Student Chapter at Ohio State for the Special Care Dentistry Association

Under the Faculty Advisors, Stephen Beetstra (Nisonger) and Bryant Cornelius (OSU Dental School), the Ohio State dental and dental hygiene students have created a student chapter of the Special Care Dentistry Association. The first meeting occurred on May 18th with over 68 attendees. Dr. Beetstra was the speaker for this event. This is the fifteenth chapter formed at dental schools in North America. The students are very active and donated $480 to the Tim Tebow Foundation from a t-shirt sale they held prior to the first meeting. The students are eliciting the assistance of the Nisonger Center staff to create a video to demonstrate proper oral health home care for individuals with IDD that can be distributed to group homes in Ohio as their community service project.

4/19/2021

Disability Policy News

QALYs, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine, Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities, Budget & Appropriations, Spousal Impoverishment, COVID-19 Data, Biden-Harris Administration, Opportunity for Input: Home and Community Based Services, Disability Policy Seminar

4/19/2021

MI-DDI Manuscript Accepted for Publication to Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) is excited to announce that the manuscript, Assessing and Mitigating Risk for Applied Behavior Analysis Providers During a Pandemic, has been accepted for publication to the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal! The manuscript was written by Krista Clancy, Ph.D., LBA, Josh Plavnick, Ph.D., LBA, and Sharon Milberger, Sc.D. in response to the report, Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Applied Behavior Analysis: Treatment of Children with Autism During a Pandemic, published in July 2020.

4/19/2021

MN LEND Fellow Builds Communication and Trust Through Animals

As a 2019-20 fellow in the Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) program, Carl Luepker spent time with Hold Your Horses, a Greenfield, Minnesota provider of occupational and physical therapy and mental health services using hippotherapy. The practice employs the gait and movement of horses to assist people with neurological and developmental disabilities or mental health issues.

4/19/2021

Morgan Turner leads presentation at the Dignity of Work International Forum

HDI Program Education Assistant, Morgan Turner, recently presented at the Dignity of Work International Forum sponsored by the Institute on Community Integration. In his presentation, Morgan' Musings: My Successful Journey to Inclusive Employment in Higher Education, Morgan shared his experience as a person with a disability in finding, maintaining, and thriving in employment. Morgan was joined by co-presenters and HDI colleagues, Johnny Collett and Austin Nugent for a panel discussion about advocacy and strategies to improve employment and awareness. As an Employment First state, Kentucky is committed to supporting competitive integrated employment as the first and primary option for our citizens with disabilities, regardless of their level of disability.

4/19/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Podcast Series Communicates Disabilities Research in Plain Language

"The Promise of Discovery" is a podcast hosted by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) that highlights research in intellectual and developmental disabilities in plain language, making it accessible to the general public. The podcast launched in 2020, with new episodes each month

4/16/2021

Advocates in the Making

While on the path to adulthood, all young people need to learn to advocate for themselves. In other words, they need to find their voices. For young people with disabilities, learning to advocate for themselves is crucial in becoming more independent and reaching their life goals. The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) Transition to Adulthood Programs have recognized the need to have advocacy at the core of all curriculum and services.

4/16/2021

AUCD Professional Fellows Alum Wins United Nations Award for Inclusive Education TV Show

AUCD Professional Fellows alumna Maria Omare from Nairobi, Kenya, has won a grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for her work on Somesha Stories, a TV series she created that delivers accessible and inclusive educational content to children in East Africa. Somesha Stories is a weekly program that promotes early literacy and is one of the first children's TV series in East Africa to use closed captioning and sign language in all episodes. The series uses interactive storytelling to foster inclusive values and educate children about diverse topics, including science, community, mental health, COVID-19, and interacting with peers.

4/16/2021

Building Resilience in Families with Young Children

The Act Early COVID-19 Response Teams are working to bolster the 4 steps of early identification of developmental delays and disabilities and to improve resiliency among families with young children during COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts. As one strategy to achieve these goals, the New Jersey team leads, Deepa Srinivasavaradan (Act Early Ambassador) and Caroline Coffield (NJLEND/UCEDD) along with Stephanie Michael (NJLEND Trainee), authored an article, Building Resilience: Resources to Help Families Grow from Challenging Times, featured in the 2021 Guide of Exceptional Parent magazine.

4/16/2021

Connecting Trainees on a State Level: California Maternal and Child Health Leadership Training Network

n article highlighting the California Maternal and Child Health Leadership Training Network (CAMCHLTN), a leadership project developed by the trainees of the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CA-LEND) Training Program at USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, based at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and affiliated with the USC Keck School of Medicine

4/16/2021

Creating an Accessible Vaccine Experience for People with Disabilities and Older Adults

Download Publication (135KB) [download]

A coalition of aging and disability groups, including AUCD, partnered to develop a guide to making vaccination sites fully accessible to older adults and people with disabilities. The recommendations included in the guide address significant gaps in accessibility of vaccine administration sites and can go a long way toward increasing vaccination rates in these vulnerable populations.

4/16/2021

Current and Former LEND Trainees Provide Unique EI Services Through the FOCUS Program

As the New Mexico LEND cohort liaison to the Emerging Leaders Community, I had the opportunity to interview Una Vicenti and Laura Hawkey of the FOCUS program. Vicenti is an Occupational Therapist and Director of Early Intervention Services and Laura works as a Family Service Coordinator and developmental specialist within the program. Hawkey is a current LEND trainee and Vicenti is a LEND fellow. Vicenti reported that 3 other employees at FOCUS, including the program director, are LEND fellows.

4/16/2021

Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Report: Six-Month Follow-up

The Institute on Community Integration's Research and Training Center on Community Living for Persons with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, conducted a survey of approximately 9,000 direct support professionals (DSPs) from across the country about their experiences supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a six-month follow-up report to the initial report completed in April 2020 and is the largest study conducted on the direct support workforce.

4/16/2021

Dr. David O'Hara Retires After 33 Years at Westchester Institute for Human Development

Dr. David O'Hara celebrated his retirement from WIHD with a virtual celebration of family, friends, and colleagues from around the world last week. Dr. O'Hara has been with WIHD since 1987 and retired at the end of 2020. During his time at WIHD, he held many roles, most recently as the organization's Chief Operating Officer (COO). He also contributed to several national and global committees, conferences, research, and presentations. Dr. O'Hara was instrumental in bringing Child Welfare Services under the WIHD umbrella, establishing ground breaking programs in assistive technology, and demonstrating the value of telehealth for people with disabilities.

4/16/2021

Important Date Change - AUCD's Prepared4ALL Town halls rescheduled to the 3rd Wednesday of every month, 1pm ET

AUCD's Prepared4ALL townhalls are open to all of our existing Prepared4ALL Affiliates and Partners as well as any other individuals or organizations interested in inclusive emergency preparedness. These townhalls serve as a place to receive support from our center's team, learn about new resources, and collaboratively problem solve with others when making inroads with local emergency preparedness efforts. These meetings will now be held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 1pm ET.

4/16/2021

MN LEND Fellows Promote Autism Acceptance

Jules Edwards was 32 when she was diagnosed with autism, along with her children. Tom Cox was in his 40s when one of his employees suggested he might look into Asperger syndrome. Those turning points, they say, led both of them to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Today, Edwards and Cox are leaders in Minnesota's autism advocacy community.And as April brings the annual shower of stories about autism - it is called Autism Awareness Month by some groups and Autism Acceptance Month by others - they are hoping a similar understanding breaks through the messaging.

4/16/2021

Thank You! AUCD for All 2021 Virtual Gala: Celebrating 50 Years of Leadership: Looking Back, Moving Forward

The AUCD for All 2021 Virtual Gala was a huge success because of your generous support and participation! We appreciate that so many members of the disability community and AUCD Network came together during an evening of fun and memories to celebrate AUCD's 50th Anniversary. During the evening, we also honored and heard from disability advocates Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Ms. Karen Irick.

4/15/2021

AUCD's Prepared4ALL Launches Online Training

The Prepared4ALL initiative, offered by AUCD's new Technical Assistance and Training Center, is excited to announce the launch of their online training, "Prepared4ALL: Whole Community Inclusive Emergency Planning". This free self-paced online training aims to help disability organizations increase their knowledge about emergency planning so they can begin or continue to get involved in these efforts in their local community while also building sustainable partnerships with their local emergency and public health professionals. This training is centered around the Prepared4ALL process, a strength-based model which helps organizations creatively and flexibly navigate inclusion and accessibility issues.

4/13/2021

Call for Submissions: AIR-P Research Day at Autism CARES

Download Flyer (209KB) [download]

AIR-P is pleased to launch this call for proposals. This call includes submissions for virtual rapid fire presentation sessions on autism and physical health. Submissions of work in progress is encouraged, as the Research Day will provide opportunity for structured questions and feedback from peers and experts. 

4/12/2021

Disability Policy News

Infrastructure, Budget & Appropriations, U.S. Department of Education, Nutrition Assistance, Opportunity for Input: Home and Community Based Services, Employment, Healthcare.gov, Disability Policy Seminar

4/8/2021

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Launches Prepared4ALL Initiative

Download Press Release (141KB) [download]

Together with its partners, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is launching a new initiative, Prepared4ALL, mobilizes disability organizations and their local networks to get a seat at the emergency planning table.

4/8/2021

Creating Change in the Homeless Community During a Pandemic

Pursuing work in the community during a global pandemic most certainly can pose unique challenges; however, this did not stop trainees in Cincinnati, Ohio from promoting positive change in their local homeless community. Trainees Sue Ram (occupational therapy), Emily Witt (social work), Julius Freeman (psychology), and Nora Lascell (speech-language pathology) are a part of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) training program in collaboration with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence (UCEDD).

4/8/2021

Dr. Meagan Orsag Receives President's Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Meagan Orsag, of the TAMU CDD, has received the Texas A&M Presidents Meritorious Service Award. In order to be eligible for this award, nominees have to have demonstrated their commitment to the school values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service. Dr. Orsag is the associate director of the TAMU CDD, an active member in multiple AUCD councils and special interest groups, and an active member in the state and local communities of Texas.

4/8/2021

Families with IDD Praise State's Vaccination Clinic

The high risk that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face from COVID-19 is well-documented. During the COVID-19 pandemic, UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) has been working to address the need for vaccination opportunities for people with IDD, as well as their parents and caregivers.

4/8/2021

Mailman Center for Child Development Faculty Awarded Dual Grants to Improve Language Skills for Children with Hearing Loss

Investigators Dr. Lynn Perry and Dr. Daniel Messinger at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology have been awarded federal funding to study the development of children with hearing loss at the University of Miami's Debbie Institute, which is affiliated with Mailman Center for Child Development. Children with hearing loss are less likely to read at grade-level than their typically hearing peers'a gap that exists as early as preschool.

4/8/2021

WI LEND Disability Advocate History

Anastasia Wilson, a current LEND self advocate trainees, shares the history of the self advocate discipline at the Waisman Center WI LEND.

4/7/2021

MI-DDI Autonomous Vehicle Project Releases White Paper

A study was conducted by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) to gain a better understanding of how Autonomous Vehicles (AV) can be used to meet the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities. The study was funded by a grant from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC).

4/5/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Vaccine, Infrastructure, Appropriations, Student Loan Borrowers Relief, Opportunity for Input: Home and Community Based Services, Opportunity for Input: Employment, Healthcare.gov, Disability Policy Seminar

4/1/2021

2021 Autism Acceptance Month Webinar Series

AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) is sponsoring a series of three webinars for Autism Acceptance Month. Topics will range from telehealth to cognitive behavioral therapy to caregiver coaching strategies. We will also host an open house for AUCD network members to learn more about activities of the Autism SIG.

4/1/2021

April 2021: Autism Acceptance Month

April is widely recognized as Autism Acceptance Month. AUCD, our members, and partners have used this as an opportunity to share information relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

4/1/2021

Creating Hope: A History of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

The documentary "Creating Hope: A History of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center" is the story of an institution that has been a world leader in the field of human development and developmental disabilities for more than half a century. Since its beginnings in the 1960s, the research and activism generated by the John F. Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University has been creating hope for generations of children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. The documentary was produced in 2015 by Lyle Jackson, Media Content Producer, Research Office, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, for the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Center.

3/31/2021

Call for Coaches and Implementors: Implementing the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan

Call for Coaches and Implementors: ED&I Action Plan (189KB) [download]

AUCD's UCEDD Resource Center is accepting applications for 3-5 coaches and up to 35 implementors as part of a technical assistance initiative to implement the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan.

3/29/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Vaccine, Appropriations, House Education and Labor Committee, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Committee, Healthcare.gov, Disability Policy Seminar

3/29/2021

Inclusive Public Health Quarterly - Spring Edition 2021

3/24/2021

2021 AUCD Emerging Leaders Map Nomination Survey is Open!

2021 Emerging Leaders Map Nomination Survey (59KB) [download]

AUCD is excited to announce that recruitment is now open for the 2021 AUCD Emerging Leaders Map! This year's theme is "Promoting Health Equity: Identifying Access Barriers and Protecting Rights to Services for People with Disabilities."

3/24/2021

Call for Requests for Assistance

The purpose of this opportunity is to provide funding to cover administrative and personnel costs incurred by AUCD network member participation in the Morehouse School of Medicine National COVID-19 Resiliency Network's Regional Community Coalition.

3/22/2021

Disability Policy News

Voting rights, ABLE Age Adjustment Act, COVID-19 Vaccine, COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Education, Home and Community-Based Services Access Act, Patient-Centered Outcome Research Institute, Appropriations, Keeping All Students Safe Act, Biden-Harris Administration, PCORI, Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD Disability Policy Fellowship

3/18/2021

The COVID-19 Pandemic and People with Disabilities: Primary Concerns, the AUCD Network Response, and Needs for the Future

20201703 COVID19 Pandeminc PWD.pdf (684KB) [download]

While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how individuals worldwide live, work, communicate, and receive medical care and education, it has further illustrated the disproportionate gaps that exist for people with disabilities to receive these same resources and services necessary for survival and quality of life. The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has identified, responded to, advocated for, and addressed the needs of people with disabilities throughout the pandemic.

3/17/2021

AUCD 360 - March 2021

3/17/2021

COVID-19 Vaccination and Reaching People with Disabilities (PWD)

Join our organizations, state-level jurisdictions, and CDC guests to hear about promising practices on how states are reaching people with disabilities.

3/15/2021

Care Connection Campaign

AUCD partner, GT Independence, has launched a unique initiative to combat the impacts of social isolation from the pandemic. The "Care Connection Campaign" began March 1st to raise awareness of the effects of social isolation and b) engage members of the public with storytelling about their plans for a future �Connect Day' with loved ones that are isolated. AUCD members are encouraged to participate in the campaign! You can use the tips shared on social media to check-in on older individuals and those with disabilities in your family, neighborhood, and community.

