Special Journal Issue Focuses on Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disability

Articles in the latest Developmental Disabilities Network Journal examine health care, self-determination, building neuro-inclusive communities, trauma-informed care and more. This special issue was a collaborative venture with the National Research Consortium on Mental Health and Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities.

UCEDD Success Stories: Enhancing Regional & National Collaboration: UMKC Hosts Regional Open House with Kansas and AUCD

The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Institute for Human Development hosted a Regional Open House in on April 16th at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus, bringing together 18 leaders from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the University of Kansas, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. This meeting focused on engaging the three entities in conversation about future opportunities for collaborating on programs, funding, networking and more.

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) Researchers Awarded $2.48M in Special Education Training Grants

Two Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researchers have received two training grants totaling $2.48 million in funding from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. The new grants address the need to train culturally conscientious special education teachers of students with high intensity needs. One of the grants will support training for teachers of students with limited or no functional speech. The other grant will support training for teachers of students with visual impairments. Both grants seek to recruit candidates from historically underrepresented groups or with a unique interest in supporting students from culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds.

Highlights From the 39th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

On February 27th, the Center on Disability Studies (HI-UCEDD) welcomed over 750 attendees representing 12 countries from across the globe to Honolulu, Hawaiʻi to the 39th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity both online and in-person. In celebration of the conference theme, Beyond Access: Building a Culture of Belonging we aimed to explore how we all live to belong, to be part of something greater than ourselves.

Announcement: Seeking Emerging Leader Board Member Nomination

The AUCD Board of Directors is seeking nominations from the network's Emerging Leader community to fill the Emerging Leader Board Member voting position on the Board. (*Note that this is not the same as the Emerging Leader Intern.) The Emerging Leader Board Member will be a voting member on AUCD's national Board of Directors and represent 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.

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities: Removing barriers to vaccine access with rural Spanish speakers with disabilities

The Administration on Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding local trusted disability and aging partners to build vaccine confidence. In Montana, ACL/CDC funding supports the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, the Montana Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Montana, Montana Centers for Independent Living, Area Agencies on Aging, and Aging and Disability Resource Centers. These funded partners are coordinating activities to connect people with disabilities and older adults to vaccination resources.

Apply Today: AUCD Leadership Academy

The AUCD Leadership Academy is a week-long intensive experience, paired with a year of pre and post interactions designed to enhance the skills of current and emerging leaders from disability networks to build coalitions to improve systems of supports and services. The Leadership Academy engages participants from UCEDDs, LENDs, and the wider community of disability partners to come together to immerse themselves for a week of study, shared experiences, self-evaluation, and skill development.

Now Enrolling: Inclusive Education Pre-K-12 Micro-Credential

The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD) was part of a collaborative team of faculty and staff with expertise in inclusive education that has developed an Inclusive Education Pre-K-12 Micro-Credential with funding from a competitive 2022-2023 mini-grant awarded by the University of Maine System Micro-Credential Initiative.

UCCEDD Associate Director, Dr. Kara Ayers, featured in Women of Cincinnati Blog

The UCCEDD's Associate Director, Dr. Kara Ayers, was featured in the Women of Cincy blog. Dr. Ayers touches on disability, connection, and empathy, as well as highlighting the importance of how we can better care for one another.

OHSU LEND-UCEDD Trainee Amplifies Community Priorities

Led by LEND Health Administration and Social Work Trainee Libby Quinn, OHSU Institute on Development and Disability opted to submit public comment as an organization on the recent proposed ruling for updates to Section 504. [alt text: Libby Quinn, a light skin woman with wavy blonde and brown hair wears a turtleneck and smiles for a professional headshot in an outdoor setting against cement terraced grass]