3/15/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Appropriations, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Public Charge, Spousal Impoverishment, Money Follows the Person, Organ Transplantation, Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD Disability Policy Fellowship

3/15/2021

Westchester Institute for Human Development Leading the Way to Vaccinate People with IDD

A year ago we were trying to figure out what this virus was all about and how/if it would affect our lives. Now, just a year later, the Westchester Institute for Human Development began vaccinating people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities against this deadly virus. This was made possible through the tremendous work of WIHD to advocate for and persist in becoming an approved NY State vaccination site, turning our lobby into a state of the art vaccination site, training registrars and vaccinators, and assuring that people with IDD are in a vaccine priority category.

3/12/2021

Narrative Advocacy: Valuing Parents as Experts and Teachers

For over 30 years, Maggie Hoffman has worked to strengthen and support families of children and adults with disabilities and special health care needs. She is a co-founder and former executive director of Project DOCC - Delivery of Chronic Care: a medical education curriculum developed by parents to teach pediatric doctors in training about living with illness and disability.

3/11/2021

33rd Annual Special Care Dentistry Association is Coming to Columbus!

Stephen Beetstra, DDS, MHSA - Director, Dental Services at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center is President of the Special Care Dentistry Association. The 2022 National meeting of the Special Care Dentistry Association will be held in Columbus, OH in May 2022.

3/11/2021

Congratulations to the 2021 Think College Policy Advocates

For more than 40 years, there has been a Disability Policy Seminar (DPS) in the nation's capital, organized and hosted by numerous disability organizations. Until last year! And this year it's all virtual.... It doesn't make it any less important or impactful, though. This unique seminar has offered the opportunity for passionate advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field to come together and learn about key issues.

3/11/2021

CORE Meeting Minutes March 2021

3/21 Meeting Notes- CORE (210KB) [download]

3/11/2021

Getting a COVID 19 Vaccine Social Story

Social Story Getting a COVID Vaccine Part 1 (117KB) [download]

Social Story Getting a COVID Vaccine Part 2 (108KB) [download]

The COVID-19 workgroup, as part of the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities, has developed a social story about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. You can follow the other great work this group is doing on facebook and twitter @thinkequitable

3/11/2021

Vital Statistics: ICI Supplies Key Housing Data

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites data monitored by the Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) in its Healthy People 2030 objectives. The CDC has set a target for reducing the percentage of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in congregate settings serving seven or more people with disabilities to 11.5 percent in 2030, down from the current baseline of 22.7 percent.

3/10/2021

Mark your calendars - AUCD's Prepared4ALL townhalls: 4th Wednesday of every month, 1pm ET

AUCD's Prepared4ALL townhalls are open to all of our existing Prepared4ALL Affiliates and Partners or any interested disability organization. These townhalls serve as a place to receive support from our center's team, learn about new resources, and collaboratively problem solve with others when making inroads with local emergency preparedness efforts.

3/10/2021

National Home Visiting Summit Hosts Its First Ever Presentation on Parents with I/DD by the Georgetown UCEDD

During the last week in February, the Georgetown University Parenting Support Program (PSP), a DC Health-funded home visiting program under the UCEDD umbrella, gave a groundbreaking presentation at the National Home Visiting Summit. It was the first presentation about home visiting services tailored to address the needs of parents identified as having intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) ever at this Summit.

3/10/2021

Rural Institute Executive Director Moderates Together We Grow Forum

Together We Grow (TOG) is "a consortium of modern food and agriculture companies, NGOs, members of academia and the government who have united to focus on building a skilled, diverse and inclusive workforce to make American agriculture a leader for generations to come." AUCD is an original member of the Together We Grow consortium.

3/10/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) introduces 2021 issue of Tennessee Kindred Stories of Disability: Direct Support Professionals

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) is proud to introduce its latest issue of Tennessee Kindred Stories of Disability, dedicated to telling the stories of Direct Support Professionals in Tennessee.

3/8/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Racial Justice, Voting Rights, Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD Disability Policy Fellowship

3/8/2021

Podcast: Refugees with Disabilities

Disability Visibility Project Podcast had a conversation with LEND Trainee Mustafa Rfat from West Virginia University about his journey as a refugee with disabilities. Mustafa came to the U.S. as a refugee from Iraq in 2011.

3/5/2021

Request for Assistance: The Focused Assistance to Support Training (FAST) Projects for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Training Programs

2021 DBP FAST Projects Request for Assistance.pdf (218KB) [download]

3/5/2021

Two LENDS Collaborate to Help Trainees

Striving to train the next generation of child and maternal healthcare leaders is more than a slogan for Va-LEND (Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities). It is an ideal, which includes innovative ways to make training more effective. One such example is the collaboration between another LEND program.

3/3/2021

Building Futures Together Prepares Paraprofessionals to Provide Specialized Care in Response to Opioid Epidemic

The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability (IOD) a $2.4 million grant for Building Futures Together, a program seeking to prepare 98 paraprofessionals in healthcare and school settings to provide specialized enhanced care coordination to children, youth and their caregivers whose parents are impacted by opioid and other substance use disorders. With cost posing a significant barrier for many paraprofessionals seeking further training, the grant allows the program to be offered at no charge as well as provide stipends to participants.

3/2/2021

Care Coordination Implementation and Best Practice: A Comparison of National and Nebraska Standards

Emily Costello, a UCEDD Trainee from the Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha, NE outlines elements of best practice for care coordination, based on a review of recent literature, and compares national standards to that of Nebraska.

3/2/2021

Georgetown UCEDD Awards Washington Post Journalist Award for Disability Inclusion and Storytelling

In Washington DC, the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) is proud to announce that journalist Theresa Vargas was awarded the 2020 Geraldine P. Waldorf Making A Difference Award. Working for The Washington Post, Vargas wrote 38 articles advocating for individuals with developmental and other disabilities and their families last year.

3/1/2021

Act Early Network News, Winter 2021 Issue

3/1/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Department of Education, Prescription drug pricing, Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD Disability Policy Fellowship

3/1/2021

RI UCEDD Literacy for All

AUCD network member Susan Dell shares her story about the importance of literacy for all and the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities / RI College efforts to help with access to literacy through the Adapted Literate Website.

2/26/2021

GEAR UP

Drs. Linda Castillo and Marcia Montague, at Texas A&M University, received a Heart of Texas GEAR UP Partnership grant, and launched GEAR UP programs in partnership with Bryan ISD and Hearne ISD. The partnership will use grant funds to develop and implement a longitudinal support system for the students and families in the class of 2026.

2/25/2021

2018 PATHS Program Graduate, Terence Elder

Since earning his ParaProfessional Certificate from the PATHS Program in 2018, Terence is in his 3rd year at his school and doing an outstanding job. He is now the proud owner of a new BMW! He now drives himself to and from his work. He answered a few questions about the PATHS Program and what this program has meant to him.

2/25/2021

Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams Complete Rapid Needs Assessment

In Fall 2020, 43 State and Territorial Response Teams and their identified key informants who lead early childhood programs, organizations, or systems (i.e. Part C, WIC, Home Visiting) conducted a rapid needs assessment as part of the Act Early Response to COVID-19 project. This needs assessment aimed to 1) measure engagement in each of the four steps of early identification and 2) understand the emerging strengths, needs, barriers, and opportunities related to the four steps of early identification of developmental delays and disabilities among children birth to age five during the COVID-19 pandemic, across early childhood systems and programs.

2/25/2021

Dr. Dalun Zhang was recently elected as Vice President for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Dr. Dalun Zhang was recently elected as Vice President for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities The term of four (4) years will run from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025. Over this term, Dr. Zhang will serve one year each as Vice President, President-Elect, President, and Past President. These leadership positions are held in the oldest and multidisciplinary disability organization in the U.S., with members from 55 countries.

2/25/2021

Interdisciplinary Training Clinic Meeting Needs 360

The Interdisciplinary Training Clinic (ITC) operated by the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University (NAU) offers comprehensive evaluations and recommendations to families and educational agencies serving said families at no cost to the family. The clinic serves as a training experience for graduate students in a number of different disciplines learning about interdisciplinary practices. Graduate student teams supported by faculty mentors from their respective disciplines provide the services offered by the clinic.

2/25/2021

New Postsecondary Education Program: Horticulture Options in Plant Sciences (HOPS)

Download Flyer (438KB) [download]

The HOPS Project is a two semester (approximately 32 weeks) training program whose purpose is to provide instruction and support individuals with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into competitive integrated employment in the horticulture industry. Students have the option to become certified on the state/national level.

2/24/2021

Jump Start Evolves in Response to COVID-19

In early 2020, the world changed immeasurably. Among myriad ways in which we all had to change with it, one of those was adapting our programs to serve the highest need communities in a meaningful way through a global pandemic. The Jump Start program sprung to action in March 2020 to overhaul our services and meet the greatest community needs. Typically, and at its core, Jump Start is an infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) program that provides services at the program-level (i.e., by working with directors), classroom-level (i.e., by working with teachers), and child-level (i.e., by working with parents or other primary caregivers) in childcare centers and family childcare homes.

2/24/2021

Low-income and students with learning disabilities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 learning loss, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) expert says

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, school closures and the shift to remote learning have disrupted educational progress across the nation, disproportionately affecting students from low-income communities and those with learning disabilities, according to faculty experts from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, including Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researcher Autumn Kujawa, Ph.D.

2/24/2021

New Executive Director Named of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University

Sally Gould-Taylor, PhD has been named Executive Director of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, College of Education and Human Development, effective January 1, 2021, after serving as Interim Executive Director since March 2020. She has also been appointed as a faculty member in the College of Education and Human Development as Research Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

2/24/2021

Voting and Guardianship in Oklahoma

Wendy Spoon, Oklahoma LEND, Parent/Family Intern, talks about Guardianship laws in Oklahoma and how it takes the civil right to vote from persons with disabilities. 2 photos included of Lindsey Spoon, an Oklahoma Self-Advocate. One on the day she registered to vote, and one using assistive technology to vote.

2/23/2021

AUCD 50th Anniversary - Share your story!

Do you have an interesting image, video or story that relates to AUCD's history? We are calling on persons with disabilities, our network centers, and affiliated partners to share stories related to your and AUCD's past. These can be important milestones, celebrations and hallmark moments that impacted people with disabilities and their families. AUCD will feature some of this content at the Virtual Gala and in other ways throughout the year as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

2/23/2021

Emergency Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities

This project provides insight into local hazards and how people living with disabilities can best prepare for them, as well as best practices surrounding disaster preparations and planning.

2/23/2021

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Joins National COVID-19 Network to Build Resilience Against Pandemic Among the Disability Community

View Press Release (138KB) [download]

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) joined Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM)'s National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) of partners to inform community-driven response, recovery, and resiliency strategies for addressing the impact of COVID-19 on communities. In response to the needs of the disability community, we have established a communications strategy to support the development of linguistically and culturally competent messaging and materials by representing plain language as an accessible format and bringing awareness of COVID-19 vaccine information

2/22/2021

2021 Disability Policy Seminar

The Disability Policy Seminar offers the opportunity for passionate advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field to come together and learn about key issues that affect them most. After two days of training and learning, attendees head to Capitol Hill for a day of meetings with their Members of Congress.

2/22/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Biden-Harris Administration, Transportation, Voting Rights, Healthcare.gov, Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD Disability Policy Fellowship

2/22/2021

OR Institute on Development & Disability Supports COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

The Institute on Development & Disability at Oregon Health & Science University is working with our broader OHSU health system and community partners including Port of Portland, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the local Red Cross to offer a drive through vaccination site for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

2/22/2021

Sharing Stories of Individuals with Disabilities: Vanderbilt Consortium LEND's Collaboration with Saddle Up!

Vanderbilt Consortium LEND's trainees have been split into groups to work on interprofessional collaboration group projects. My group is working with Saddle Up!, a therapeutic horseback riding program in the Nashville, TN, area. Saddle Up! provides Adaptive Riding, Therapy Services, and an Equine Assisted Learning Program to individuals with disabilities ages 2-26.

2/17/2021

Preschool During the Pandemic: Early Childhood Education in Extraordinary Times

It's been said that "necessity is the mother of invention". When the pandemic struck last year, practitioners in early education and early childhood special education, and parents came together to support young children and their families through remote service delivery. This multi-part video series, produced by Larry Edelman and sponsored by the Early Childhood Technical Assistance center (ECTA) features preschool staff and families from five states and illustrates their working together to use technology to make the virtual learning experience exciting, effective and engaging for young children.

2/16/2021

Disability Policy News

Action Alert: #MedicaidCantWait Day of Action, COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Biden-Harris Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Impeachment, U.S. Department of Education, Disability Policy Seminar, AUCD Disability Policy Fellowship

2/16/2021

Kansas LEND Partners to Disseminate PCIT Across Kansas

Kansas LEND partnered with another HRSA grant, Telehealth ROCKS (Rural Outreach to Children of KS)/ KANDO, to take the first step in disseminating Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) throughout the state. PCIT is an evidence-based intervention that has been shown to be effective in improving behavior, language, social skills and play in young children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (ADHD, Autism) and trauma.

2/16/2021

MN LEND Fellow Brings Trauma-Informed Care to Children

Alice Kraiza (MN LEND Fellow, 2017-18) is a project coordinator for the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc., where she is helping bring evidence-based children's mental health treatments to schools to improve the quality of care for students who are recovering from trauma

2/16/2021

New Staying Safe at Work Training

Employment Safety Training supports the needs assessment process designed to address gaps, deficiencies, and unmet occupational safety and health training needs. The IOD's Employment Safety Training program provides attendees with critical job-safety tools for teaching those with IDD the skills they need to be safe at work through a train the trainer model.

2/12/2021

Project BEST

Project BEST (Basic Employability Skills Training) is set to begin its first pilot of the BEST Curriculum. The curriculum is based on employment skills trainings that were identified as important and necessary in both the literature and through community based surveys. Due to COVID-19, both a digital course and a paper based course, as well as workbook materials, were created for teachers to use to support employment skills training for their students.

2/10/2021

AUCD 360 - February 2021

2/9/2021

AUCD Policy Fellowship 2021

AUCD Policy Fellowship 2021 (56KB) [download]

The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide significant experiences in national level activities related to policy and legislative development, advocacy, program development, technical assistance, and AUCD administration. The Fellowship in Disability Policy is envisioned as a mutually beneficial arrangement between the Fellow, the Fellows community, and the AUCD central office.

2/8/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Relief, 117th Congress, COVID-19 Vaccine, Federal Reserve Reinvestment Act Regulation, Biden Administration, Impeachment, Disability Policy Seminar

2/8/2021

Diversabilities' Employee Resource Group

Ashlee Leslie, Nisonger Center Disability Career Specialist with the TOPS Program; provides leadership in helping establish the 'Diversabilities' Employee Resource Group to promote and support disability inclusion, highlight best practices and provide education to The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center by bringing employees and resources together to provide support for individuals with disabilities, allies and their caregivers.

2/8/2021

Great Cartoon Giveaway!

In collaboration with UVM Libraries, CDCI is proud to announce the Great Cartoon Giveaway! The Center for Digital Initiatives now holds the complete set of cartoons created by Dr. Michael Giangreco with the assistance of artist Kevin Ruelle. This collection, titled Absurdities and Realities of Special Education has more than 300 cartoons, including some of the pair's most recognized works

2/8/2021

HDI recieves Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Grant

A team of HDI staff including Dr. Chithra Adams, Jason Jones, Lindsey Mullis and Abby Marsh have received $50,000 through Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundations 2020 COVID-19 Quality of Life grants program, funded through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living. Their proposal, Recharging Resiliency Together-Virtual Retreat will help people with paralysis recharge their resilience and provide the necessary connections and supports that are needed to navigate in a COVID-19 environment.

2/8/2021

Holly Roberts, PhD, Takes Part in National HHS Panel

Holly Roberts, PhD, associate professor at the Munroe-Meyer Institute's Department of Psychology, was an invited panelist in a national Health and Human Services Telehealth Innovation Summit with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in late December. In its invitation, HHS told Dr. Roberts that the summit was designed for leaders in the telehealth community to share what they have learned and to discuss challenges and opportunities in reimbursement, best practices, public-private partnerships, health care resilience, biosecurity and the future of telehealth.

2/8/2021

Self-Care for Caregivers

Caregiving can be hard. Being a caregiver to a child, friend, or family member with a disability or a chronic illness can be stressful at times. I am sure that you've heard the old adage that, "You must take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else." Easier said than done, right? It may sound like an out dated platitude, but as caregivers, we need to carve out time for ourselves. It can be as little as five minutes in your day to do something to boost your spirits so that you don't feel overwhelmed.

2/8/2021

Working Well with a Disability Workshop Added to Healthy Community Living

Working Well with a Disability has been added to the Healthy Community Living program, alongside the existing workshops and trainings Living Well in the Community, Community Living Skills, and the Facilitating Groups training. Healthy Community Living is a program that is facilitated by staff from disability service organizations, such as Centers for Independent Living. HCL licenses are $500 per year and give access to up to five facilitators.

2/8/2021

Working Well with a Disability Workshop Added to Healthy Community Living

Working Well with a Disability has been added to the Healthy Community Living program, alongside the existing workshops and trainings Living Well in the Community, Community Living Skills, and the Facilitating Groups training. Healthy Community Living is a program that is facilitated by staff from disability service organizations, such as Centers for Independent Living. HCL licenses are $500 per year and give access to up to five facilitators.

2/4/2021

Changing Needs of Individuals with Disabilities in Miami in the Time of COVID-19

The Family Navigator Program (FNP) is designed to assist families of individuals with disabilities, chronic health conditions, mental health issues, and other special needs in navigating the complex system of services. Based out of the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami, the program is free and available to all families. The FNP is funded by a grant from The Taft Foundation. Navigators work to connect families with appropriate resources based on their needs. Since mid-March 2020, following the implementation of COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders, the FNP has worked with families to address their changing needs.

2/4/2021

University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies and Software Developer Adapt Video Conferencing App for Students with Complex Communication Needs

Remote instruction poses significant obstacles for children with complex communication needs, including difficulty accessing Zoom, Google Classroom and other popular speech- and text-based communication apps. To give educators an alternative, the University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) became a beta tester for Co-VidSpeak, a video conferencing app originally designed for intubated hospital patients. Co-VidSpeak combines video with preset icons, words and phrases displayed around both conversation partners' screens, called "boards." Users can communicate by indicating the icons, words or phrases with their eye gaze.

2/3/2021

2021 EHDI Conference Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

AUCD has made available 25 scholarships of up to $225 each to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Virtual Conference on March 2-5, 2021. 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 Conference in previous years. Application deadline: February 22, 2021.

2/3/2021

Developing Professionals Standards of Inclusion for Community Settings

At the Cincinnati Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program, one of our research projects involves creating a comprehensive set of standards for inclusion that we can use to help public venues become more inclusive. Although public venues are required to meet accessibility standards under the ADA, many individuals and families with disabilities still do not have true access to inclusion.

2/3/2021

Vermont Wins Second International Innovative Public Policy Award for Supported Employment

The Vermont Transition and Post-Secondary Education Initiative is a collaborative effort between organizations throughout the state including the Developmental Disability Services Division, the Agency of Education, and post-secondary organizations including Think College Vermont, at Vermont's UCEDD, the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion. It promotes college education and industry-based career training for transition-age youth with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities and promotes access to lifelong learning for adults.

2/1/2021

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, 117th Congress, Executive Order on Healthcare, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Impeachment

2/1/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Produces Two New Toolkits on Goal-setting, Puberty and Sexuality for Teens and Young Adults with Autism

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) has added two new online toolkits to its collection of free resources, providing helpful information for teens and young adults on the autism spectrum on topics such as goal-setting and sex, sexuality, and puberty.Both toolkits are comprised of online courses as well as complementary booklets available to download or print to accompany the coursework. To take part in either online course, register for a free account at triad.vkclearning.org.

2/1/2021

What is your "Silver Lining"?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about countless changes and struggles to our day to day life. Change is not always easy, but it has been shown that finding the good in difficult situations can have a positive effect on our mental health. What has been a recent positive change in your life? Take MI-DDI's "Silver Linings" survey to share your story!

2/1/2021

Wisconsin Resource for Families

During COVID-19, the UCEDD at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison has regularly updated its website to include family and self-advocate friendly materials that change daily as new information and resources emerge. The UCEDD's Constituent Advisory Committee members provides guidance on what is most helpful and how to present information to maximize the user experience.

1/29/2021

Developments Newsletter - January 2021

1/27/2021

PATHS Program

PATHS Program Now Accepting Applications The PATHS Certificate Program is your path to a successful career as a: Direct Support Professional working with people with disabilities, Para-professional working with schools, or Child Care Professional working with children.

1/27/2021

Plain Language: Medicaid Services for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities - Evolution of Addressing Service Needs and Preferences

Download Publication (500KB) [download]

New Medicaid Services for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities Resource in Plain Language from Health Management Associates and AUCD. This resource provides comprehensive information about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the Medicaid program policies and services that support their needs.

1/25/2021

Disability Policy News

Biden Administration, Executive Orders, COVID-19 Relief and Vaccine, Senate, Impeachment

1/25/2021

Watch Plenary and Awards Ceremony Videos from the AUCD 2020 Conference

AUCD is pleased to provide video recording of our conference plenary sessions, "Opening Plenary: What is Equity and What does it Mean for the Disability Community,","Leading Change to Achieve Equity: Conversations We Need to Have," and the Closing Plenary: Engaging with Congress to Achieve Equitable Communities."

1/21/2021

AIR-B Network Distributes COVID-19 Resources in English, Korean and Spanish for Families and Educators

The year 2020 was filled with unexpected changes to the whole world as well as to the Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network; PI: Kasari), which includes UCLA, UC Davis, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, Drexel University, University of Kansas, University of Washington, and each university site's community partners. Since 2008, the AIR-B Network has conducted research that aims to increase equity in access to effective interventions for children with ASD and hosted numerous events and presentations for under-resourced communities. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic led the research-community partnership to cancel its annual tradition looked forward to by many - the free autism conference for families taking place every March. Instead, the AIR-B partners - now meeting on Zoom instead of their monthly get-together at the Healthy African American Families office - decided to start an initiative to accommodate immediate needs of families struggling with distance learning.

1/21/2021

Human Rights Depend on Democracy: Protect it

A video clip circulated on social media last week showing people with disabilities being forcibly removed by police from a congressional hearing. The caption, clearly designed to garner outrage: "Disabled Trump supporters get arrested for storming U.S. Capitol." Two days later, Reuters ran a fact-checking piece that identified the clip as a 2017 Senate hearing on the Affordable Care Act, where about 200 disability rights activists protested a proposed amendment to the legislation that would have made significant cuts to Medicaid.

1/20/2021

2021 Autism CARES Meeting Update

Due to the ongoing pandemic, travel restrictions, and the concern for the safety and well-being of grantees, the 2021 Autism CARES Meeting will be held virtually in Summer 2021. This virtual event is an opportunity for HRSA-funded CARES grantees (representing research, training, and state systems) to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. Grantees will be asked to be engaged in the planning process for this event (as requested) and participate in all virtual activities.

1/20/2021

AIR-P (MGH-scheduled to sunset)

The AIR-P (MGH-scheduled to sunset), is led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD. The key goals for the AIR-P Network from 2015 to 2020 were two-fold: To conduct multi-site research on evidence-based interventions that improve physical health of children and adolescents with ASD and developmental disorders, especially underserved populations. To transform AIR-P into a multi-site Autism Learning Health Network (ALHN) which will provide a collaborative laboratory for developing and testing evidence-based interventions and accelerating the adoption of effective interventions and system management approaches into practice.

1/20/2021

AIR-P (UCLA-initiated 9/1/20) Updates

n September 2020, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) had the opportunity to assume leadership of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) programming and activities under the direction of Dr. Alice Kuo. Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, the AIR-P is an interdisciplinary, multicenter research network for scientific collaboration and infrastructure to increase the life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals, with a focus on underserved/vulnerable populations. The AIR-P supports innovative life course intervention research in six areas (Research Nodes): (1) primary care services and quality, (2) community-based lifestyle interventions, (3) gender, sexuality, and reproductive health, (4) health services and systems, (5) neurology, and (6) genetics.

1/20/2021

MCHB Minute - January 2021

There are few words to share that adequately capture my appreciation and admiration for all of your work to care for children, youth and families with ASD and other developmental disabilities over the past year. I am grateful for your unwavering commitment to advancing training, research and systems development efforts in extraordinary circumstances, for your rapid implementation of innovative approaches, and your dexterity in responding to a changing environment. We end a challenging year with many CARES network successes, new models of care, and lessons learned that will strengthen the CARES network and advance shared goals, as well as a continued commitment to advancing health equity for the populations that we serve.

1/20/2021

MN-LEND Project Responds to Opioid Crisis

What can you do if your baby, or a loved one's baby, has neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)? How can a toddler's development be affected by NAS? Where can Minnesotans find support? As part of their 2019-20 MNLEND fellowship experience, Bridget Winchester (pictured) and Catie Mapa are answering those questions, and more, through online content expected to be launched next month from the MNLEND website. The fellows created the content with support from ICI's Jennifer Hall-Lande and Rebecca Dosch Brown, LEND fellow Whitney Terrill, and the Institute's communications team.

1/20/2021

National Autism Indicators Report- Health and Health Care

The National Autism Indicators Report: Health and Health Care is the sixth in the National Autism Indicators Report Series produced from the Life Course Outcomes Research Program area at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. It reports indicators of health and health care for autistic people across the lifespan. Topics covered include overall health, health services, medication, insurance, and accessing services. The report combines data from two national surveys about health, one national sample of hospital inpatient stays, and previously published findings from Kaiser Permanente Northern California patient records.

1/20/2021

Recommendations for Weight Management in Primary Care for Children and Youth with ASD from the Healthy Weight Research Network

In response to the lack of training and limited resources to guide primary care providers on weight management for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the Healthy Weight Research Network, funded by the Maternal Child Health Bureau of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and coordinated by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center at UMass Medical School, developed a set of recommendations for weight management in primary care for this population. The recommendations were published in the journal Pediatrics in April 2020. The recommendations include suggestions for screening, evaluation, prevention, and intervention, and provide practitioners with suggestions specifically targeted for working with children with ASD their families, allied health professionals, and school systems. They also include modifications to and expansion of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on managing childhood obesity, tailored for children and youth with ASD and their families.

1/20/2021

Two Georgia University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) Launch the Georgia College Transition Partnership

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University and the Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) at the University of Georgia received a $100,000 grant from the Administration for Community Living to launch the Georgia College Transition Partnership (GaCTP). The goal of the GaCTP is to create a pilot program that supports Georgia's college students on the autism spectrum who are transitioning into employment or graduate school.

1/20/2021

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

2021 has arrived! Despite the challenges we have all faced during COVID-19, our Community of Learners have persevered and made excellent progress in their work. Most notably, the Iowa team successfully hosted the 2020 Virtual Peer to Peer exchange in the midst of a severe derecho. The theme for P2P was The Iowa Family Navigator Model: Providing Family-to-Family Support to Families of Children and Youth with ASD/DD. The virtual event took place over three days and was filled with engaging workshops and inspiring panel discussions with family leaders. Participants included the current grantees from North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as former grantees from Delaware, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

1/19/2021

Disability Policy News

Inauguration Day, 117th Congress, COVID-19 Vaccine, Presidential Transition, Impeachment, COVID-19 Relief, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

1/19/2021

From MN LEND to the National Institute of Mental Health

A fascination with the brain and how it influences behavior began with a high school psychology class for Sunday Francis (MN-LEND 2014-16). It has brought her through the fields of neuroscience, engineering, genetics, and autism research at several prestigious universities.

1/18/2021

AUCD Professional Fellows Alumnae Win Global Zero Project Awards

AUCD Professional Fellows alumni Gwaliwa Mashaka (Fall 2018) and Aneth Gerana (2020) from Tanzania have received 2021 Zero Project Awards, which honor the world's best innovations in disability inclusion every year. Gwaliwa and Aneth, who both have lived experience with disability, are being celebrated for leading historic inclusive employment initiatives in Tanzania that they developed with advice from senior faculty at the Nisonger Center and the UCLA Tarjan Center.

1/13/2021

AUCD 360 - January 2021

1/13/2021

Homeless Heroes?

As a newcomer to America, I always wondered how America could have homeless people? I imagined America as a heaven on earth, where everyone is well off and poverty is seen only in museums. Unfortunately, what I learned, and saw was beyond my expectation and left a scar in my heart. When I first moved to the state of Maine, my eyes caught a white woman who was, and still is, homeless. Throughout each season I encountered this woman pushing her belongings in a buggy. During the winter, I helped her to pull the buggy until I reached my destination, always wondering and asking myself many questions. How could this happen in America?

1/12/2021

Plain Language Advisory Group

In 2020, the UCEDD Resource Center created a Plain Language Advisory Group. The group met to help the UCEDD Resource Center think about plain language and create plain language adaptations of resources. We want to share with the network about the importance of plain language and some lessons we learned from this work so far.

1/11/2021

Supporting Families and Systems that Serve Young Children through the Act Early Response to COVID-19

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with an investment of over $4M in the Act Early Network through an Act Early Network-wide Response to COVID-19 made possible by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 43 State and Territorial Act Early COVID-19 Response Teams were awarded a one-year (September 2020-August 2021) grant opportunity for Support for Early Childhood State Systems Through the Act Early Network.

1/11/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Researcher Documents How COVID-19 Multiplies Stress and Trauma for People with a Disabilities

In a article published in Rehabilitation Psychology, Anjali J. Forber-Pratt, Ph.D., assistant professor of Human and Organizational Development and a Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) member, reviews research on disabilities and COVID-19 to help rehabilitation psychologists mitigate the effects of the added stress of the pandemic. In addition, the work addressed how systemic discrimination against people with disabilities intersects with other forms of inequity.

1/11/2021

#WhatsYourPurpose2021 Youth Transition Campaign

The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) Transition to Adulthood Programs announce a new 2021 campaign, #WhatsYourPurpose2021. Throughout the year, transition leaders including youth/young adults with and without disabilities, their family members and those that serve them will be featured in short videos and social media posts promoting transition successes and challenging others to pursue their goals. Each video and post will highlight young adults and members of their support networks sharing their future life purposes.

1/11/2021

A Virtual Mock Developmental Assessment: Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Leadership During COVID-19

The Alaska LEND Without Walls is a program that has embraced video teleconferencing as a method to reach faculty and fellows across the geographically vast state. During the current pandemic, the Alaska LEND program utilized a virtual environment for all activities. As part of the annual fall semester "face to face" seminar, interdisciplinary faculty and fellows participate in a mock developmental assessment.

1/11/2021

Disability Policy News

Omnibus and COVID-19 Relief Package, Insurrection and Aftermath, 117th Congress, COVID-19 Vaccine, Presidential Transition

1/11/2021

Dr. Avila (VT LEND) wins the Vermont Public Health Association Public Health Champion Award

Dr.Avila (VT LEND) wins the Vermont Public Health Association Public Health Champion Award The Vermont Public Health Association's Public Health Champion awards are given each year to an individual and a team/organization who has made extraordinary contributions to public health within the state of Vermont. Dr. Avila, VT LEND Program Director, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont (UVM) Larner College of Medicine. She has been involved in numerous federal grants related to substance abuse prevention, mental health promotion, maternal and child health, disability and advocacy, and addressing & eliminating disparities and equities. She has provided state and national level consultation, training and technical assistance on cultural and linguistic competence, health equity, and social justice in healthcare. She has trained more than 10,000 professionals across 27 states in understanding the connection between racial, gender, social, economic, educational, and health disparities and the role social determinants of health play in populations' health outcomes. She has demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity and addressing and eliminating health disparities by inspiring collaboration through strategic partnerships to create a culture of health in Vermont.

1/11/2021

Iowa's EPSDT "Care for Kids" Shares Beneficial Telehealth Tips

In Iowa, children and youth who are eligible for Medicaid receive their health care benefits through Iowa EPSDT Care for Kids. Iowa's Department of Human Services (DHS) manages these Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits, and each year, DHS contracts with Iowa's UCEDD to offer information and training to the Medicaid providers who care for kids.

1/11/2021

Lived Experience and Leadership: Self Advocates and Family Members in the Disability Rights Movement

Each fall, the NH-ME LEND Program conducts a leadership intensive on the history of disability. This year, the session was reworked to cover the history of the disability movement. Trainees were asked to watch the 2020 documentary, Crip Camp, and to reflect upon how this innovative inclusive summer camp for teenagers with disabilities during the 1970's helped to mobilize a generation of disability rights activists and energize the independent living movement.

1/11/2021

Planning Accessible Meetings Guide Updated

Planning Accessible Meetings and Conferences: A Suggested Checklist and Guide (PDF) is a free resource developed by the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD) in partnership with Speaking Up for Us, a Maine organization run by and for adults who live with developmental disabilities.

1/11/2021

South Dakota UCEDD Provides National Deaf-Blind Training for Educators

Through a collaboration with the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) and the Center for Disabilities Deaf-Blind Program, an online 4-course training series has been developed titled, Concentration in Deaf-Blindness and High Intensity Support Needs. This series provides an incredible foundation in deaf-blindness, training in communication strategies, assessment and instructional planning and life planning for educators working with students with deaf-blindness and/or students who have high intensity support needs.

1/8/2021

Act Early Ohio Initiative

The UCCEDD was awarded a one-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build upon existing Ohio Act Early Ambassador activities. The goal of the initiative is to increase awareness about the importance of developmental screening in early childhood and tracking of developmental milestones with the support of the evidence-based Learn the Signs Act Early materials developed by the CDC.

1/8/2021

CLD Researchers Explore the Effects of COVID Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Direct Support Professionals

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU) received a $25,000 grant from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) to conduct a mixed-method study exploring the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the direct support workforce.

1/8/2021

Delivering on the Promise of Employment First for Students with Significant Disabilities

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute - HDI, the Kentucky Department of Education, and the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation are pleased to announce Delivering on the Promise of Employment First for Students with Significant Disabilities, a four-part webinar series designed to support Kentucky school districts in their efforts to create meaningful work experiences leading to competitive integrated employment for students with significant disabilities.

1/8/2021

Disability and the Democratic Process

This election season highlighted the double disparity the disability community faces to engage in the democratic process, as this group is simultaneously fighting for both the right to vote and access to voting. These barriers to voting persist in large part because of the pervasive negative views of disability that challenge societal inclusion.

1/8/2021

Disability Reads

Reading is something my family enjoys. Having a family member with a disability means that we enjoy seeing representation in our book choices. There are a lot of great disability reads out there. Here are just a few that we added over the holiday season.

1/8/2021

In Memoriam - Terrence (Terry) Raymond Dolan

It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of Dr. Terrence Raymond Dolan on December 11, 2020.

1/8/2021

Register Today for the New WV Project SCOPE ECHO Series

The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED) was awarded a national training grant to implement Project SCOPE: Supporting Children of the OPioid Epidemic (SCOPE). Project SCOPE is a training initiative intended to identify and train practitioners in current and emerging knowledge and evidence-based promising practices in screening, monitoring, and care for children diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) or neonatal opiate withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), or who are suspected of being impacted by opioid use and related trauma exposure. The WV Project SCOPE ECHO Series is implemented using the Project ECHO virtual professional development model. The series will run January - September 2021. Register today for one, several or all sessions.

1/8/2021

TASH: Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion for People with Disabilities - announced the recipient of the Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Award went to Daniel Crimmins, Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State

TASH: Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion for People with Disabilities - announced the recipient of the Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports Award went to Daniel Crimmins, PhD, Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University.

1/8/2021

The Mailman Center's Dr. Robert Fifer Reappointed to the Florida Department of Health Early Hearing Detection Intervention (EHDI) Advisory Committee

Robert Fifer, PhD., Director of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development, was reappointed as the center's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program representative. The purpose of this committee is to provide advice to Florida's Newborn Screening Hearing Program on potential mechanisms to achieve project goals, strategies, and objectives.

1/8/2021

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and Other Vanderbilt Disability Inclusion Programs Receive National Recognition

Several Vanderbilt University diversity and inclusion programs are being recognized by a federal office with a strong commitment to protecting workers, promoting diversity and enforcing nondiscrimination laws for government contractors. The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs website lists the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND), Next Steps at Vanderbilt, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Divinity Friendship House @ Vanderbilt, and InclusAbility initiative among its sample disability and inclusion resources that meet the agency's criteria.

1/6/2021

Georgia State University, Emory Supporting 187 Georgia Nursing Homes COVID-19 Response via Project ECHO

As of Fall 2020, nearly one-quarter of the known COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been nursing home residents and staff. Advanced age, underlying frailty, and communal living conditions make nursing home residents especially vulnerable, and their reliance on nursing home staff members put these essential workers at high risk. The CDC and State of Georgia have prioritized nursing home residents and staff members to be the first to get the vaccine.

1/5/2021

Call for Applications: Project SCOPE

The purpose of this national initiative is to train interdisciplinary teams in targeted states on emerging knowledge and evidence-based practices in screening, monitoring and interdisciplinary care for children impacted by neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), trauma, or related exposure. The initiative builds on the effective ECHO virtual training model and is run by the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities partnered with the Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

1/4/2021

Bronx UCEDD Publishes Mapping of ASD Rates in Children by Language and Socio-Demographics in NY State

Exploratory spatial analysis of autism rates in New York school districts: role of sociodemographic and language differences (11,083KB) [download]

The Rose F Kennedy UCEDD's Research Coordinator, Ms. Katie McGrath, MSW, 'ABD' led this spatial analysis of data from the NY State Department of Education. In contrast to prior research on ASD prevalence, school districts with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic students had the highest rates of ASD.

1/4/2021

Disability and Health Journal: The importance of seasonal influenza vaccination for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

A large proportion of Americans have at least one disability and yet people with disabilities face inequities in health and health care access. Factors associated with underlying disability and health, how they perceive and interact with the world, and where they live, or work may increase the risk people with disabilities face for illness or severe outcomes from seasonal influenza. Given the need to reduce the burden of respiratory illness on a healthcare system already overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, maximizing seasonal influenza vaccination coverage is particularly important in 2020-2021. It is critical this season to ensure equitable access to influenza vaccination for people with disabilities. Providing influenza vaccination services in the unique places where people with disabilities are living, working, or receiving care during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial, as well as communicating effectively to people with different types of disabilities.

1/4/2021

MN LEND Fellow Challenges Disability Stigma in Zambia

More than 7 percent of Zambia's children have disabilities, and nearly half have never attended school. Many lack health services and experience isolation and stigma in their communities. Four the last four years, however, Renee Hepperlen (MN-LEND 2011-12) has been part of a multi-disciplinary team working to train local nurses, therapists, and other professionals in infant and child development, early intervention, daily living skills, positive language around disability, and disease prevention.

1/4/2021

Will Members of Idaho's Disability Community Be Allowed to Safely Exercise Their First Amendment Rights In Person During 2021 Legislative Session?

The Idaho Legislation session is scheduled to begin January 11, 2021 and it is anticipated that there will be proposed legislation that could negatively impact services and the quality of life for those individuals in the disability community. The Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities and 30 other organizations sent a letter to the governmental leaders in Idaho expressing their concerns as well as the possible legal ramifcations if further safety measures are not in place to allow in person testimony for those with disabilities and their families. This article discusses the facts behind the letter, and the responses of the governmental leadership to date.

12/21/2020

Disability Policy News

End of Year Legislative Package, Appropriations, COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Presidential Transition

12/20/2020

Advances in Autism Research and Care Webinar Series: 2020 Schedule

Please join the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network/Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health for our upcoming Advances in Autism Research and Care (AARC) webinar series scheduled for 2020!

12/18/2020

Inclusive Public Health Quarterly - December 2020

12/16/2020

2020 AUCD Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Stephen L. Rock, PhD during the AUCD Virtual Awards Ceremony on December 8, 2020.

12/16/2020

AUCD 2020: Thank you Sponsors!

Thank you to the sponsors of the AUCD 2020 Conference! Because of your support, our theme of "Achieving Equity - Leading the Way in the Next Decade" was truly realized. Thank you for your passion, expertise, and enthusiasm for the important work that we all do every day.

12/16/2020

MN-LEND Fellows Climb a Virtual Hill

Better pay for direct support professionals, more post-secondary educational opportunities for young adults with disabilities, and continuing funding for interdisciplinary programs that promote the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were among issues on the table as a group of fellows from the Institute on Community Integration met this month with members of Minnesota's congressional delegation.

12/16/2020

Request for Assistance: The Group Opportunities to Advance Learning (GOAL) Projects

GOAL Projects RFA 2020 FINAL.pdf (211KB) [download]

AUCD's Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (ITAC) will offer technical assistance through the Group Opportunities to Advance Learning (GOAL) Projects. The GOAL projects are designed to support the planning and implementation of collaborative activities that engage trainees and faculty from neighboring LEND and DBP programs.

12/15/2020

Competencies Promise to Reduce Health Care Disparities for Millions of Americans with Disabilities

Consensus was reached on the Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education through a partnership with The Ohio State University Nisonger Center and the Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education. The Competencies are designed to improve training across a diverse field of medical providers and improve the care received by people with disabilities throughout the health care system.

12/15/2020

Helping veterans become successful in agriculture Military experience, specialized programs help vets establish new roots

The Texas AgrAbility and Battleground to Breaking Ground (BGBG) programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides education, training, resources and technical assistance for active-duty and veteran military members and individuals with disabilities interested in agriculture. AgrAbility was established in 2009 and the one-day BGBG workshops launched in 2012

12/15/2020

Save the Date! 2021 AUCD for All Gala

The 2021 AUCD for All Gala will take place virtually on April 14, 2021. The Gala theme will focus on the AUCD 50th Anniversary and the important work being done around the AUCD network to meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families.

12/14/2020

Buckeye SCOPE: Supporting Children of the Opioid Epidemic ECHO Series

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) launched the Buckeye SCOPE: Supporting Children of the Opioid Epidemic ECHO series on August 7th, 2020.

12/14/2020

Capacity Building, a program within the CDD at Texas A&M University

Capacity Building, a program within the CDD at Texas A&M University, has changed the way that they operate. In order to meet the needs created by COVID, as well as to be accessible to a larger audience, the Capacity Building Project has worked to create interactive online training sessions for participants across Texas. Since August they have hosted 5 trainings, led by experienced researchers, service providers, and advocates, that have averaged over 125 participants. Topics have included: supporting a balanced life in person centered planning, a review of trauma around individuals with IDD, building community connections for skills-based training, and connecting to Student Hire Ability coordinators. Capacity has also implemented a new school based business and employment grant, in order to create opportunities for school based jobs.

12/14/2020

Disability Policy News

Appropriations, COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Presidential Transition, Maternal Health, Lifespan Respite Care Services

12/14/2020

Griffen Elected as PHEHP Chair

Dr. Adriane Griffen, AUCD's Senior Director of Public Health and Leadership, has been elected as a Chair for the American Public Health Association (APHA), representing the Public Health Education and Health Promotion (PHEHP) section. Beginning her role this fall, Dr. Griffen will serve a one-year term with APHA.

12/14/2020

Mailman Center for Child Development (FL LEND/UCEDD) Co-Hosts Virtual Innovation & Connection Conference

The University of Miami (UM) Mailman Center for Child Development, in partnership with UM Center for Autism and Related Disorders co-hosted its bi-annual Innovation and Connection conference, Coaching Teachers and Parents: How and Why it Works, on October 19th, 2020. More than 90 administrators, educators, speech-language pathologists and mental health workers attended the virtual event.

12/14/2020

Medicaid Waiver Expert Joins Va-LEND Faculty

Va-LEND continues to add to our skilled team of faculty. Deanna Parker, MPA, has worked in the field of public policy for over 25 years and joins the LEND faculty in the discipline of Public Health. Ms. Parker is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. She helps develop, advance, and monitor regulatory and policy issues for Virginia's Developmental Disability (DD) Medicaid Waiver programs.

12/14/2020

National Survey of People with Disabilities and COVID-19

The spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide pandemic. Understanding how people with disabilities have been affected by COVID-19 is important as we navigate this unprecedented time. In July 2020, roughly four months after states began providing guidance in response to spread of the virus, 990 adults with disabilities from age 18 to 85 across the United States reported on topics related to how COVID-19 was affecting their lives.

12/14/2020

OSU Nisonger Center and AUCD Professional Fellows Alum Launch Virtual Training Partnership Between U.S. & Tanzania

In troubling times, international partnerships that use online learning to build professional capacity and expertise in disability inclusion are more important than ever. AMSEN-OSU ECHO Tanzania, a new initiative created by AUCD Professional Fellows alum Bijal Lal and the Ohio State University Nisonger Center, offers many lessons on how to share knowledge globally and deliver supports locally at a distance.

12/14/2020

Pandemic makes Summer Internship Program Learning Available to All

In mid-March of this year, several high school and early college students who had made it to the final stretch of a competitive internship selection process received disappointing news. For the first time in its 17-year history, the Summer Internship Program (SIP) hosted by UCEDD in the Institute on Development and Disability at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) had to cancel its planned summer programming. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to keep hospital patients and critical staff safe, administrators at OHSU had made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person student learning opportunities.

12/14/2020

Peer Mentoring Program

The Ace! and Aspirations program received funding support from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council for the development of a Peer Mentoring Program, which will enhance the college experience for students with ASD as well as students who are neurotypical.

12/14/2020

Postsecondary Graduate is Featured Speaker for "Support and Connection: Person-Centered Practices During COVID Virtual Training Series

Event Flyer (1,488KB) [download]

The Person-Centered Employment Planning Training (PCEP) kicked off their first series of virtual training sessions! PCEP is a two-day training that provides an environment that supports students in gaining the skills and experiences necessary for a successful transition into postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employment.

12/14/2020

Report: Outreach Critical During Pandemic: MN LEND Fellows Reach Out to Underserved Communities

In typical times, new parents talk to their pediatricians at well-child visits about developmental milestones. Or they might come across literature about spotting signs of autism, for example, at a community event. But with some families putting off medical visits for their young children due to the novel coronavirus, and with most in-person events cancelled, families could be missing important signs that their children could benefit from early intervention.

12/14/2020

UAB UCEDD and LEND Programs Announce New Project Director

Sarah O'Kelley, Ph.D. recently assumed leadership of Alabama's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) and the UAB Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) training programs. These programs are a collaborative effort within the UAB Department of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, and Civitan International Research Center, with clinical operations at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics.

12/13/2020

IU Research Institute in Disability to Administrate State-wide Disability Resource Database FINDER

For those with disabilities and their families, trying to navigate a complex web of services, programs, and other disability-related community resources can be daunting. In November, IU's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) partnered with AWS Foundation of Ft. Wayne, IN, to implement Indiana Disability Resource FINDER as part of its library information and referral services.

12/11/2020

AUCD 2020 Virtual Conference Statistics

12/11/2020

AUCD Professional Fellows Alumni: Innovations in Inclusion in 2020

AUCD celebrated the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities by showcasing innovative global leadership in inclusion by our Professional Fellows alumni in Africa. AUCD Professional Fellows are disability rights advocates from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda who have learned best practices in inclusive employment at U.S. disability rights centers via an international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. AUCD implements the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE) with ICI-UMass Boston and Humanity & Inclusion.

12/11/2020

Dr. JoAnne Malloy at UNH Receives HRSA Building Futures Together GrantDr. JoAnne Malloy at UNH Receives HRSA Building Futures Together Grant

Dr. JoAnne Malloy, research associate professor, recently received $2.4M from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for Building Futures Together at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. The newly funded program will prepare 98 paraprofessionals in healthcare and school settings to provide specialized enhanced care coordination to children, youth, and their caregivers whose parents are impacted by opioid use disorders (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD).

12/11/2020

WIHD President and CEO, Dr. Susan Fox, selected as one of Westchester's Power 100

Congratulations to WIHD's President & CEO, Dr. Susan Fox, for being selected as one of Westchester's Power 100 for the second year in a row! Dr. Fox is recognized at #57 this year for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. This honor is the result of the hard work of everyone at WIHD during these challenging times to continue to support those they serve.

12/10/2020

America at a Glance: Early fears realized as COVID-19 surges in rural counties

Risks and impacts of COVID-19 are not distributed evenly. This is especially true for people with disabilities and rural residents who face significant challenges accessing healthcare.

12/10/2020

Haywood, early director of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) and pioneer in research on developmental disabilities, has died

H. Carl Haywood, professor of psychology, emeritus, former director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND), and colleague of Peabody College's foundational triumvirate of Nicholas Hobbs, Susan Gray and Lloyd Dunn, died Oct. 12 in Nashville. He was 89.

12/10/2020

National Disability Mentoring Day Event a Success

45 youth and young adults with disabilities in Mississippi participated in the ToTAL (Transition of Teens to Adult Life) National Disability Mentoring Day in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The ToTAL Program is provided through the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and receives funding from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. IDS has celebrated National Disability Mentoring Day for 11 years while also including an emphasis on employment, which represents the connection to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

12/10/2020

New COVID-19 Resources

AUCD has two new resources to help federal, state, and local disability leaders advocate for disability inclusion in COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans.

12/10/2020

UNH Institute on Disability Receives $2.5m to Transform Higher Education in NH for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the US Department of Education-Office of Postsecondary Education to create greater access to post-secondary education for young adults with an intellectual disability (ID).

12/9/2020

CORE Meeting Minutes Dec. 2020

CORE Meeting Notes 12 2020.pdf (135KB) [download]

12/7/2020

Disability Policy News

Presidential Transition, COVID-19 Relief, COVID-19 Vaccine, Appropriations, Public Charge, U.S. Housing and Urban Development, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, #AUCD2020 Conference Policy Events

11/30/2020

The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University welcomes Dr. Robert Maddalozzo

The Center welcomes Dr. Robert Maddalozzo Robert started his career in K-12 education as a general education teacher, with a focus on history, though he also taught science courses. His experiences led him to explore special education as a career.

11/30/2020

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities Receive University Funding Award to Further Statewide Telehealth Infrastructure

The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, on behalf of the College of Health Sciences, has been awarded the 2020 University of Wyoming Foundation's Heywood Fund Award. The funded project will enhance research, teaching, scholarship, and community engagement related to telehealth services delivery in the College of Health Sciences. The project will equip graduate and undergraduate students with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement telehealth services in their future practices. In addition, the college will deliver ongoing professional development to community-based providers for relevant and complex healthcare conditions.

11/25/2020

AUCD 360: Nov. - Dec. 2020

11/24/2020

DSP COVID19 Follow Up Survey

The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals, is conducting a survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on direct support professionals. After more than eight months since a national emergency was declared, we want to know how DSPs are doing and identify the most effective ways to protect DSPs and the people they support. Direct Support Professionals can complete the survey here. Their answers will be anonymous. National and state-specific results from the survey will be shared widely in March 2021.

11/23/2020

Voting: National and State Perspectives - Podcast Intierview with Maureen van Stone, Esq, MS

Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS, director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) was recently featured on a new podcast series presented by The Johns Hopkins University Disability Health Research Center. Ms. van Stone is the director of the Maryland UCEDD, and was the first guest speaker on the new podcast series titled Included: The Disability Equity Podcast. This inaugural episode focused on the process of educating candidates on issues important to the disability community, voting accessibility for those with disabilities, and the importance of the disability vote.

11/23/2020

Access for All at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Since the beginning of the Zoo Access for All program, LEND's Program Director, Dr. Jen Smith, has collaborated with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) to train zoo employees and identify priority areas to increase accessibility. Over four hundred CZBG employees have gone through the unique training with Dr. Smith, learning some of the types of developmental disabilities they may encounter at the zoo, how they can support those with developmental disabilities, and how they can assist families when issues arise.

11/23/2020

CDD Affiliated Faculty, Dr. Marcia Montague and Dr. Carly Gilson Awarded Two Major Grants from the U.S Department of Education

CDD Affiliated Faculty, Dr. Marcia Montague and Dr. Carly Gilson, have been awarded two major grants from the U.S Department of Education Dr. Linda Castillo (PI) and Dr. Marcia Montague (Co-PI) received a Heart of Texas GEAR UP Partnership grant. This grant totals $6.3 million over the next seven years to provide comprehensive support services to over 1,200 7th grade students to help them prepare for and succeed in post-secondary education. Partner districts include Bryan and Hearne ISDs. Dr. Carly Gilson received a Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities(PSID) grant. This grant will provide approximately $2.2 million in funding over the next five years to support our staff, students, research, program expansion, and outreach efforts to other schools across Texas.

11/23/2020

Disability Policy News

Presidential Transition, U.S. Congress, Drug Pricing, Keeping All Students Safe Act, COVID-19 Vaccine, U.S. Department of Justice, National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, #AUCD2020 Conference Policy Events

11/23/2020

Former Trainee- Making A Difference in the Latinx Community

Recent Va-LEND graduate Fiorella Carrillo-Kimbrough volunteers with Caminos, a Richmond-based support group that works with Spanish-speaking families with children who have autism or other neurodevelopmental disabilities. The group incorporates the use of cultural brokers and provides culturally appropriate education and support.

11/23/2020

Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Considerations for the Disability Community

Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Considerations for the Disability Community (389KB) [download]

An FAQ to support state and local disability leaders advocate for the role of individuals with disabilities in the allocation and distribution plans for a COVID-19 vaccine. Includes information on the approval, manufacturing, allocation, and distribution processes for a COVID-19 vaccine, AUCD network vaccine resources, and links to addition federal, state, and local public health resources.

11/23/2020

HDI Staff receive the Tom Gravitt Advocacy Award

Tom Gravitt Advocacy Award from the Kentucky Congress on Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). This award recognizes individuals who have had an exemplary impact on the SCI community and the disability community at large. These individuals enrich the lives of people with disabilities by being an advocate who fosters respect, access, and equal opportunities for all.

11/23/2020

Institute for Human Development Launches Fully-Online Disability Resource Specialist Graduate Certificate Program

The Institute for Human Development, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities housed at Northern Arizona University (NAU), will launch its brand new Disability Resource Specialist Graduate Certificate in Spring 2021

11/23/2020

Iowa's UCEDD Welcomes Back Caitlin Owens

The Iowa UCEDD is excited to welcome Caitlin Owens back to the team as our new operations manager. A social worker by training, Owens has many years of experience working across the spectrum of mental health and disability services, from job coaching to behavioral intervention to systems change work. She is a former LEND trainee, a recipient of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities, a graduate of the AUCD Leadership Academy, and she previously worked at the Iowa UCEDD from 2015-2018.

11/23/2020

Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Receives Grant to Improve Statewide Transition Practices for Youth and Adults with Disabilities

The Federal Administration for Community Living has awarded a Community-Based Transition Partnership Planning Grant to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VKC UCEDD). The VKC UCEDD, one of 10 UCEDDs awarded, will convene partnerships to develop a framework to ensure community integration, through the creation of a sustainable, high quality, community-based transition pilot.

11/23/2020

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute 2019-2020 Annual Report

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute 2019-2020 Annual Report (478KB) [download]

MI-DDI is proud to share its accomplishments for 2019-2020. Although our building on Wayne State University's�campus has been closed and staff are working remotely due to COVID-19, this continues to be an exciting time of growth and change for MI-DDI. The numbers shared are just part of the story. The real story is how our nationally recognized faculty, staff and students are making a positive difference in individual lives across Michigan and beyond. The growth and change MI-DDI has experienced this past year is due to the outstanding work of our team.

11/20/2020

IHD Awarded Large Federal Grant to Support Students with Intellectual Disabilities - Radically-Inclusive Support and Coaching Program Coming to Northern Arizona

The Institute for Human Development (IHD) at Northern Arizona University was recently awarded a five-year, approximately $2.5M grant from the United States Department of Education, Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) to develop and implement a radically-inclusive support and coaching program for students with intellectual disabilities (ID) to attend postsecondary educational institutions throughout Northern Arizona.

11/16/2020

Disability Policy News

Presidential Transition, U.S. Supreme Court, Appropriations, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine, #AUCD2020 Conference Policy Events

11/12/2020

Plain Language: The Flu Shot

PlainLanguage FluShot.docx (104KB) [download]

A plain language guide to the flu shot and why it is important to get a flu shot for your health and the health of others.

11/11/2020

nTIDE October 2020 Jobs Report: Job numbers hold steady for Americans with disabilities

October's job numbers showed small changes for Americans with and without disabilities, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment - Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Although people with disabilities have remained engaged in the labor market, the ongoing effects of the pandemic and uncertainty about continued federal aid are major concerns as the year draws to a close.

11/11/2020

The UNC Department of Neurology's Hunter, Cejas Receive 2020 Broyhill Research Award in Child Neurology

The UNC Department of Neurology is proud to announce that child neurologists Senyene Hunter, MD, PhD, and Diana Cejas, MD, MPH, are this year�s recipients of the UNC Broyhill Research Award in Child Neurology. The goal of the Broyhill Research Award in Child Neurology is to support novel studies of the developing nervous system or the impact of diseases on the developing nervous system.

11/9/2020

Disability Policy News

Elections 2020, U.S. Supreme Court, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Charge, #AUCD2020 Conference

11/9/2020

ICI UMN Parent Resource Videos: Supporting Your Child's Learning at Home

Two U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) national technical assistance centers --TIES Center and the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)-- of the Institute on Community Integration (UCEDD) at the University of Minnesota have jointly created a video series addressing how parents of students with significant cognitive disabilities can support their child's learning at home during distance learning brought about by COVID 19. The first four videos in an eleven part series are available to share with parents.

11/5/2020

Act Early COVID-19 Response Teams Map

11/5/2020

Closing Plenary: Engaging with Congress to Achieve Equitable Communities

Join us on Wednesday during the conference for the pre-recorded Closing Plenary: Engaging with Congress to Achieve Equitable Communities to learn about the legislative work and priorities of elected disability advocates in Congress. This year, we are pleased to announce that Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Senator Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), Senator Patty Murray (Washington), and Legislative Assistant Gil Ruiz with the Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York) have pre-recorded their parts for the plenary. John Tschida, AUCD's Executive Director, and Rylin Rodgers, AUCD's Director of Public Policy, are the co-moderators for the discussion. In prior years, we have heard from leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Senator Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), Senator Steve Daines (Montana), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York), Congresswoman Deb Haaland (New Mexico), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Washington) and Senator Patty Murray (Washington).

11/4/2020

MHDD Crossroads Podcast: An Interview with Rylin Rodgers of AUCD

In this episode of the MHDD Crossroads Podcast, Matt Wappett interviews Rylin Rodgers about her role at AUCD and policy issues relating to mental health and developmental disabilities.

11/2/2020

Disability Policy News

U.S. Supreme Court, COVID-19, United States Postal Service, Voting 2020, #AUCD2020 Conference

11/1/2020

Bobbi Rohwer (MN LEND, 2018-19): Making Life Easier

Bobbi Rohwer sums up her work in autism as simply trying to make life easier, to which the busy researcher, student, employee, and mother of three can relate.

11/1/2020

INNOVATE with #PacRim2021 Call for Presentations

The Center on Disability Studies, in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education, is accepting presentation proposals to be featured at the 36th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity (PacRim).

11/1/2020

What is Equity and What does it Mean for the Disability Community?

What is equity? What does it mean in the disability space? We as a network, and the broader disability community, have yet to answer these questions and define equity. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act and look toward the next decade, achieving equity is our highest priority. Join us for a dynamic and thought-provoking presentation and dialogue designed to help define equity and the path forward.

10/26/2020

Disability Policy News

U.S. Supreme Court, COVID-19, Presidential Campaign 2020, Voting 2020

10/23/2020

Welcome Newly 2020 Elected Board Members

On behalf of AUCD Nominating Committee Chair, Amy Hewitt, and Board President, Sachin Pavithran, AUCD is pleased to announce the newly elected members of the AUCD Board of Directors. These new members will begin their three-year term in November 2020.

10/20/2020

UCEDD Virtual Exchange Promotes International Learning & Collaboration

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University (GSU) is wrapping up a semester-long Virtual Exchange (VE) project with students and faculty at the Federal University of Alagoas in Brazil, and North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Undergraduate students enrolled in "Introduction to Disability & Public Health," taught by Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas, have engaged in several virtual face-to-face discussions with students in health-related disciplines at these universities. The overarching goal of the VE project, which was supported by GSU's Office of International Initiatives, was to increase students' understanding and awareness about issues pertaining to disability and health across the world. With online remote learning becoming standard in the COVID era, the VE project has shown another way in which geographical boundaries are no longer an issue in education and dissemination.

10/19/2020

Disability Policy News

U.S. Supreme Court, COVID-19, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, U.S. Department of Education, Voting 2020

10/19/2020

Telehealth: What is it? And how to make it work for you!

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the Oregon Health & Science University is excited to share a recently created series of 4 animated video modules on Telehealth. They were designed for adults with I/DD and, more specifically, for people who use communication supports. They would also be appropriate for kids (and families), and individuals who experience cognitive or language or literacy challenges.

10/15/2020

Leading Change to Achieve Equity: Conversations We Need to Have

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with change-makers from around the country who are facing equity challenges head on. Led by disability advocate and attorney Britney Wilson, and AUCD President-elect and Conference Chair, Tawara Goode, this year's virtual Tuesday Plenary will consist of two panels of leaders who will explore equity from the perspectives of lived experience, individual with significant disabilities, race and ethnicity, LGBTQI identities, family members, mental health, rural communities - and how they intersect.

10/14/2020

#FightFlu

Help us leverage existing community relationships to educate the disability community on the importance of the flu vaccine in protecting the health of everyone in accessible, relevant messaging.

10/14/2020

AUCD 360 - October 2020

10/14/2020

TOPS Program Celebrates Ten Years of Promoting Inclusion at Ohio State

The Transitions Options in Postsecondary Settings (TOPS) Program at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center is celebrating its tenth year of providing alternative college experiences for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. O

10/14/2020

US Commission Urges Repeal of Subminimum Wage After VT Visit

In a report published on September 17, 2020, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recommended repealing section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act which permits employers to pay less than the minimum wage to individuals with disabilities. During the agency's investigation, they heard testimony from Dr. Bryan Dague before coming to Vermont as one of two field visits to employment and service provision sites.

10/13/2020

AUCD Expands Children's Mental Health Champions!

The Children's Mental Health Champions, made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has expanded to support champions in American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Georgia, New Mexico, Maine, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia. We now have a total of 12 Champions supporting efforts in states and territories across the nation!

10/13/2020

AUCD Network Contributes to "Public Health Perspectives on Disability" for Rethinking Disability in Public Health Study and Practice

In this new edition, the editors and contributors update and expand on the educational framework that was introduced in the first edition for rethinking disability in public health study and practice and for attaining the competencies that should accompany this knowledge. The second edition highlights key areas of research that have emerged since the first edition was published.

10/13/2020

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month - an Employment First Resource in Colorado

Sitting under JFK Partners at the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) is a new resource for training and learning communities on a variety of Employment First topics including Individual Placement and Support, Customized Employment, Supported Employment, Youth and Family Education, and Benefits Counseling.

10/13/2020

I Vote Because...

I Vote Because... (1,159KB) [download]

We Vote Because... (1,167KB) [download]

AUCD is excited to join partners across the disability community working to increase the political power of people with disabilities by sharing resources, getting folks registered, supporting voters in navigating the planning processes, and making sure that we are all voters in 2020. This effort includes plans to continuously share information and resources up to Election Day: November 3, 2020.

10/13/2020

Kentucky Students Participate in 2020 Summer Leadership Experience

The University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI), with support from the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) welcomed high school students with disabilities to the 2020 Summer Leadership Experience. This three-day virtual camp provided participants an opportunity to connect with peers across the state to gain knowledge, develop skills, and identify resources to support a successful transition beyond high school.

10/13/2020

Maeverde Named Children's Mental Health Champion by AUCD (ME UCEDD)

ME UCEDD Research Associate, Jennifer Maeverde, has been selected as a Children's Mental Health Champion by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) as part of a new pilot program made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

10/13/2020

MN UCEDD Pinpoints Autism's Reach

To better quantify the prevalence of autism across Minnesota, investigators at University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration (MN UCEDD) will tap into large statewide education and social services databases under a new grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

10/13/2020

New National Technical Assistance and Training Center on Disability Inclusion in Emergency Preparedness Seeks Input from Emergency Managers and Public Health Preparedness Personnel

The newly formed National Technical Assistance and Training Center on Disability Inclusion and Emergency Preparedness through AUCD's National Center on Disability in Public Health seeks input from local emergency or public health preparedness planners.

10/13/2020

Seeking Participants for Research Study on Autism

Leisure participation is a key leading to physical and mental wellbeing, social inclusion, independence, self-worth, and quality of life. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are recruiting adults with autism who live alone or independently with roommate(s) and have access to a computer or a smartphone to study the types and frequency of leisure activities they do in their free time.

10/13/2020

Sheppard-Jones selected for UK Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Team

Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Executive Director of the UK Human Development Institute and adjunct assistant professor of the College of Education, has been selected as a member of the University of Kentucky Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Team. This team supports the execution of a comprehensive, enterprise-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Implementation Plan that was recently announced by the University.

10/13/2020

The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND) Hosts First NJLEND Alumni Leadership Symposium, "Leadership in a Time of Crisis: The COVID-19 Pandemic"

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Department of Pediatrics hosted the first Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities - NJLEND Alumni Leadership Symposium. This virtual symposium, "The Challenge of Leadership in a Time of Crisis: The COVID-19 Pandemic" was a collaboration with systems across the state and RWJMS to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on children and young adults with Autism and other early onset disabilities and their families.

10/12/2020

Disability Policy News

U.S. Supreme Court, Action Alert, COVID-19, White House, Presidential Campaign 2020, Voting 2020

10/9/2020

Action Alert: National Call-in Day on Supreme Court Nominee Judge Barrett

On Monday, October 12th, the disability community is coordinating a national call-in day to voice our opposition to the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court due to her record of hostility toward the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA has greatly improved the lives of people with disabilities and their families by securing crucial healthcare access and protections from healthcare discrimination.

10/5/2020

Disability Policy News

White House, U.S. Supreme Court, COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine, Voting 2020, National Disability Call, Presidential Campaign 2020, U.S. Department of Education

10/3/2020

MNLEND Trainee jumps into coordinating a public health response to COVID with community partners

Whitney Terrill typically supports Minnesotans living with disabilities to access home and community based services through her role at the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Disability Services Division Fiscal Policy Team. Whitney is deeply interested in value and outcomes based payment design, and currently works on a legislatively mandated project to explore options for how Minnesota might pay for disability services in the future.

10/2/2020

Edward Esbeck Leads the Way for Iowa's Self-Advocates

Before 2020, Iowa's LEND program did not have a Self-Advocacy Coordinator serving as Core Faculty for trainees in the program. Before 2019, Iowa's UCEDD, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), did not have a Self-Advocacy Coordinator as a member of its staff. Before 2017, Iowa LEND had never had a Self-Advocacy Trainee. But since 2016, when he became a member of the UCEDD's Community Advisory Committee, CDD has had Ed Esbeck. For the past year, since he was hired as CDD's Self-Advocacy Coordinator in the fall of 2019, Esbeck has championed inclusion for Iowa LEND, and has led the way for more self-advocates to become leaders, as he has.

10/2/2020

Georgia State University UCEDD Trainees Step-up for COVID-Tracing Research

Universities across the country are adapting to take on the unique challenges COVID-19 has brought to their campuses and larger communities. The Georgia Department of Public Health (GaDPH) offered opportunities for public health students and alumni at Georgia State University (GSU) to train and serve as contact tracers who work to track and prevent further spread of COVID-19. Students were assigned to work as contract tracers within any one of the 18 public health districts in Georgia. Three students affiliated with the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at GSU have engaged in the volunteer-led contact tracing effort.

10/2/2020

Staying Connected During COVID-19: Waisman Center Outreach Supports AAC Remotely

The Communication Development Program (CDP) is an outreach program of the Waisman Center UCEDD at University of Wisconsin, Madison. This program was developed over 30 years ago in partnership with the Dane County Department of Human Services, and specifically the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) unit. The mission of CDP is to enhance community participation, health, safety, and self-determination for individuals with disabilities through specialized Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) services.

10/2/2020

Transition Supports for Parents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Partnership (Georgetown UCEDD)

The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) is one of 10 programs awarded a Community Based Transition Partnership Planning grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Disabilities (AoD) (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USACL/bulletins/29bbc5e). The goal of the grant is to convene a partnership in the District of Columbia to develop a sustainable plan that addresses the unique needs of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to support the transition of their children with and without disabilities throughout the life course.

10/1/2020

AUCD 2020: Registration is now open!

We welcome network members, non-network organizational partners, experts from across the disability field, individuals with disabilities, family members, and trainees to learn and share together during the virtual conference. AUCD2020 will virtually feature pre-recorded plenary sessions, pre-recorded concurrent sessions and on-demand poster sessions that cover a broad spectrum of disability topics.

10/1/2020

AUCD Opposes the Nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) opposes the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. The mission of AUCD 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.

10/1/2020

EPCAMH Call for Papers: Special Issue on Mental Health Interventions for ASD/IDD

EPCAMH Call for Papers: Special Issue on Mental Health Interventions for ASD/IDD Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (EPCAMH) is now accepting papers for a special issue on evidence-based practice in mental health interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), guest edited by Meghan Miller, Ph.D., Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Ph.D., and Judy Reaven, Ph.D..

9/30/2020

AUCD Brochure

AUCD Brochure (1,958KB) [download]

AUCD Folleto (AUCD Brochure translated into spanish) (1,981KB) [download]

AUCD Brochure in Plain Language (453KB) [download]

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities, located in Silver Spring, MD, is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.

9/30/2020

Mailman Early Autism Intervention Program

The Mailman Early Autism Intervention program uses the evidence-based, manualized Project Impact model, to provide telehealth-based parent coaching to families of children ages 18 months to 4 years with social communication challenges. This project was developed in response to COVID-19 to replace in-person services. This program includes 6 pre-recorded webinars for parents and 6 live coaching sessions. If needed, there is an optional 7th webinar and related coaching session focused on managing challenging behavior.

9/30/2020

UCEDD Brochure

Download the Brochure (7,841KB) [download]

Descargar Folleto (7,769KB) [download]

The UCEDD Framework in Plain Language (403KB) [download]

This brochure outlines the functions and recent accomplishements of the nation's 67 UCEDDs, all of whom are members of AUCD, and the locations of each.

9/29/2020

In Memoriam- Fred J. Biasini

The Alabama LEND and UCEDD experienced a heartbreaking loss on 9/23/2020 in the unexpected passing of Dr. Fred J. Biasini. During his nearly 40 years of involvement with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Civitan-Sparks Clinics and the Department of Psychology, Dr. Biasini was a mentor to innumerable trainees and professionals and was a strong advocate for families. His presence and passion was felt throughout UAB, the state, and the nation. It is difficult to find a person or project within the disability community that did not have a connection to Fred Biasini. Dr. Biasini is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jan, three children, six grandchildren, a sister, and a niece and nephews.

9/29/2020

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) investigators to lead $5 million NSF-funded expansion of ASD workforce program

The National Science Foundation has awarded a highly competitive $5 million grant to multiple Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) (VKC) researchers to greatly expand a project for creating novel artificial intelligence (AI) technology and tools and platforms that train and support individuals with autism spectrum disorders in the workplace.

9/29/2020

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND)'s UCEDD program funded for five more years, welcomes new co-director

The Federal Administration on Community Living has awarded a five-year, $2.7 million grant to continue the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND).Erik Carter, Ph.D., is Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and professor of Special Education. He now joins McMillian as co-director of the VKC UCEDD. Carter is no stranger to the VKC or to its UCEDD partners.

9/29/2020

WVU CED Launches New Website to Provide Resources for Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorders

The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED) launched a new website designed to provide resources to help educate families and providers on the effects of substance use on the family unit and child development.

9/28/2020

America at a glance: Social isolation and loneliness during the first wave of COVID-19 Organization: RTC:Rural

America at a glance: Social isolation and loneliness Before the current pandemic, people with disabilities reported significantly higher rates of social isolation and loneliness than those without disabilities. When restrictions are put in place to help protect people from COVID-19, what happens to these rates? RTC:Rural's newest research brief explores how COVID-19 and public health responses may contribute to feelings of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities.

9/28/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, Supreme Court, Appropriations, Department of Education, Nutrition Assistance, Health Care, Presidential Debate, Voting 2020

9/25/2020

Act Early Network News, Fall 2020 Issue

9/24/2020

New: A Guide to Interacting with Police for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

The University of Cincinnati UCEDD has developed a new brochure on: A Guide to Interacting with Police for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. People with intellectual, cognitive or developmental disabilities get involved as both victims and suspects/offenders with law enforcement and with the criminal justice system. The police are ready to help in many different ways to help us feel safe.

9/23/2020

Office of Health, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Opens at Kennedy Krieger

Kennedy Krieger Institute's new Office of Health, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (O-HEID), established last month, represents a significant step in the Institute's journey to cultivate and encourage a community of equity, inclusion and diversity.

9/23/2020

Plan Your Vote 2020

Plan Your Vote 2020 (524KB) [download]

Voting is one of the most important rights of a US citizen. It allows people to choose leaders they feel will best represent their needs on the local, state, and federal levels. You can make real change by being an educated voter in your community. Use this Plain Language guide prepared by the National Coalition for Accessible Voting to Plan Your Vote in the 2020 Elections.

9/21/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, Supreme Court, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Voting 2020

9/21/2020

Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman Named Director of Institute on Disability/UCED

Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman, a leader in employment policy and services, workforce development, person-centered practices, and evaluation, has been named director of the Institute on Disability/UCED (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire effective June 8, 2020. Before joining the IOD, Dr. Nye-Lengerman served for 11 years at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota.

9/21/2020

First Autism Diagnosis Certificate Students Set to Graduate

A new certificate program helps nurse practitioners provide early diagnosis and health services for children on the autism spectrum. The program is unique in its inclusion of both UA LEND faculty and UA LEND graduates.

9/21/2020

IOD Awarded $600,000 to Extend New England Regional Genetics Network (NERGN )

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire has received a four-year renewal for the New England Regional Genetics Network (NERGN) from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

9/21/2020

Nisonger Dental Clinic

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Dental Services Program recently welcomed Dr. Stephen Beetstra. With recent modifications to include retro-fitting temporary walls; we can now see more patients in our open-concept clinic. More to come!

9/17/2020

Inclusive Public Health Quarterly - September 2020

9/16/2020

AUCD Invests Over $4M In Act Early Network Response to COVID-19

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with an investment of over $4M in the Act Early Network through an Act Early Network-wide Response to COVID-19 made possible by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

9/14/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine, THRIVE, Voting 2020

9/14/2020

Iowa's UCEDD Hosts Inaugural Summer Youth Leadership Academy

With funding from the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council), and working in partnership with the Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR), the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD, Iowa's UCEDD) hosted a virtual five-day Youth Leadership Academy during August. Six youth, aged 15 to 22, from east central and northwestern Iowa, participated in the inaugural cohort.

9/10/2020

CORE Meeting Minutes Sept 2020

AUCD CORE Notes September 10 2020.pdf (108KB) [download]

9/9/2020

2020-2021 Virtual LEND Orientation

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center held the 2020-2021 LEND Orientation virtually on August 26, 2020 and welcomed 19 new, full-time trainees, 2 part-time trainees and 14 returning trainees representing 16 different disciplines. We're excited to start a new academic year and continue training next-level graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and community leaders in neurodevelopmental disabilities!

9/9/2020

ACES-Talking with Doctors

Talking With Doctors Flyer (94KB) [download]

If you communicate using little or no speech, you can now find ways to get your doctor to listen to you...and get paid $250! The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University's TechOWL program, Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports (ACES), is launching a series called Talking with Doctors. Talking with Doctors is a training series that can teach you about tools to use to make your own health decisions. You will even create your personal video to get doctors to listen so they know what is important to you.

9/9/2020

Closing gaps: Autism's health disparities

The MN UCEDD has joined a national research network that aims to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adults with autism. Led by UCLA and some of America's best autism researchers, the multidisciplinary team will study autism as it relates to overall healthcare access and quality, primary care utilization, physical activity, stress, sleep, substance abuse, sexual health, neurological issues, and genetics, among others. The project will also explore healthcare disparities among women and people from underserved or vulnerable populations.

9/8/2020

AUCD 360 - September 2020

9/8/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine, Presidential Campaign 2020, Voting 2020

9/8/2020

Georgia UCEDD Research Effects of COVID-19 on Adults with IDD & DSPs

Since the emergence of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) last year, and its subsequent spread into a pandemic, we have seen a number of communities step up to face this unique challenge. Many doctors, scientists, community leaders, and politicians are using their strengths to combat this disease. Researchers too, are facing a new struggle to address what happens during and after COVID-19 affects the daily lives of millions of people.

9/8/2020

Kennedy Krieger Institute Launches Office of Health, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

Kennedy Krieger Institute, a non-profit organization internationally known for providing a wide range of health and education services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders or injuries that impact the nervous system, announced today that it is launching the Office of Health, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (O-HEID). The new Office is designed to promote the health and well-being of those who work, train, and receive services at the Institute through culturally relevant, evidence- and equity-based approaches that assure diversity and inclusion. Harolyn Belcher, MD, MHS, will lead O-HEID (pronounced O-Heed) and serve as the Institute's inaugural vice president and chief diversity officer.

9/8/2020

Latisha Crockett-Tennell joins the PATHS Program as the PATHS Program Coordinator

Latisha Crockett-Tennell joins the PATHS Program as the PATHS Program Coordinator Latisha Crockett-Tennell has over 18 years of Public-School Education experience. I have been an Elementary Principal, a Special Education Coordinator and Special Education Supervisor.

9/8/2020

Social Determinants of Health Resources to Support Implementation of Screening and Referrals

Developed by the National Resource Center for Patient/Family-Centered Medical Home, in partnership with the National Academy for State Health Policy, this fact sheet series discussessocial determinants of health (SDoH) screening and referrals for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families. Opportunities for collaboration and partnership between Medicaid, Title V Maternal and Child Health / CYSHCN programs, and pediatricians are discussed. State-level case studies provide innovative and replicable strategies for implementing SDoH screening and community referrals.

9/8/2020

Stephan Viehweg receives Indiana University Bicentennial Medal

Stephan Viehweg, Associate Director of the Indiana LEND, has been awarded the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal. Viehweg was honored as "a cherished leader, groundbreaker, and champion of the progress of the IU Alumni Association, the IU School of Social Work, and [the] university, who has broadened the reach of Indiana University." The IU Bicentennial Medal recognizes distinguished and distinctive service in support of the mission of Indiana University.

9/8/2020

Susanna Miller-Raines Recieves Southeast Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) Award

The Southeast Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) recognizes those individuals who are working tirelessly to promote the ideals of inclusive postsecondary education. SEPSEA acknowledges and awards an outstanding member of their professional community who truly exemplifies the philosophy on which SEPSEA was created each year at their annual Capacity Building Institute. This year Susanna Miller-Raines, the Georgia Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium (GAIPSEC) Coordinator, received this honor at the closing of the 2020 SEPSEA Virtual conference on July 30. Susanna, the UCEDD Operations Coordinator at the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University, is co-founder of SEPSEA and the founding board chairperson.

9/8/2020

The Center welcomes Dr. Eric Roberts as an Associate Research Scientist

The Center welcomes Dr. Eric Roberts as an Associate Research Scientist Eric Roberts received his doctoral degree from Texas A&M and has a wealth of experiences in transition education and services for individuals with disabilities. He taught secondary special education classes in the Houston area; coordinated the Youth Leadership Forum, LEAD, and PATHS projects during his time at the CDD; and he worked in the College Station Independent School District for the past six years as the Transition Coordinator and Instructional Coordinator. In these roles, he provided tremendous support to and collaborated with the CDD on several initiatives, including the Success Conference and Purposeful Lives training events. Eric will take a leadership role in the CDD Capacity Building project and other training initiatives.

9/7/2020

ACM Gift to Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) aims to improve lives of children with autism spectrum disorder

ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, has made a generous gift to the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) for programs and research demonstrating the healing power of music to improve the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder. ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, has made a generous gift to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for programs and research demonstrating the healing power of music to improve the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder.

9/7/2020

AUCD Professional Fellows Alum in Tanzania Wins UN Global Inclusive Education Award

AUCD is proud to announce that Professional Fellows alumnus Goodluck Chanyika has been selected as the winner of the UNESCO One Big Idea Contest on Inclusion and Education. The contest, which is sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), sought ideas on how to achieve inclusion in education by 2030, and Goodluck's submission was chosen as the best of all applicants throughout the world. Goodluck, who hails from Tanzania, took part in AUCD's Professional Fellows Program, an international exchange that enabled him to study inclusive education at the University of South Dakota Center on Disabilities (South Dakota UCEDD) in 2017 and form a partnership with his mentors there.

9/7/2020

Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities and their Caregivers

These videos discuss how to prepare for the impacts of disasters, create an emergency plan with the assistance of a caregiver, and understand the necessary steps for Sheltering In Place, Community Sheltering, and Evacuating. Additional content includes a discussion with an individual who has Cerebral Palsy and his caregiver about their strategy for preparation.

9/7/2020

Dr. Andrew Rothenberg Receives NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Award

LEND Alumni and current Post-Doc Andrew "Drew" Rothenberg, received the NIH Behavioral and Social Sciences Award. Use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs (i.e., substance use) is a leading cause of global health burden for 10-to-24-year-olds, according to the World Health Organization. Consequently, leading international health organizations have prioritized the prevention of substance use before it escalates in adolescence and young adulthood.

9/7/2020

Dr. Jacqueline Turner recognized as the 2020 Outstanding Staff by the College of Education and Human Development Staff Advisory Council

Dr. Jacqueline Turner recognized as the 2020 Outstanding Staff by the College of Education and Human Development Staff Advisory Council The SAC Staff Awards are to recognize and reward staff in the College of Education & Human Development. These annual awards provide special recognition to four (4) individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the College of Education & Human Development through their dedication, initiative, achievements, enthusiasm and attitude in their work.

9/7/2020

Dr. Stough summarized research regarding the impact of disasters on children with disabilities

Dr. Stough summarized research regarding the impact of disasters on children with disabilities "The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine invited Dr. Laura Stough as a discussion on children and youth in disaster as part of the panel From Hurricane Katrina to Paradise Wildfires, Exploring Themes in Disaster Human Services. Dr. Stough summarized research regarding the impact of disasters on children with complex needs or disabilities.

9/7/2020

Grant Will Fund Potentially Game-changing PT study

The Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Physical Therapy will take part in a nationwide study that may fundamentally shift the way PT is provided for young children at high risk for or diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Sandra Willett, PhD, director of the department, will be the site principal investigator of a five-year study evaluating START-Play (Sitting Together And Reacting To Play), an intervention that incorporates play into PT treatment with the idea that key motor skills, such as sitting up and reaching, promote attention span and problem solving in infants ages 7-24 months.

9/7/2020

GSU UCEDD Opens PEERS Clinic

The Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU) is excited to announce the PEERS Clinic at GSU. The Program for the Education & Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) Curriculum is a 16-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated individuals, who are interested in learning new socialization activities, including how to make and keep friends. PEERS may be appropriate for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or other social and behavioral disorders.

9/7/2020

MMI Assists Autism Action Partnership to Aid Families

The Munroe-Meyer Institute is one of the community partners joining forces with Autism Action Partnership (AAP) to provide COVID-19 activity kits for children with autism throughout Nebraska. The kits were funded by AAP supporters. Created with input from local and national experts, they contain materials to provide fun and therapeutic activities for parents and children, as well as links to activity modeling videos and additional online resources.

9/7/2020

PATHS Graduate Shelbi Davenport graduates from Texas A&M University

Former PATHS Graduate Shelbi Davenport graduates from Texas A&M University Howdy! My name is Shelbi Davenport and I recently graduated from Texas A&M. I received a Bachelor�s degree in University Studies-Leadership with minors in Communication and Youth Development. I see myself becoming a policymaker for individuals with disabilities based on my educational background. I also achieved my goal of getting my drivers license last April!! I accepted a teaching assistant job at the Rise School of Austin!!! I recently moved into my new apartment in Austin and am currently trying to figure out driving in this crazy city.

9/7/2020

Researching COVID-19's Effect on People with Autism with SPARK

Members of the Kennedy Krieger Institute UCEDD were part of a team effort to research the effects of the pandemic on people with autism and to communicate coronavirus-related information this year. The Autism Research and Engagement Core of Kennedy Krieger's Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities is working with SPARK, the nation's largest autism research study.

9/7/2020

Rural Institute Diversity Fellows Publish Article

Recent Rural Institute Diversity Fellows Helen Russette and Dr. Salena Beaumont-Hill, with Dr. Anna-Margaret Goldman, recently published an article titled "Teaching the Intersectionality of Disability, American Indians, and Rurality at Tribal Colleges".

9/7/2020

Summer LEND Trainee Project Yields Youth Transition Data and Reinforces Career Path for Trainee

During summer 2020, the Wisconsin LEND Program at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison had an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a first-year medical student on a UCEDD project examining the needs and barriers to quality healthcare and healthcare transition for adults with Down syndrome (DS). The project was conducted by Kelly Kuehl, a medical student at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), as part of the Shapiro Scholarship Program. This program offers medical students an opportunity to explore areas of interest on a project for 40 hours per week for 10 weeks over the summer in collaboration and with matching funds from a partner program. For Kuehl's DS transition project, she partnered with WI LEND and was mentored by Anne Harris, PhD, director of the WI LEND program, and Maria Stanley, MD, medical director of the Waisman Center Clinics.

9/7/2020

Survey for Diverse Parents of Children with Disabilities

Are you a diverse parent (Black, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, Indian/Pakistani) of a child/adult with a disability? A doctoral student in Special Education at Texas A&M University is conducting a survey for diverse parents of children with disabilities. Her goal is to amplify the voices of diverse parents to understand their expectations and needs when planning for their child's future. The survey will directly impact transition-related support training to parents in the near future. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

9/7/2020

The 2020 PATHS Program - Bridge to Career

The 2020 PATHS Program - Bridge to Career PATHS students began this new year with the challenges brought on by COVID-19. The students began the summer part of the PATHS program (Bridge to Career) with online classes while sheltering in their homes. 14 students completed the Bridge to Career summer session and received their certificates. Those student are Ivan Barrera, Brian Berg, Morgan Cook, Bryce Cyr, Trey Easterling, Karlee Gardner, Abigail Junek, Jacob McKenzie, Erreel Mercado, Preeti Nayak, Brandon Reeder, Isabella Rowe, Arin Slaughter, and Caleb Sprague. 13 students began the Online PATHS program on August 17 with them sheltering in their homes throughout this year.

9/7/2020

The National Arts and Disability Center Announces the Recipients of the Arts and Accessibility Program Awards to Artists with Disabilities and Arts Organizations in California

With support from the California Arts Council, the National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) a project of the Tarjan Center at UCLA has awarded $136,000 to 58 recipients of the Arts and Accessibility Program. In 2020 we will award $384,000 in grants, triple the amount awarded than in previous years.

9/7/2020

TOPS Program at The Nisonger Center

When he isn't recording books, Jason has been writing articles for the LENN Foundation's newsletter. He is hoping to write a book someday. Jason is a junior in the TOPS program at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center. The TOPS Program offers individuals ages 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) a unique opportunity to engage in academic coursework at Ohio State and gain meaningful work experiences while developing independent living skills and participating in campus and community organizations, social and volunteer activities, and other events.

9/7/2020

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) continues as national Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) has been awarded a $6.8 million, five-year grant to continue as a national Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC). The VKC, founded in 1965, is one of the nation's original research centers dedicated to advancing the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

9/4/2020

Census Information Packet for People with Disabilities

Census 101 Packet.pdf (778KB) [download]

Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (Chicagoland DPOCC), Institute on Disability and Human Development, and Counting on Chicago Coalition came together to create a helpful tool for those who want to learn more about the 2020 U.S. Census and how it impacts disability communities throughout the country, including people with disabilities who live in Chicago.

9/4/2020

Dr. Alan Cobo-Lewis Appointed to UMaine President's Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ME UCEDD)

ME UCEDD Director Dr. Alan Cobo-Lewis has been appointed by University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy to serve on a 30-member Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The President announced her intention to form the council on June 10, following the death of George Floyd, and in the context of protests nationwide and global reckoning on racism. The Council will advise campus leadership and report on institutional efforts and actions to ensure inclusive excellence.

9/4/2020

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD) announces recipient of the 2020 Community Investment Fund

The 2020 CIF award goes to the Montana Independent Living Project (mILp) to continue and expand their successful Feel Great and Recreate - All-Ability Adaptive Ice Skating project. This all-ages project offers adaptive, inclusive, cross-disability recreational programming. In the 2019-20 season, over 160 people skated over 450 times!

9/4/2020

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD) announces recipient of the 2020 Community Investment Fund

The 2020 CIF award goes to the Montana Independent Living Project (mILp) to continue and expand their successful Feel Great and Recreate - All-Ability Adaptive Ice Skating project. This all-ages project offers adaptive, inclusive, cross-disability recreational programming. In the 2019-20 season, over 160 people skated over 450 times!

9/3/2020

ITAC Bulletin Board - September 2020

As you finish begin the current academic year and look forward to a new cohort of trainees, we recognize the importance of delivering information and resources that may be timely to MCH training programs � including items that may support remote training as your programs and our country continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is our hope that you find the content of this newsletter useful in supporting the work of your faculty, staff, and trainees.

9/1/2020

AUCD Launches Children's Mental Health Champions

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expands its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with the launch of a new pilot program, Children's Mental Health Champions, made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In May 2020, six Champions were selected, representing California, Colorado, Kentucky, New Mexico, Virginia, and Washington D.C., to serve as liaisons to the CDC's Children's Mental Health program. In August 2020, the project was expanded and now supports a total of 12 Champions.

9/1/2020

John Tschida begins role as Executive Director

The Board of Directors and the Search Committee are pleased to announce, following a competitive national search, John Tschida is the Association's next Executive Director. John assumes the position, effective September 1, and we are eager to begin the next chapter of growth and impact for our organization.

8/31/2020

AJP Editorial: The Impact of COVID-19 on Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Clinical and Scientific Priorities

The goal of this communication is to provide clinicians and behavioral scientists with a scoping perspective on the diverse array of effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States.

8/31/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, United States Postal Service, Presidential Campaign 2020, Voting 2020

8/27/2020

Announcing our 2020-2021 Emerging Leaders Interns!

We are excited to announce the AUCD Emerging Leaders Interns for the 2020-2021 training year. These trainees will serve as visible ambassadors to the broader AUCD network, interacting with AUCD staff at all levels and the AUCD Board of Directors' Emerging Leaders Representative.

8/24/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, United States Postal Service, Presidential Campaign 2020, Office of Civil Rights, Voting 2020

8/19/2020

AUCD Announced as Partner in AIR-P Network

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects 1 in 54 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As autistic children age into adulthood, health-related behaviors that may develop in childhood can have long-term consequences. Diet and exercise can impact cardiovascular risk, particularly in families with a history of hypertension, diabetes or cardiac complications. Autistic children and adults often do not get the recommended preventive services, such as immunizations or lab tests for cholesterol and diabetes. Autistic adults often do not get screened appropriately for cancer.

8/17/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, Presidential Campaign 2020, Department of Education, Voting

8/12/2020

AUCD 360 - August 2020

8/11/2020

Save-the-Date Virtual Room to Grow: Journey to Cultural and Linguistic Competency Conference

Event Flyer (675KB) [download]

Save-the-Date September 22, 2020 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Virtual Room to Grow: 10th Year Journey to Cultural and Linguistic Competency Conference "Understanding and Using Equity Approaches to Promote Health, Leadership, and Well-Being" Registration will be available at www.kennedykrieger.org/CenterforDiversity by July 27,2020 For more information, please email [email protected]

8/10/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, , Voting

8/7/2020

2020 Summer Enrichment Academy Goes Virtual

Summer typically provides opportunities for youth and young adults to go on vacations, soak up the sun, spend time with family and friends, and have a break from school. In Mississippi, 19 youth and young adults with disabilities chose to make their summer a work learning experience instead.

8/7/2020

ADA 30th: Community Voices Series

The Texas Center for Disability Studies is excited to share our ADA 30: Community Voices Series to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Part 1 of this series highlights what the ADA means to local self advocates, activists, and community leaders. Stay tuned for part two!

8/7/2020

Attain BA/BS and MS in Rehabilitation Counseling in 5 Years

SGISD's newest 4+1 master's program allows UMass Boston students to attain their BA/BS and their MS degree in Rehabilitation Counseling on an accelerated time frame. With careful planning and summer courses, students can graduate with both degrees in just 5 years.

8/7/2020

ICI Tools for Inclusion:Employment and Employment Supports: A Guide to Ensuring Informed Choice for Individuals with Disabilities

As individuals with disabilities consider their employment options, questions often arise: Does the person want to work in competitive integrated employment? What kind of a job do they want? What are their career interests? And who is really making the decision: Is it the individual, or others on their behalf?

8/7/2020

MI-LEND Fellow Sean Jones Awarded an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship

Congratulations to MI-LEND Fellow and Wayne State University School of Medicine student Sean Jones on being awarded an Albert Schweitzer Fellowship for 2020-2021! Jones will address the specific health needs of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. His project involves the creation of a student-run clinic that promotes the overall quality of life of individuals with disabilities and their families.

8/7/2020

MN LEND Project Responds to Opioid Crisis

What can you do if your baby, or a loved one's baby, has neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)? How can a toddler's development be affected by NAS? Where can Minnesotans find support?

8/7/2020

New Research Brief: COVID-19 and disability in rural areas

To learn more about COVID-19 impacts on rural people with disabilities, RTC:Rural conducted a survey in late April/early May to explore rural and urban differences in COVID-19 health risks, adherence to public health recommendations, and trust in different information sources. We focused on people with disabilities because they often experience higher rates of secondary health conditions that place them at heightened risk of COVID-19 complications.

8/7/2020

NH-ME LEND Graduates Convince State to Extend Deadline for Submitting National Examination Scores

During the Spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of graduating LEND trainees in New Hampshire in unprecedented ways. After years of dedication to complete their master's degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders, students were told there would be a delay in launching their careers. The closure of national examination centers, due to COVID-19, was delaying the processing of test results and subsequently delaying the granting of provisional licenses to speech language pathologists (SLP) in New Hampshire (NH).

8/7/2020

Nisonger Center Welcomes Dr. Stephen Beetstra

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center UCEDD/LEND welcomes Stephen Beetstra, DDS, MHSA, as Program Director of the Nisonger Center Dental Services. Dr. Beetstra will be an Assistant Professor of the Clinical Dentistry in the Division of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry.

8/7/2020

Now Available! COVID-19: Anti-discrimination Training for Triage Teams

The Lifespan Inter-professional Collaborative (IPC), along with our Disability Awareness and Sensitivity in Healthcare (DASH) leads, created a brief on-line training course for the triage teams that may have to be activated in case of a shortage of ventilators.

8/7/2020

NOW AVAILABLE! COVID-19: Anti-discrimination Training for Triage Teams During Resource Shortages Organization: Mailman Center for Child Development/UM

Mailman Center's Lifespan Inter-professional Collaborative (IPC), along with our Disability Awareness and Sensitivity in Healthcare (DASH) leads, created a brief on-line training course for the triage teams that may have to be activated in case of a shortage of ventilators. The creation of this training module was a collaborative effort, led by Dr. Ashley Falcon with contributions from Shelly Baer, Damian Gregory, and Jairo Arana. Ashley Falcon is an ETLP alumni from class 7. Alexander Milne, a SALT graduate, is featured in the training. MCCD is thrilled to witness some of our leadership pipeline alumni making such an impact.

8/7/2020

Partnership Helps Students "Self-Determine" Ways to Improve Learning

For three years, a collaboration between Free State High School and researchers at the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities has grown to include more than 20 teachers at the school and hundreds of students with and without disabilities. It is led by KUCDD director, Karrie Shogren. "We intuitively know that identifying goals and things we want to work towards are critical for us to move forward in our lives," Shogren said. "We've spent a lot of time in disability supports and in schools in general talking to students about goals" even getting them to start being able to identify those for themselves. But what they've never really had is the strategy to move forward

8/7/2020

Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Applied Behavior Analysis: Treatment of Children with Autism During a Pandemic

MI-DDI is excited to announce a document written by the Michigan ABA Taskforce on ABA Treatment During the Pandemic: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Applied Behavior Analysis: Treatment of Children with Autism During a Pandemic

8/7/2020

Supporting Teens and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Setting and Pursuing Self-Determined Goals

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) has collaborated with local partners to create a free toolkit and online course, now available for dissemination. "Supporting Teens and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Setting and Pursuing Self-Determined Goals" is designed to help parents and caregivers, teachers, siblings, service providers, and others who support teens and young adults on the autism spectrum as they set and pursue self-determined goals. Teens and adults on the autism spectrum may also find this toolkit helpful. This toolkit may also be beneficial to people who support individuals with a range of disabilities.

8/7/2020

TCDS Welcomes Dr. Swanson to TTAP Team

The Texas Center for Disability Studies is excited to welcome Dr. Anita Swanson as the new Project Coordinator for the Texas Technology Access Program (TTAP). Dr. Swanson will work with current TTAP staff to increase connections and awareness locally and across the state.

8/7/2020

The ECHO Effect

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, recently launched two new initiatives - ECHO AAC and ECHO Autism WI. Both programs are targeted to help improve and expand teletraining services using the Project ECHO� (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) platform. Project ECHO (the mantra for which is "All teach, all learn") uses video-conferencing technology to provide education and case consultation on best practice clinical services, training, and resources for individuals with specific healthcare needs that are difficult to meet locally.

8/7/2020

Three New Briefs from ThinkWork

Three new briefs from ThinkWork this month covering topics on; Finding Tasks and Jobs; DataNote Examines Employemnt Rates Among SSI Recipient and Comprehensive Model of Employment Support.

8/7/2020

UC Davis MIND Institute ECHO Autism: Special Edition

Project ECHO aims to disseminate evidence-based practices, build provider capacity and develop a community of practice for complex medical conditions such as autism. Using virtual learning networks of providers with access to interdisciplinary autism expertise, this model has been empirically tested and allows professionals and caregivers to increase their confidence in providing autism services.

8/7/2020

UK Human Development Institute Commemorates 30th Anniversary of the ADA

Staff from the UK Human Development Institute reflect on the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed in to law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26,1990. The ADA provides protections of the rights and opportunities for people with disabilities in our nation. Although the ADA has brought progress, our work has just begun.

8/7/2020

University of Kentucky HDI Leads Effort to Increase Higher Ed Access for Students With Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities

The University of Kentucky has a new opportunity to provide statewide leadership focused on increasing higher education access and success for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

8/7/2020

Va-LEND Faculty Shares Impact of ADA

This July marked the 30th year of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), put into place to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. Jack Brandt, the Disability Advocacy (DA) track coordinator for the Virginia LEND (Va-LEND) program, mentors trainees in understanding the legislative process and how policies such as ADA impact people with disabilities and their families. He shares, "I have been impacted by the physical accessibility that the ADA provides for. I also utilize a reasonable accommodation to do my work. I have been fortunate to dedicate my career to the goals of the ADA and the DD Act."

8/7/2020

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) publishes Discovery e-newsletter dedicated to COVID-19 response

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) recently published its annual Discovery newsletter in June, with its theme being "Research, Training, and Service from a Distance: The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Adapts and Innovates During COVID-19"

8/4/2020

Action Alert: COVID - 19

Tuesday, August 4th, is a national call-in day, a chance for the disability community to make sure Congress considers #whatweneed today and every day until the next COVID-19 relief package is passed. Without overwhelming action there is a real risk that human needs, including the needs of people with disabilities, will not be included in this package!

8/4/2020

University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies July 2022 eNewsletter

View the July 2022 issue of the eNewsletter of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies (a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities).

8/3/2020

AUCD Urges Action to Protect Civil Rights

AUCD urges individuals and organizations to share their objections to any effort that diminishes critical civil rights protections. Members of Congress need to hear from you. Use this opportunity to educate your Senators and Representatives about the importance of civil rights protections to all, including the millions of Americans with disabilities and their families.

8/3/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, Racial Justice, Voting

7/30/2020

Resources Available for Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Training Programs

ITAC Resources One Pager (172KB) [download]

This document summarizes the key differences in the three main resources available for MCH training programs: Administrative Resources, ITAC Training Toolbox, and the National NDD Core Curriculum.

7/29/2020

AUCD Welcomes New Staff and Interns

AUCD is pleased to welcome new staff and interns joining us working on a variety of topics across different departments.

7/27/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19, Education, Housing, Voting

7/24/2020

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

Act Early State and Territorial Team Request for Applications (392KB) [download]

Act Early Ambassadors Request for Applications (319KB) [download]

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

7/20/2020

COVID 19

Today begins the negotiations for Package 4 of the COVID relief effort. That means your voice is needed right now.

7/20/2020

Disability Policy News

COVID-19 Action Alert, Appropriations, Voting 2020

7/20/2020

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

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

7/20/2020

Where They Are Now: ICI Reconnects with ADA Fellows

The ADA fellows trained at the MN UCEDD in 2017 and then returned home to promote inclusion in their own countries. And despite war, a global pandemic, and persistent ableism, they still do.

7/17/2020

COVID-19

Congress is expected to move an additional COVID-19 relief package forward during the work period from July 20-August 7. There is a real risk that human needs, including those of people with disabilities, will not be included in this package!

7/16/2020

Call for Consultation: Developing a UCEDD Network TA Plan to Implement the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan